AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Gross.” Blake’s eyebrows push together. “I know you’re capable of taking care of yourself, Libby, but you don’t have to be alone. I’d rather this sick-o hang out with you so he can let me know how you’re doing since I know you won’t.” She's not wrong. I don't need people checking in on me, and I sure as hell won't entertain it if she tries.
“No offense, Ty, but I’d rather just be alone. You guys get back home, I’ll watch movies and nap all day. In fact, if all three of you head out now, that’d be fine with me.” I don’t really want to be alone, but it’s worth it to not deal with their sympathy. Being a burden is one of the worst feelings.
“Mind if I stay?” Everyone looks to Colt, who is leaning on the counter and looking only at me.
“Can you stay…here?” I clarify.
“In town,” he shrugs. “Ty needs to get back, but I’d really like to hang around for a couple of days. If you don’t mind keeping me company, I’d really appreciate it.” His focus moves to Blake. “I’ll grab a hotel, so I’m not imposing.”
Blake looks from Colt to me, and back to Colt. “I mean…” Her voice trails off as she looks at me once again, and I see the twinkle in her eyes.
“You’re just going to stay?” Tyson asks, confusion written all over his face.
“Only if Libby will have me.” Colt finds me again. I’m sure the other two are looking at me too, waiting for my answer, but all I see is whiskey brown eyes. I can’t look anywhere else if I wanted to. Whenever he pulls me in with his gaze, nothing else seems to matter.
“I don’t mind.” I say, catching myself off guard with my sureness..
“Good.” His smile goes straight to my stomach, stirring what seems to be butterflies that have long since gone dormant. How can a man be this gorgeous?
“Great. Glad that’s settled.” Blake is way too excited about this. But I should expect nothing less. She's everyone's hype-man.
“How am I supposed to get home, jackass?” Tyson asks, clearly annoyed. It takes a lot to get him riled up, but apparently being stranded an hour away from home will do it.
“Take my truck.” Colt pulls his keys from his pocket and tosses them.
“You’re just going to be stranded here?” Bewilderment clashes against Tyson’s usual cocky persona.
“What can I say,” Colt says, holding my eyes once more, “I like living dangerously.”
9
Istretch my back while my last client gets seated at my station. It’s been a busy day at the salon, but thankfully Blake is working too, so it’s been entertaining.
“You want to come with me to meet Ty for dinner tomorrow?” Blake doesn’t make eye contact as she works on her client.
“I am not crashing your monthly dinner date with your brother.”
“Gross. Don’t call it a date. I wouldn’t mind the tag-a-long. There’s only so many meals I can eat alone with the guy. If it wasn’t for mom threatening to chop all my hair off if we don’t eat together at least once a month, I’d go an entire year without him and be just fine.”
Turning the clippers off, I pick up my scissors to trim the top of the hair in front of me. I have my normal clients that I love, but these random walk-ins barely register as faces to me after cutting hair for so many years. “Your mom is pretty scary.”
“Of course she is. Where do you think I get it from?” Blake walks away from our conversation to rinse another client's head. She typically overlaps appointments, and it isn’t by accident. She likes to be busy — really busy. Sitting still makes her crazy, which tends to be a twelve on a scale one-to-ten. The Latina gene runs strong in her.
I finish dusting my client's neck and take the cape off, sending him to the front to pay and head toward the washing station. Blake is doing a conditioning treatment on her blue-haired regular, so I sit in the chair next to her.
“Where are you guys eating this time?” They typically take turns picking where to go. Blake tends to stick to her usual places, but Tyson likes to explore. Just like other areas of his life.
“I don’t know. It’s Ty’s turn, so it'll probably be somewhere stupid expensive.” Of course it would be. Tyson never flaunts his money, but he does enjoy nice food and nice cars.
“You don’t think he’ll mind me showing up with you?” It’s been a week since he and Colt showed up at Blake’s. Usually I see Tyson a couple of times a year, but never this close together. Having a meal with two of my friends sounds fantastic, though. Plus, there’s always the possibility of running into Colt. His stay in town last week was cut short. We were about halfway through Deadpool when Colt got a call from his mom and he had to leave. He didn't explain what was going on, but he owes me nothing.
Looking up from what she’s doing for the first time, Blake pushes her brows up. “Would Ty care if you show up? No, little bird, I don’t think it’ll be an issue.” She hates that Tyson has a soft spot for me. Mainly because he’s a huge flirt and runs through women like skittles. But nothing will ever happen between us. He might flirt relentlessly, but he’s like the brother I never had.
“You’re just upset I’m his favorite sister,” I tease over my shoulder as I go back to my station.
“Yeah, that,” she mumbles, and a smile spreads across my face. It feels good to feel good.
Working the late shift isn’t something I ever do, but I didn’t want to be home alone. Plus, the quietness of an empty salon is pretty blissful.
