Chapter 24 #2
With my hair washed, treated, and massaged, I’m sat back up as Holly towel dries my hair.
I’m not sure where the other two boys are, if they are hanging around the salon watching me or if they have pissed off, because I can’t hear any signs of them, and right now, I don’t care.
I just want to block it all out, everything River, Slater, and Kasen.
Especially the way Slater just made me feel so owned, carrying on with his PDA show that no one needed.
“You sure you don’t want a cut? Even just a trim will make a big difference to these split ends,” she asks, inspecting the damage.
I stare at my reflection, wondering if I could go for a cut.
It’s not something I have thought about.
The image of Bodhi wrapping my hair around his fist comes back to me, sending a shiver right through me.
Damn him. Those three keep playing with me.
Maybe I should mess with them a little, make sure he can’t hold me like that again.
It might have been hot, but it was also his way of trying to control me, I’m sure of it.
My top teeth sink into my lip, and I glance over my shoulder to see if I can locate my babysitters.
“Where did Bodhi and River go?” I ask her quietly.
She motions to the glass front window of the salon where River and Bodhi are leaning into a wall. Bohdi is on a call while River is watching him, the two of them distracted enough this might just work.
My face scrunches up as a thrill of excitement races through me. “You think you could do something drastic?”
Her grin widens. “Now you’re talking my language, girl. What do you want?”
I glance across the wall where she has a few posters of models hanging, the one in the center catching my eye. Her hair is just longer than shoulder length going to shorter at the back. Not something I have ever tried, but what the hell. “That.” I motion to it.
“Love it, girl.” She pulls out her snips and a comb and gets to work as a stupid grin crosses my face, already knowing the horrified reaction I’m going to get from the boys. Well, maybe not Slater, he doesn’t seem to give a shit. But the other two will, and I can’t wait.
“Can I ask you something?” I check with Holly when she’s about halfway through my cut.
“Anything?”
“This shop is fancy. I remember your old one, it was so cozy and warm. Was it your choice to have the upgrade or was it… forced on you?” I ask, trying not to sound as bitchy as I feel about it. She’s being so nice to me.
She glances out the window, clearly looking for the boys again. “This salon does very well for me, Dove. Throne Enterprises have helped so many businesses like mine to really expand.”
Cryptic, but I guess it’s what I expected. No one would be brave enough to badmouth them, especially when they are in earshot. “And you pay monthly for the opportunity.”
“That’s how business works, honey, nothing comes for free.” She spins my chair round as she’s doing it so I can no longer see myself.
She’s brushing me off, I can feel it, when we both know you don’t pay cash in wads to run a business; the rent would be sent through electronic transfer.
That payment made to Bodhi was something else.
The boys were all horrified at the way the Southern Breakers were using me, but aren’t they just using places like this the same?
Skimming profits off the top to line their own dirty pockets.
That’s what it looks like to me, anyway.
She checks the front of my hair, making sure both sides line up, then pulls out a blow-dryer, grinning at me like a Cheshire cat as she styles my new do.
“You’re going to love this, girl. You look so grown-up, I wish I took a before photo.
” When she’s done, she spins the chair around to reveal my new look.
“Holy shit,” I squeal. I look so different I can’t even process it. Neat and put together when we all know I’m anything but. I feel lighter too, moving my head from side to side as my new do brushes over my shoulders effortlessly.
“Do you like it?”
My grin widens. “I love it.”
The front glass door swings open with a clattering as both boys appear in the opening. “What did you do?” River calls, his eyes wide with I think horror.
Bodhi slaps his arm and chuckles out a dark laugh. “Dude, K is going to kill you.”
“Nope, this was all you.” He laughs back.
I smirk at the boys. “Got a trim.” I don’t ask if they like it, because I don’t care.
I feel like a whole new me, and that’s all that matters.
I also have one less way that Slater can try and control me.
And do I care that he might get in shit with Kasen?
Absolutely not. This is my body, and I will do whatever the fuck I want with it.
I hope Kasen hates it. That would make my day.
“Thanks, Holly. You have out done yourself.”
She takes off the cape and towel, and I stand, flicking my hair just for emphasis.
She takes my hand and pulls me toward the counter with her, grabbing a couple of products on the way.
“When Kasen said he had some girl living with him, I didn’t realize it was you.
But I got you, girl.” She packs the products into a bag for me then hands it over the counter.
“This will get you by till you come in next.”
“Thank you.”
“I’ve got you booked in for four weeks’ time as well. Make sure she’s here for that appointment, Bodhi.”
I glance back at him and want to laugh. He looks like he’s in shock, quiet for the first time ever. With a smug smirk, I hand him the bag of products for him to carry. “You were right, Slater, I did need a little pampering.”
“You look fucking amazing,” River practically growls as I pass by him. He turns and falls into step with me as I walk out the front door. “Seriously, babe.”
My insides do a happy dance. Wait, what! That wasn’t supposed to be his reaction. He’s supposed to hate it.
His arm snakes around my waist, and he pulls me into his solid body, inhaling deeply. “Fuck, Bodhi, she smells like sunshine.”
I step away from him with a glare. “Don’t sniff me,” I snip, even though my body lights up all over by the way he reacts to me.
And even though Bodhi is a step behind us, I hear him inhale deeply and growl.
It’s subtle. He’s not obvious like River, but fuck, it does something to me it shouldn’t.
I shouldn’t want their approval, I don’t.
But knowing little old me gets them in a tailspin does feel more empowering than I ever could have imagined. I’m in more trouble than I thought.