SaaS & Class (Summertime Instalove #2)

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.

It meant I had less than forty-eight hours to prepare.

On the flip side, I was under orders from the moving company to have things ready to be packed, but they were going to handle packing for insurance reasons. That meant that I just had to worry about making sure I had whatever I needed for the short-term set aside.

A goodbye dinner with my family was scheduled for the next night…

I sighed, then started down the strip mall toward a small coffee shop that I liked. A small bell tinkled over the door as I walked in. It seemed to be the perfect time—between the early morning and lunch rush—as only a few tables were occupied and there was no line.

“Welcome,” said a college-aged young man whom I hadn’t seen before. “What can I get started for you?”

I smiled. “Matcha iced tea, please. Plain.”

He started tapping on the screen of the point of sale. “Iced matcha latte… what else?”

I sighed. “Not a latte. Matcha iced tea. No milk, no flavor.”

“Uhhh…” he started, then started looking around.

“I’ve got you, Adam,” called an employee I recognized from behind the espresso machine—Erin. “Terry, ring it in as an iced green tea and add matcha.”

“But… a matcha costs more than a green tea,” the young man, Terry, argued.

She laughed. “Because it’s usually a latte and that accounts for the milk. But matcha is… green tea. Don’t worry, this is what the boss said to do.”

“Ummm… ok.”

He rang me up and seemed satisfied when I dropped a couple bucks into the tip jar. Then Erin called him over and talked him through proper temperature, sifting and frothing, before pouring the hot matcha concentrate over a cup of ice and water.

I smiled as I accepted it and took a sip. “Thanks, Erin! You always get it right. I’m gonna miss you.”

She blinked. “Huh?”

“Oh.” I rubbed the back of my neck with my free hand. “I guess I didn’t tell you. I’m moving this next week.”

“Wow… It’s gonna be weird not seeing you every weekend.”

I nodded. “Yeah. But it’s a promotion that I wanted so…”

“Congrats! Hope you find a coffee shop you like wherever you’re going.”

I grinned. “Thanks.” I held up my cup. “I had better get going. Take care of yourself.”

“You too.”

I walked out and was trying to decide what else to do when my phone buzzed. I pulled it free and saw that I’d received a text from Taal.

I’m in limbo and can’t figure out what I want to do. Wanna come over and game?

I smiled and hit the phone icon.

“Yo,” he answered. “Is that a yes?”

I laughed. “Yep. I’m already out. Just got a haircut. Want me to swing by Slice of Heaven on the way?”

“Yes, please. I’ll call it in and pay.”

“Cool. See you soon.”

“See you soon.”

I hung up and smiled. He and I were moving to the same city, and would probably be just as tight there. But an afternoon just hanging out seemed the perfect way to wind down our time in Valle Granja.