Chapter 2 #2
I rinsed the conditioner from my client’s hair, towel-dried it, then walked her back to my station.
After blowing it out, I massaged oil into her scalp, then sectioned it to lay the groundwork for her fishtail ponytail.
Halfway through, I felt someone watching me. I glanced toward the waiting area. It was Adrienne, of course. Amia had paired her with Nicole.
Perfect.
Nicole caught my eye and gave me a look that said, Girl... don’t even. I smirked and kept working. My client must’ve picked up on the tension.
I don’t have time for this basic-ass bitch. Anytime a bitch willingly chases a nigga, and she knows he’s with someone, ain’t no telling what that hoe would do.
“Fumi, is everything okay?”
I smiled. “I’m good. Females get pressed as fuck sometimes. That’s all.”
BeBe laughed. “I heard Fumi keep hoes stressed and pressed.”
“I do.”
We both cracked up. Baby, I wasn’t thinking about my past. I was too busy living my dream.
About an hour later, I spun my client around to face the mirror. BeBe’s eyes lit up. “Oh my God, Fumi! I love it.”
“I knew you would.”
I snapped a few pictures for my content page before she reached into her tote.
“I got something for you.”
She handed me a paperback titled You Left My Heart on E by BeBe Dior.
I’d been doing BeBe’s hair for a while, so watching her become a published author made me ridiculously proud.
“I can’t wait to read this.”
Word traveled through the salon fast. Before BeBe could make it out the door, almost everybody wanted a copy. Lucky for them, she’d brought extras in her trunk. I still had about forty-five minutes before my next appointment when Keena made a beeline for my station.
“Fumi.”
“Yeah?”
“You got a few minutes?”
“Always.”
“Come wrap with me in my office.”
I followed her down the hallway. I loved working for Keena. She was the kind of boss who checked in on her people without hovering. I dropped into the recliner across from her desk as she poured two mango mimosas. See, this is my kind of morning.
Keena slid one across the desk. I took a sip.
“Ooh, this is good.”
“I know.”
She laughed, then took a sip of her own.
“So...” Keena leaned back. “Amia told me you turned down a client today.”
“I did.”
“That’s not like you.”
“It isn’t.”
“So, what happened?”
I shrugged. “That hoe came in here to be messy.”
Keena’s eyes lit up. “Oh yeah?”
“Yes.”
She grinned. “I like messy shit.”
“I know you do.” I laughed. “But not in my place of business.”
I pointed around her office. “I’m not about to entertain that bitch here. I work too hard to have my name attached to drama. If it ain’t directed, it ain’t respected.”
Keena nodded. “So...” She smiled over the rim of her glass. “Who is the nigga?”
“My ex.”
“Hood?”
“Unfortunately.”
She whistled. “Damn... he must’ve cut that bitch loose quick.”
“Probably.”
“So...” She tilted her head. “You know why Adrienne came in here today?”
“Mmmhmm.”
“I figured.”
Her eyes drifted over my outfit before she smirked. “I see you dressed for the occasion.”
I looked down at my gray Nike set and Wolf Grey 5s.
“If you stay ready...”
“You ain’t gotta get ready,” Keena finished.
We both laughed. She took another sip.
“So...” She raised an eyebrow. Hood reached out yet?”
“Nope.”
Keena smiled to herself. “Oh...” She nodded slowly. “She pressed for real.”
I chuckled.
“Hoes always know who really got a niggas heart.”
I finished kicking it with Keena before heading back to my station. Before I left her office, we prayed together. Hopefully, that brief run-in with Adrienne was the first and last.
I felt lighter.
My life is simple now, and I plan to keep it that way. These days, I choose myself. I choose my peace.
Every fucking time.
As I walked back toward my station, Nicole stopped me in the hallway.
“Bitch...” She shook her head. “You handled that way better than I would’ve.”
I laughed. “Nicole... I’m changing.”
“I know.” She folded her arms. “But you still should’ve set the tone so that hoe would’ve known… I burned that hoe’s scalp on purpose with the pressing comb.”
“Oh, she knows.” I shrugged. “If she wants a reaction or a conversation from me, she can pay for my services.”
Nicole frowned. “What?”
“I don’t entertain anything for free.”
Nicole threw her head back and laughed. “You ain’t wrong…” We slapped hands. “I’m proud of you.” She smiled. “The old Fumi would’ve been upside that hoe’s head.”
“Yep.”
“But that ain’t me no more.”
Nicole leaned in. “I ain’t even gon’ lie... I was being nosy.”
I pointed a finger at her. “Nicole...” She started laughing. “Save it. I don’t wanna hear any of it.”
“I wasn’t trying to start anything.”
“I know.”
I smiled. “I ain’t wishing bad on nobody.” My momma always told me...The same way you get a nigga... is the same way you’ll lose him.”
Nicole nodded. “Your momma wasn’t lying.”
I looked back toward my station.
“I’m gonna enjoy the rest of my day.”
“Fumi…”
“Yeah…”
“If the hoe knew better, she would do better. Now she knows.”
“And I don’t give a fuck about them folks’ business.”
With that... I went back to work. I grabbed my combs and clips, took a deep breath, and went back to doing what I did best...
Hair.
Making black women look fly as fuck. The rest of my day went by surprisingly smoothly. A couple of times, I reached for my phone to call Nuri and tell her what happened.
I stopped myself.
No. I prayed about it. I’m not going to talk about this situation again. What’s done is done.
By the time I finished with my last client, I fully intended to step out for a drink. Now... I’d rather not.
Something felt different. I couldn’t quite explain it, but I sensed a shift. For some reason... Home felt like the safest place. Besides, I already had a bottle of wine chilling in the refrigerator.
All I needed was the perfect meal to go with it. Before leaving the salon, I opened the Instacart app and ordered a few groceries to be delivered to the house.
The less I had to be out tonight... the better. Tonight wasn’t about chasing a vibe. It was about protecting my peace. For the first time in a long time... it felt like enough.