Chapter 11
Savannah
"You have ten minutes before your next one," Bree said after my customer walked out.
I stared at her absentmindedly from the other side of the counter.
"You might as well eat something because KK's coming in next, and she called to make sure you had time to do more blonde.
" She did air quotes around the phrase 'more blonde' because KK never had quite enough.
I shook my head and smiled.
"Isn't it as light as it can get?" she asked.
"Pretty much," I said, nodding. "She has a ton of dark hair, though, so I do need to go eat something." I patted the desk in a gesture of goodbye. "Just text me when she gets here."
"Oh, your friend called a minute ago."
I turned to her with a curious expression.
"From last week. The big, handsome guy you grew up with. EJ."
"What'd he say?"
"He wanted another haircut next week, and I told him you'd be in Italy."
"Did he schedule something?"
She shook her head. "He said he was going to text you on your phone."
"Okay thanks," I said with a casual, serious expression that did not at all reflect what I was feeling.
Inside, I felt joy, elation, happiness, excitement, hope, relief…
all the good things. I told him not to come back for a haircut, and the fact that he was trying to schedule one just really made my day.
I held the stoic expression and walked off to take a break.
I went directly to my phone.
It was on the shelf at my station, and I looked at it as soon as I possibly could.
I hadn't heard from him at all in the last week.
I had told him not to call, and yet I was overjoyed in this moment.
I had my notifications silenced, so nothing appeared until I pressed the button to open the text app.
I was excited and breathless by the time I saw his name on the screen. EJ Decker had sent me a text, and I shook as I got to it and began to read.
EJ:
Hey Savanna, I've been thinking about you and wanted to catch up. I called to schedule a haircut and heard you'd be overseas next week. Just wondering if you could fit me in sometime before.
Could I fit him in? What sort of backwards world were we living in?
EJ Decker was way too famous and desirable to be texting me these things.
I had checked his social media more times than I should've during the last week, and I knew how busy, rich, famous, and desirable he was.
I read the message again, blinking at it and deciding what to say in return.
Evie came in as I was typing, and she had a question for me regarding an order we made and whether or not a certain type of shampoo was in it. I answered her question as patiently as I could, but I knew I had a ten-minute break, and I wanted to respond to EJ.
Me:
Yes, I'm heading to Italy in a few days, but I'll get you in anytime.
I hit send, and then I read it, cringing and thinking that I could've done a better job with my response.
"Oh, well," I said out loud.
"What?" Evie said, since she was still in the room and she heard me.
"Nothing, texting a friend," I assured her with a small smile.
Within seconds, he texted me back.
EJ:
Can I call you?
I needed to run.
Without drawing too much attention to myself, I moved as quickly as I could.
"I'm taking a quick break upstairs. I'll be back in a minute for KK," I explained to Evie as I moved quickly past her. I didn't go up to my apartment much while I was working, but she didn’t bat an eye at my sudden departure.
Once I was in the stairwell, I typed a text and sent it.
Me:
Yes, I'm available now.
I hit send, and my phone started ringing while I was still climbing the stairs. I was already breathless at the thought of talking to him, and the stairs were not helping matters. I slowed down to answer since I knew no one could hear me.
"Hello," I said, holding the phone to my ear.
"Hey, Savannah. It's good to hear your voice."
EJ's voice was low and sincere, and I felt like melting.
"Yeah? It's good to hear your voice, too," I said. "I have a quick break, so I'm on my way upstairs to my apartment for a minute," I said in a calm, measured tone. I was trying to conserve my breath as I made it to my door on the third floor. I went inside and closed the door behind me.
"When did you decide to go to Italy?"
"It was spur-of-the-moment. Gabe just told me to get my passport ready if I wanted to go to Italy with him, and I thought I couldn't pass."
"Oh, okay. I was just wondering about your trip. I was hoping to see you again next week, and it surprised me that you had decided to go there."
"Yeah, no, it's a last-minute thing for me.
I've been on a couple of trips with Gabe, but never this far.
Never to Europe. He's easy and fun to travel with, though.
He works, and I go explore." I stopped talking.
I had said enough, so I gave him time to respond.
I heard nothing for so long that I said, "EJ? "
"Yeah, no, I'm here. I was just… I want to see you, Savannah. I've been thinking about you."
His voice was perfect and deep, and it entered my ears in such a way that I closed my eyes so that I could feel the sensation it caused.
"Yeah, I'd love that. We could do dinner again. Or hang out."
"When would you want to?" he asked, my heart melting at the question.
"Anytime, as long as I'm not in Italy."
"Tonight?"
"Tonight?" I said. "Seriously? Yes. I'm hanging out with some friends later, but you would be welcome to come to that. I know one of the guys there would be pumped to meet you."
"These are friends from…"
"Church," I said, filling in the blank. "It's not a church group. They are just people I met there. We get together once a month for game night, and that happens to be tonight."
"Savannah, if I go over there today, could I spend some time with you this weekend before you go to Italy?"
"Sure," I said even though I didn't know what he meant by that.
"I was thinking about you."
"Me too," I said, knowing I was getting myself into trouble.
"You're leaving on Monday. I have a lot going on at work. We both have things next week. And ultimately, I know you aren't looking for a relationship. But I was wondering if you'd let me see you this weekend, for a few days, before you leave—just as friends. I'd like us to get to know—"
"Yes," I said, needing no more convincing. "I'm working tomorrow, though. I added extra Saturdays for the appointments I had to reschedule. I'll be working from eight to three. But if you're staying a couple of nights, we could spend time together whenever I'm not working."
I was in my living room by then, and things were quiet. I found myself short of breath as I spoke, so I took a deep breath.
"I'm still in Milwaukee right now, which is further from you. I'm thinking it's best to fly there since you're on such a tight schedule with your trip."
"Are you still talking about coming here tonight?"
"Yes. Is that okay? Can I come to your game thing?"
"Yes. I get off at seven tonight, and I'm heading straight to my friend's after. Would you need a ride or a place to stay or anything?"
"No, I'll stay at the same hotel as last time. I'll arrange a car and try to be there by seven so I can go with you. I have to check on flights, but I'm not far from the airport. I'll let you know if I can't be there by then, but I'm sure I can work it out."
I was so excited, I felt like I could just burst. "So, you're coming here and going with me to Vinny and Emma's tonight?" I asked. My voice was shaking because I was suddenly nervous and excited.
"Is that all right?" he asked.
"Yes," I said. "But Vinny's a big sports guy. He's going to know who you are."
"Oh, good. I'm hoping he'll be really impressed and tell you how great I am."
I wanted to reassure him that I knew exactly how great he was, but I didn't say that. I just let out a little laugh. "Are you seriously coming over tonight?"
"Yes. I would love to see you before Italy."
I knew this would lead to things between us, and I could have protested in that moment, but I didn't. I wasn't going to try to talk him out of it. I just answered with, "Okay, great, I'll see you at seven."
I had overbooked myself to get ready for my trip, and the hours until seven o'clock passed quickly. I finished my last customer five minutes early, and EJ was already waiting in the reception area when I walked her out.
I hadn't seen him in a week, and I was nervous and awkward when I was usually calm and cool with people.
He was standing in my salon.
I could hardly believe my eyes.
I had told him not to come back, and there he was, looking like a dream, wearing black slacks and a greyish-plum colored polo.
It was professional athletic attire, and the shirt was embroidered with the name of his gym.
His haircut was still fresh, and he was clean-shaven.
He looked like a sight for sore eyes. I had done my best to put EJ out of my mind for the last week, and there he was, on my doorstep again, looking utterly unforgettable.
I gave him a hug, and it felt so nice. I pulled back quickly and took a look at him.
"You look handsome in these clothes," I said.
"Is this from your gym?" I reached out and touched his chest where the name of his gym was embroidered in a bold logo.
I dropped my hand and looked at him, meeting his dark eyes.
"I know it's from your gym," I said before he had time to answer. "And I like it. It looks good on you."
I lowered my gaze, staring at the floor. I needed to remember that I had to treat him like I always would. I couldn’t let him see that my walls were crumbling.
"Thank you," he said. "I left straight from the gym in Milwaukee. This is the second time I've had to stop somewhere in Pittsburgh to buy a toothbrush."
I glanced at him, and he gave me the evidence of using that toothbrush.
He had a white-toothed smile that caused my blood to turn warm.
He had told me about his plans to drive home last time, so I knew it was the second time he had made on-the-spot plans to stay here.
I didn't let myself think of the implications of that.
"I have no explanation for my behavior," he continued with a shrug. "They're going to get to know me at the hotel."
"Where are you staying?"
"The same place as last time—right down the street. I've already been there."
"When did you get to Pittsburgh?" I asked, feeling like I had just talked to him on the phone.
"I got here like two hours ago."
"How?" I said, confused.
"There were no flights that would get me here on time, so my dad called in a favor. He's got friends. We left Milwaukee right away, and there was a Tahoe waiting for me in Pittsburgh. I've been here for two hours, getting settled. I already made my stop to buy the extra clothes."
I didn't know what to say.
"I'm sorry you had to wait," I said, since I was nervous and couldn't think of anything else.
"Don't be. You're five minutes early."
I glanced at the clock. "I am, aren't I?" I made a playfully thoughtful face. "Technically, I'm only three minutes early because I have two more minutes of cleaning to do back here."
Without giving it a second thought, I took his hand and pulled him along, pretending that I was really nonchalant, even though my heart was pounding.
I let go of his hand as we walked because I knew he was following me.
I wanted to keep hold of it, but I would never normally do that, so I dropped it.