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“If you need us to cover the desk today, we can.” Shelley’s voice broke into her thoughts.
Cheryse stood straighter and turned to find four of the stylists had gathered, giving her sympathetic looks. She nodded, realizing they were trying to be kind. “Thank you. I’m okay.”
If she left, she actually would fall apart.
She repeated the breathing techniques and told herself that she would just have to believe the fantasy Hunter had brought up the night before—that none of this was true, that Trent was still alive. Heck, maybe he was just out on assignment and he would text her any minute. Yes. The thought made her smile. If Trent texted her, it was usually a funny meme or off-color joke. Trent had always been right on the edge.
Well, until he’d settled down with Liberty.
Her heart ached again. She pulled out her phone and checked to see if Liberty had texted her back. No.
Cheryse needed to go visit her, but she had no idea what to say. Her eyelashes fluttered, and she did the breathing technique again. She would just pretend that Trent was on some mission. It worked for about three hours.
Until Hunter walked into the salon.
She was grateful that he had taken her up on the offer to cut his hair, but simultaneously that sharp-tipped dagger was back in her heart. Hunter had been in really terrible shape the night before, yet no one would understand what he was going through if they didn’t know him. His face no longer reflected his pain. He wore a goatee and a sober look, and his dark, wavy hair was almost down to his shoulders. He pulled off his sunglasses and gave her a half smile, the kind that didn’t reach his eyes. “Hey.”
She wanted to ask about Amy, but all she could do was go to him and fall into his arms. Her heartbeat pulsed as she remembered the intensity of that kiss the night before. The man had always been intense. She had to be strong for him. She pulled back and said, “Glad you came. Give me five and you’ll be up.”
He nodded and moved to a chair in the little lobby. Rather than sit down, he stood by the window and looked outside.
She finished up Pastor Henry by fixing his style. “Good to go. Lily’s going to love it.”
The pastor got to his feet. His eyes were fixed on Hunter. “Thank you.” He tugged out a twenty-dollar bill and handed it to her.
“It’s okay, Pastor. I don’t want your money.”
Henry turned to face her. “By all counts, I don’t think it is okay.” He squeezed her hand and nodded to Hunter when he said, “I don’t think it is at all.”
They held each other’s gaze for a bit, and eventually she nodded, pocketing the money. She was in no mood to argue over twenty dollars today.
Pastor Henry moved to Hunter and put a hand on his shoulder. “Hey there.”
Hunter turned and met the pastor’s eyes. “Hi, Henry.”
The pastor had always been so full of compassion, and he wasn’t skimpy with anyone, but especially not with those he considered family. He embraced Hunter. “Don’t forget we love you. We love you so much.”
Hunter was stiff at first. His eyes connected with Cheryse’s, and then he allowed himself to be hugged. “Thanks.”
Cheryse found herself tearing up.
Pastor Henry pulled back, nodding at her. “Thanks, Cheryse.”
She plastered on her salon smile and waved at the pastor. “See ya.”
The pastor stepped through the door and it chimed as he left.
Hunter stared at her, looking out of sorts.
She gestured to her chair, wiping beneath her eyes, and tried to inject some lightheartedness into her voice. “Sit, sit. This cut is way overdue.”
Without protest, he sat. Trent tried to entertain her with bad jokes, and Hunter was usually the one who wanted to talk. But today, he was reticent.
She grabbed her salon cape and robotically put it around his neck, and then she added a layer of foam fabric to prevent any of the hair from getting down past his neckline. His eyes weren’t as bloodshot as yesterday. They were clear, but she knew the truth, and her heart was about to rip itself out for him.
It was time to use professionalism. She put her hands on his shoulders and met his eyes in the salon mirror. “What are you thinking with your hair?”
He hesitated, then blinked, coming back from wherever his mind had wandered. “Uh, I guess let’s take it off. High and tight.”
