"Do Fridays work for you? (a pause) Yes, she usually works one Saturday a month, but those book up. She does work that week, but it's full. I can check the next one for you. The next one she has is in May, so that wouldn’t work…I could make a note. (a pause) Uh, oh… are you sure? Because I can make a note to call you if anything opens up for her Saturday this month."
I started to tell her to go ahead and double-book me, but she made an expression like she was concentrating on what he was saying.
"Okay, if you're sure, I'll just put you down on Friday, two weeks from now. I only have one spot that day, and it's at 2pm. Would you be interested in that? (a pause) Okay, sounds great, we'll see you then."
Again, she glanced at me, and I gave her a shrug. She continued speaking to him without missing a beat.
"All right, well, I have you down for a haircut with Savannah two weeks from today. Just call us if you need to reschedule. We do ask that you give a day's notice."
I wanted to wave her off and tell her not to worry about saying any of that, but I just stood there and let her do her job.
"Yes," she said. She listened with a smile. "Aw, I'm so happy to hear that. I'll make sure to tell her. Thanks for coming in today. I have you down for Friday the tenth at two. (a pause) Thank you. We'll see you then."
She hung up the phone and made a face at me, sticking out her bottom lip and gazing at me like she was judging me. "I guess he is coming back," she said.
"Was that the guy who just came in here?" I asked dumbly. My heart was beating double speed, but I just held the unaffected expression, pretending I was waiting for her answer.
"Yes. Edward Paul, going for half the time I recommended to him. Who gets a haircut every two weeks?"
"Gabe."
"He's the landlord," she said. "What normal person?"
"Lots of guys do. Some get weekly cuts."
"None of your clients, though."
"I know."
"I thought you said he'd never be back."
"I thought he wouldn’t. What did he say?"
"He said he loves the haircut. He told me to tell you he loves it. Obviously, he does because he's coming back in two weeks for another one."
Chapter 5
EJ
Two weeks later
EJ was counting the minutes until he saw Savannah again. He didn't try to contact her in any way during the two weeks between his haircuts, but he wanted to. He wanted to tell her the truth. He had no idea how he sat there for an hour and didn't say they had that whole summer together. She was his first kiss, and his chest felt tight every time he thought about it.
He worked out a lot during those two weeks. He worked a lot as well. He focused on the tasks of his everyday life, trying not to get distracted by thoughts of the woman in Pittsburgh. EJ had always been the type who set out to accomplish a lot every day, and doing that helped distract him, but his thoughts drifted to her even while he was working. It did not help matters that he saw a bowl full of mints on the front desk every time he walked into his gym.
EJ knew that he would tell Savannah who he was this time. EJ had put thought into it for the last two weeks, and he simply had to tell her the truth.
The day had finally arrived, and the drive was even faster and easier this time than last. He was so looking forward to seeing her that he seemed to be transported there without even taking in the music or the audiobook he was listening to. His trip felt more like two hours rather than seven.
EJ was walking on clouds when he arrived at the salon. He had to stifle his smile, work to control it. He acted like everything was completely normal as he headed into the front door.
The receptionist was there to greet him, and she smiled warmly when he came inside. He couldn't help but notice the new bowl with candy. This one was an elongated, rounded triangular shape.
"Hello, Mr. Paul," the receptionist said, snapping him out of noticing it.
"Hello," he replied without skipping a beat.
He made eye contact with her, and she gave him a friendly smile. "Savannah's ready for you if you want to go ahead and head back."
