Page 72 of You Saw the Best In Me

“I love your hair. Did you do it yourself?” Reilly asks, interrupting my trashy magazine reading.

“Thanks. I always mess around with my hair when going through life changes. It’s like a bandaid,” I smile, and explain the process I took to get my hair this silver color.

I like her so far, and our energies match well. She shows me pictures of her three dogs taped to her mirror, telling me about each of them. I thought one cat was a handful, but dogs sound like a nightmare.

I’m a cat girly, through and through.

“We should go out for drinks! I’m new in town and have no idea what’s hot,” she suggests, and I have to admit I’m also behind the times in Forest Falls.

“I will take you up on that once I get my shit together,” I say, and she makes me shake on it.

“So, Karina, you gonna fill us in on your little vacation?” Eva steps up behind us, glaring at me in the mirror.

“Um, I had an emergency. It’s being handled. Thanks for your sincere concern,” I roll my eyes, not in the mood to deal with her bitchy attitude.

“Well, that's nice, but we picked up two days of your bookings. A thank you might go a long way,” she walks away, attempting to get the last word in.

I don’t take shit from women who aren’t team players. Since the day I walked in here, Eva’s had a problem with me, and I don’t like it.

We can be friendly without having to like each other, but she must’ve missed that memo.

“I appreciate you, Jolene, and Hannah covering my ass, but that doesn’t mean you can speak to me that way, Eva. We can co-exist peacefully and be respectful to one another,” I stand my ground, not taking my eyes off hers in the mirror.

Reilly’s eyes widen, and she tries to muffle her laughter with her hands covering her mouth. I definitely like this girl.

The other ladies in the salon go silent, watching the show as I stand up to the resident bitch who thinks she runs the place.

Jolene chokes on her drink, and Hannah gives me a slow clap of approval.

Eva is pissed, seeing all her co-workers instantly turn on her. That was never my intention, but sometimes people have the day they deserve.

“Watch your back, Karina. I won’t take a single hair off your workload from now on,” she stomps off, probably going to tattle to Alivia.

The girls swarm me, everyone praising me for how I stood up to Eva. I didn’t eviscerate the woman like they’re exaggerating, but it’s nice to be out in the thick of things.

Eventually, it’s time for me to clock out, only having one client all day.

I’m relieved.

Maverick has been texting me all day, and I miss him so much. Right now, I need him to wrap his arms around me, grounding me in reality.

I brush past Eva, the air between us frigid. Reilly gives me her phone number, making me promise to text her.

It was a great first day back, but I’m dying to get to my man and that spaghetti he’s cooking.

I’m used to takeout, junk food, and microwave meals, so Maverick’s chef skills are a welcome change in my diet and heart. My mom was the last person to make me a home-cooked meal before him, and every day, he showed me another reason to call his soul home.

I follow the directions to Grams’ house, and it’s a familiar drive, the same one we took to bring Harper home. I take a deep breath and prepare myself for the endless possibilities on the other side of that baby-blue door.

The door opens, and Harper comes barreling outside, rushing to hug me.

“Karina, I’m so glad you’re here! Come on, come inside,” she ushers me in, and I take in my surroundings.

The house is cluttered, almost as if I were on an episode of a hoarder show. The tables are lined with old magazines, books, and newspapers.

If you missed a headline from the early 2000s, this house has it saved.

Maverick smiles at me from the kitchen, standing over the stove in his element, and I make my way to him.