Page 160 of When Love Takes Root

Kayden shrugged. “What? I asked.”

“Fair question.”

His brow shifted like he had not expected me to give him that.

I looked at him directly. “A man can talk about caring for your mama all day. Then drive like her life is a suggestion. I don’t do that.”

The edge in his eyes thinned for half a second.

JJ looked between us and grinned. “Well, damn.”

Celeste’s voice came quick. “Language.”

JJ lifted one hand. “My bad.”

Maya smiled into her sketchbook. “That was a good answer.”

Celeste kept her eyes on me. “It was.”

Kayden looked irritated that nobody could argue with it.

I finished packing my tools while Celeste closed out with Starr and got the kids situated. The shop moved toward evening around us. Capes went into hampers. Stations were wiped down. The repaired dryers hummed safely in the background without flicker, buzz, or hidden heat waiting behind the wall.

Juice loaded the final bag into the truck and clapped me on the shoulder. “Go have dinner, lover boy.”

“Don’t start.”

He lifted his hand toward Celeste’s family. “I’m not starting. I’m blessing. May the casseroles be hot, the children be merciful, and Kayden not ask for your driving record before dessert.”

“Goodbye, Juice.”

He grinned. “Text me if you need backup.”

“I won’t.”

“You say that now.”

He got into the truck with Darnell and Miguel, laughing at himself before anybody else got the chance.

I turned back toward the salon.

Celeste stood near the door with her purse on her shoulder, her keys in one hand, and Skye’s spelling test in the other. The kids waited outside under the awning, JJ leaning against his car, Maya sketching against her notebook, Zuri and Skye debating whether a stylish worm was better than a ribbon. Kayden stood a few steps from them, pretending to check his phone while his eyes tracked everything.

Celeste locked the front door, then turned to face me.

The gold letters on the window read Celestial Crowns Hair Haven.

She looked tired but lighter. I touched the back of her hand with two fingers.

“You ready?”

She looked up at me. “No.”

I smiled. “Honest.”

“I’m a little nervous.”

“So am I.”