My arms are burning by the time my session is over. After the blow-out, I demonstrate a few easy updos to help maintain it, including a braid for the worst days of a heat that still looks pretty.
After that, a final hairstylist steps onto the stage to demonstrate more complex styles. I frantically make notes.
When it ends, I take a few selfies with colleagues for social media before heading back to the hotel.
I’m exhausted, but networking is part of these conventions, so I force myself into the restaurant with a few others.
I’m so tired, I don’t even manage dessert, which is a true tragedy.
I practically crawl up to my room, throwing off my heels and flopping onto the bed. The guys must be asleep by now. I checked the group chat during dinner, but it was quiet. I decide to send them a message anyway.
Me: Back in my room. FINALLY. Heading to bed. Have a good day x
I lay with my eyes shut, enjoying the silence after a day of hairdryers buzzing in my ears—
My phone vibrates.
“Nooo.” I pat around for it, keeping my eyes shut as I bring it to my face. “Listen, whoever you are, it’s been alongday. If this isn’t an emergency—”
“Buenos días, mami…Joder, me encanta oír tu voz…”
My eyes shoot open. “Luc?”
“Sí, mami.” I can practically hear his smile. “Kaiden just needs to know—yes, yes, you do, stop denying it. He needs to know about the rollers because—” There’s scuffling. “—hey, no, don’t be embarrassed! As pack alpha, you have to have the biggest hairandthe biggest co—”
“Revea.” The low timbre of Kaiden’s voice sinks straight into my achy bones. “I’m so sorry. We’re a little sleep deprived, and some of us can’t handle our drink.”
God. Their voices are so sexy.
“What?” He chuckles.
Oh fuck. “Did I... Did I say that aloud?”
He laughs again, and that gives me my answer.
I wince. “I’m also pretty sleep deprived.”
“Sorry, we didn’t plan to call. We were supposed to be going tobed.” There’s a pause in which I imagine him glaring. “But someone clicked it accidentally, and then… sorry, you should rest—”
“Wait, you haven’t been to bed yet?” I do the maths. “But it’ll be nearly 8 AM. Haven’t you got work?”
“Which is why Kaiden needs to know about the rollers pronto!” Luc shouts from the background, followed by a couple of manly laughs.
“Yeah—shut him upnow—I think we’re planning to start a little later today, maybe working from home,” Kaiden says, voice louder as he tries to hide muffled shouting.
I laugh, imagining the scene as I get up to actually undress. “I think that’s for the best.”
“You were great, by the way.”
I smile, pulling off my dress and slipping on a baggy t-shirt. “You watched the whole thing?”
“Yes. We paid special attention to the last hour.”
“Oh, really?” I prop my phone against the mirror and start removing my makeup. “Well, I hope you all learned something, other than the blow-out technique.”
He hums, and goddamnit, it’s like a mini earthquake for my body. “We did. Sylvan made notes.”
I chuckle. “Really?”
