I look at Sara in the mirror, her bottom lip quivering as hair falls to the floor. I’ve only known her for a few days, but I know she doesn’t deserve whatever is happening at home. I can’t imagine someone that does.
“I’m sorry,” she sniffles. “Last night was rough.”
“Don’t be sorry. You’ve listened to me go on and on.”
“Yeah,” her hands move quickly as a rhythmic snipping hums between us, “but you sound like you have your shit together. I sound like a train wreck.”
“Have my shit together?” I say sarcastically as I whip the cape up to show off my expanded stomach. “Baby, if you’re a train wreck, I’m a shipwreck. Like a Titanic level shipwreck.”
She laughs and shakes her head before wiping away a tear that fell. “I’m not sure a shipwreck is worse than a train wreck.”
“What famous movies do they have about train wrecks? I think that’s the deciding factor.”
She tilts her head to the side and laughs. “I’m bad at this game. I can’t remember movie names on the ready.”
“Which is why a shipwreck is worse than a train wreck.” I shrug. “I don’t remember why we were doing this now, but that’s not the point. The point is, you need to leave that jerk and find a man that appreciates you. Or better yet, we could both ignore men and start a commune for single moms.” My tone brightens as I say, “We could have so many chicken coops!”
“That sounds like the best plan yet!” She brushes off the cape before running her fingers through the back of my hair. “I’ve been wanting some of those Easter-eggers. You know… the chickens that lay the pretty eggs.”
“Yes! I’ve seen those. The kids would be so happy collecting eggs and running free on our little peace, love, and chickens commune.”
She smiles and tilts her head to the side. “Ya know, my parents gave me an old cabin in the woods. It’s nothing much, and it needs a ton of work,” she sighs, “but I’ve gotten to be good friends with the guy that runs Blackrock Contracting. I have a cut with him today, actually. Maybe he can help me fix that place up for a fresh start.”
“Wade?”
“Yeah! Do you two know each other?” She unsnaps the cape and removes it slowly, being careful of the hair that falls to the ground.
“He knows Wyatt really well. I mostly knowofhim. From what I hear, he’s a great guy. Gruff, but he gets stuff done.”
“He comes in for haircuts every other Friday.” She grabs some kind of balm off her station and squeezes a bit in her palm before rubbing it into my hair.
Why do salon products always smell extra good? This one is like fresh strawberries.
“So, he’s coming for a cut today?”
“Yeah, I think I just saw him pull in. Hard to miss him in that tank impersonating a truck he drives. But, anyway, you need to tell Wyatt about the baby. You should do that today. You leave in the morning, right?”
“Bright and early.” The second I acknowledge leaving, my brain starts spinning, desperate for a reason to stay. I know what my heart wants,I’ve always known what my heart wants,but hearts don’t make very logical decisions, and I have a baby to think about.
When the balm is properly rubbed into my wet hair, she grabs the hairdryer off the station and goes to work on my blow dry.
I’ve always liked this part best. There’s something about the low hum of the dryer, the gentle tug of a round brush, and the heat that relaxes the heck out of me.
I close my eyes and attempt a meditation of sorts, but I’m drawn back to Wyatt and the life we almost had.
A little cabin in the mountains with a stream rolling behind. Our kids barefoot in the grass climbing up to their fort. A lazy Sunday afternoon in the garden with his filthy hands all over me, hauling me into the house for his pleasure.
My clit throbs against the seam of my jeans and I open my eyes in a quick flash, rediverting my attention to the buzz of the salon. I need to get a grip. I can’t go back into this thing with Wyatt super horny. I need to go slow, let us build time again, give us a chance to prove ourselves to each other before we’re tearing off clothes and making bad decisions.
Then again, maybe he had a temporary lapse in judgment. That happens to me every single hour of every day. Take the table fort at the dinner. I still don’t know what possessed me to climb under there.
I’m dragging in a deep breath when the doorbell dings over the front door. It’s Wade. I haven’t seen him in a long while. I forgot how massive and inked he is. The man is definitely hard to miss.
He nods hello when he sees Sara then glances toward me. “Alice?”
I nod slowly as I stand from the chair and reach up to hug him. “Hey, how’s it going?”
“Pretty good. A lot of work coming into town, so that’s positive. How about you? You back for good or just a visit? We all miss seeing your articles in the Gazette.”
