Page 1 of SaaS & Class

Chapter 1 - Adam

~May~

The buzz of clippers and the clicks of scissors filled the air; barbers chatted with men getting trims and shaves. The competing scents of disinfectant and shaving cream vied for attention.

A teen with a weekend job weaved through the chairs, sweeping hair that had fallen to the floor. Faded posters of popular hairstyles from years prior lined the wall above the waiting area—packed with people because it was a Saturday.

Warm metal vibrated against my skin as my barber shaved the sides of my head the way I liked. Then he turned me away from the mirror to cut and style the top. Hair tickled my ears and neck as it fell away, and I responded appropriately during the obligatory small talk.

“And… done,” my barber announced as he turned the chair to face the mirror.

I nodded as I ran my fingers through the brown hair on top, then along the smooth sides.

“Perfect, as always,” I said. Then I sighed. “I hope to find somebody as good as you in Harris Cove.”

He chuckled. “Hey, if you want to pay for a plane ticket, you’re welcome to come sit in my chair any time.”

I laughed. “I think that would get expensive in a hurry.”

He grinned as he grabbed a soft brush and started using it along my neck where the drape protected my clothes from the stray hairs.

“I’m glad you came in to get freshened up before you move.”

I smiled. “I figured I should do it now. It might take me a bit of time to find a new barber, and I don’t want to get too shabby-looking.”

“It’s not that complicated, so I’m sure you’ll find somebody soon. Want a tip though?”

“Sure.”

“Give me your phone and let me take a few photos. That way you don’t have to describe it. They’ll see how you like it.”

I nodded. “That’s a good idea.” I shifted to pull my phone from my pocket, unlocked it, and handed it over.

He took several photos, then handed back my phone. “There you go. If a barber can’t at least get close after seeing those, then you’ll need to shop around until you find one who can.”

“Thanks, man.”

“No prob.”

He pulled off the drape. Then I stood, and I followed him to the register. I paid, and he was already calling up the next man from the waiting list as I stepped out into the warm desert air.

I took a deep breath and savored the dryness. I was born and raised in Valle Granja, and part of me was nervous about moving to Harris Cove.

Would I like living in a smaller city? It was going to be a big change going from a place boasting a population of half a million to one with under a hundred thousand people.

What would that do to my dating life? I’d never felt like the men in Valle Granja were right, and the selection of available alphas was about to get smaller.

But maybe that was a good thing. Fewer people meant fewer hangout spots, which paradoxically meant it might be easier to meet somebody without relying on dating apps.

My friend Taal and I could go to the local bars and wingman for each other.

At least he was also moving. Our other friend, Dylan, was already there as well—though he’d somehow found his fated mate within something like two weeks of landing.

I hoped I’d like Dylan’s new omega. Most of my friends were alphas, and it would be nice to have another omega I could hang out with.

Though I also hoped that fate would be as kind to me. I was ready to settle down with an alpha and start a family.

I stood on the sidewalk and tried to decide what to do. Part of me insisted I should head home and keep packing. Movers would come to my apartment on Monday to take my things, and then Taal and I were flying out on Tuesday afternoon.