She smiled shyly. “Thank you. My baby was a labor of love.”
I didn’t know why, but when she smiled, my mind went to Enzo. They resembled each other around the eyes and lips.
“So, wassup, girl?” I said to Danae. “How was your day?”
“Peaceful up until you know who called fuckin’ wit’ me.”
Marli snickered and shook her head when Danae spoke.
“Oh, you must know about this.”
Nodding, she giggled. “All too well.”
“And it ain’t a damn thing funny. This man think he run me.”
I went to say something when the nail tech assigned to me came over to introduce herself. I picked out my color from the vast collection of gel colors, and she got to work.
“Why don’t you just give him a chance, Nae? Ion see no man going that hard behind a woman he don’t really want. I can’t lie, that nigga luh you.” I did my best Glorilla voice, making the ladies laugh.
“Nah. He loves the thought of having something he can’t easily access. Aura not slick. He just wanna lock a bitch down, and I ain’t ready for that.”
“Ooouuu, who flowers?” I heard someone say before turning my head to the entrance, along with everyone else.
There was a delivery guy at the door with a beautiful Eternity Rose arrangement from Venus ET Fleur. I knew that white box anywhere. We all watched as the flowers were handed over to the receptionist who had a wide smile on her face big enough to lock her jaw up.
“Must be nice,” Danae sang out loud. “Whoever sent it is very fond of you, my girl,” she added.
I nodded, agreeing with her.
“No, honey,” the receptionist said as she started our way, “according to the card, someone is very fond of you.” She set the box on the table beside Danae with a wink and walked away.
“What? Who the hell would be sending me flowers to the nail salon?”
Marli put her head down as she filed, and I knew who the sender was without her having to open her mouth. I watched quietly as she pulled the card out and opened it with her free hand. She read the card silently then looked back up at Marli.
“Really, Marli? I thought this place was sacred. That’s the reason yo’ ass kept asking what time I was coming.” She swatted at Marli, who had burst out laughing, with the card.
“Girl, I’m sorry. He offered to pay the light bill here for next month. That shit high as hell. I had to do what I had to do. I love you tho.” She blew Danae a kiss, jumping back when she swatted at her again.
I laughed. “What the card say?”
She turned to me and sucked her teeth before holding it up to read it. “Next time don’t let me ask you where you going, and you don’t tell me. Got me footing the bill at Marli place and shit. Your tab is paid for too. Have a good day, Ma.”
“Oh, bitch, that’s sweet as hell. You trippin’,” I said, and my nail tech agreed with anmmmhmm.
“That’s what I’m saying,” Marli added. “My cousin don’t be playin’ ‘bout you, D.”
“Cousin?” I questioned. “I knew you looked like Enzo ‘bout the eyes and mouth.”
“Mmhmm. She one of them sneaky Sullivans,” Danae said.
Marli gave her the finger and went back to working on her nails. Danae loved the flowers. I could tell by how she secretly admired them the rest of the time we were in the salon.
After two hours of pampering, massage included, we headed out to our cars.
“What you doing tonight?” Danae asked as she carefully slid her flowers in her front seat, strapping the seatbelt over them.
I got a kick out of her. “Period. Protect them flowers ya man sent you,” I teased.
