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Char put the plant on one of the stations and grabbed my hands, pulling me to a chair. Her face split with the kind of smile that made you instantly relax, as if you’d found an instant friend. “Girl, I’ve seen a thing or two, don’t you worry. We have some women from Jersey who come in when they vacation down here during the season. If I can get through that level of hairspray, I’m sure your dye job won’t phase me.”
Despite her reassurance, I saw the wince on her face in the mirror when I pulled my hat off. She covered it quickly though, running her hands through my hair to get a handle on what had happened.
“It’s not the best, Kenna, I’ll tell you that. But your hair is super healthy despite the bleach, so I think we can fix this without anyone knowing what happened.” She looked up and locked eyes with me in the mirror. “What do you say we go back to your regular auburn, but phase in some honey highlights to soften you up?”
My shoulders finally relaxed away from my ears. “Sounds perfect.”
She smiled as bright as the sun. “We’ll have Dec Boggs falling all over himself when we’re done with you!”
My face went up in flames. “Oh no! No, you have the wrong impression. We’re just neighbors and he offered to give me a ride.”
Char’s smile didn’t fade as she got busy pulling bottles and bowls and brushes out of the cabinets to the right of the mirror. “Oh, I don’t know, Kenna. I spied him opening the door for you and I nearly came without my vibrator.”
I just about choked on my own spit. Where I was from, we never talked this freely. Justin and I definitely hadn’t. Maybe if I had, I might have kept my husband’s attention. No. Fuck that. I was not to blame in any way for his infidelity.
“Yeah, well. He is pretty and the tattoos are intriguing, but I’m still married. Currently in the middle of a divorce.”
Char mixed dye in her bowl, coming back over to me with an entire cart full of foil sheets. “Oh lordie, tell me all about it, sweetie. I’ve got nothing but time and an insatiable need to know the juicy details.”
I had a feeling Char knew a lot of juicy details about the residents of Sunshine Key. She had an open, friendly way about her that led one to word vomit their entire life story while they sat in this chair. By the time I stood to wash out the twenty pounds of foil in my hair, she’d had some choice words for my soon-to-be ex and his new lady. She’d also bolstered me up about my soon-to-be gorgeous hair and my skin, saying Justin was a fool to step out on me. I didn’t know that I believed her, but it sure was nice to hear.
My stomach was growling, but there was no time to stop for a snack. I texted Dec that I would be ready shortly, but he didn’t text back. Char had the round brush in my hair, working on blowing out the last section before she’d let me spin back around and see her creation. Literally anything would be better than what I’d walked in with, but nothing prepared me for when she spun me around.
A woman I didn’t recognize sat staring back at me. In a good way this time. She had a stupid Sunshine Key T-shirt on, but the hair looked like I’d walked straight off the pages of a celebrity magazine. Controlled beach waves of auburn, laced in just the right spots with honey highlights made me look a full five years younger. Back before life and jackass husbands had worn me down.
I leaned toward the mirror and pinched my cheek, just to be sure it was me. Char threw her arms around me in a surprise hug from behind.
“Your ex is going to rue the day he looked at another woman.”
She said it so fiercely I internalized the idea and let it roll around in my head. Char and Liz had both been right. This whole shakeup with my job and my marriage might just be the best, most painful thing that had ever happened to me.
“You are my new best friend in Sunshine Key,” I whispered, squeezing Char back, not the least bit joking.
“And you’re mine, Kenna girl. Take my number. We can go shopping together.” She released me with a giggle.
I stood and caught sight of my outfit in the mirror. I looked like a tourist trap had vomited all over me. It felt good to laugh with her. “I desperately need that, thank you.”
Dec’s big truck pulled up outside in the same spot he’d dropped me off in. He climbed out, coming inside the shop and stopping short when he saw me.
“Whoa.” His gaze swung to Char. “Nicely done.”
As far as compliments go, it was subpar, but at this point, beggars couldn’t be choosers. As Dec pulled out his credit card to pay for my hair at the desk up front, I bumped his arm purposely.
“Thank you,” I murmured.
His head swiveled, bright brown eyes burning into me as he stared. “My pleasure.”
Something about the way he said it, the words smooth as top-shelf whiskey, made my whole body shiver. Char handed back his credit card and caught my eyes, waggling her eyebrows. I hoped Dec didn’t catch the way my cheeks gave away my embarrassment. Damn this pale skin.
I hugged Char with promises to call her soon to get together. Then Dec opened the truck door and helped me up. As we zoomed across town to the marina, the storm clouds were gathering quick in the sky above us.
“Does it always rain in the afternoons?”
He took a hard right into the parking lot without so much as touching the brakes. I grabbed the handle over the passenger side window and prayed for safety.
“Pretty much. Summer in Florida is the rainy season. It’ll let up in a couple of months, and with any luck the hurricanes will miss us this year.”
“Hurricanes?”
