family not shrouded in deception.
I say a polite goodbye
to Eliza and turn on my heel, walking into the beauty salon. It
unnerves me that she knows where I was on Saturday. That I was with
Tyler . I wouldn’t be surprised
if she had me followed.
Mac turns his head as I
walk in. “That better not be donuts, honey, or you’re gonna fuck
my diet right up!”
“It’s a ball gown,”
I say. “From my future mother in law.” I roll my eyes, still
irritated at the conversation we just had. I frown defiantly. “I’m
not wearing it.”
“Oooh,” Mac
exclaims. He considers himself a fabulous fashionista. “Wipe that
ugly scowl off your face and try it on!” he yells.
“Where’s Janie?”
I ask.
“Not in today, and
we’re light on clients, so we have all the time in the world for
you to model that dress!” Mac explains.
Grabbing the box, I
walk into one of the treatment rooms. Arguing
with Mac is pointless . He nags better than most of the
women I’ve ever known. I open the box and gasp. The dress is made
of a perfectly colored lemon silk. I finger the delicate fabric
before carefully lifting it from the box. The fabric swishes as it
gently falls before me.
I stare in awe at the
luminous material. The dress is strapless, the open back draping down
elegantly. I think it may reach the very bottom of my back. Across
the exposed back are a series of braided silver chains. The gown
looks like it’ll hug my frame tightly, until it splays out
elegantly at my knees.
Though I hate to admit
it, I am excited to try it on. I slip the dress on and close my eyes
as the soft fabric caresses my bare skin. There isn’t a mirror in
this room, so I have to walk out into the shop to see how it looks.
Mac is standing near the front door, talking to someone. I can’t
quite see who from this vantage point. The door shuts behind me, and
Mac turns. Revealing Tyler.
Mac squeals, though I
don’t react. But my eyes are fixed on Tyler. He stands completely
still, his eyes capturing mine, not wavering. I’m
suddenly frozen . Frozen by the way his gaze warms me, so
tenderly. Mac looks between the two of us, his head shooting back and
forth like a psychotic carnival clown game. Realizing how this must
look, I quickly avert my eyes.
“You promised to stop
stalking me,” I say with a small smile.
“I did, but you
dropped this,” Tyler replies, raising his hand, exposing my single
house key on its worn silver ring.
“Oh.” I say,
embarrassed that I was so sure of myself.
“You look beautiful,”
he says.
“I like the dress.
I’d like it more if it hadn’t come from your mother, though,” I
spit.
“I try never to
compliment my mother, but she chose well.” Tyler says, giving me an
approving smile. “Although, it is a little formal for work.” The
drooling Tyler has now disappeared, and the familiar smart ass is
back.
“It’s for some
charity thing on Saturday.” The tone in my voice makes my
abhorrence of the pretentious parties very obvious.
“I sympathize,”
Tyler says seriously. “I’d better go.” He turns towards the
door to walk out.
I open my mouth to say
goodbye, but Mac beats me to it.
“You know, I don’t
really need Emily here today. In case you can’t tell, it’s like a
zombie apocalypse in here. Dead as hell. Why don’t you two kids
take the day off?” Mac shoots me an or
else glare.
“Janie won’t be
impressed,” I rebut.
“I’ll tell her it
was my idea,” Mac replies.
“What if it gets
busy?” I counter.
“Then I’ll
entertain the waiting clients with my witty charm, and they’ll
forget that I took two hours to wax their eyebrows,” Mac replies
firmly.
“What if—” I
start.
“What if what?” Mac
asks.
Tyler leans against the
countertop, a small, satisfied smile playing on his lips.
“I’m sure Tyler’s
busy,” I say.
“Are you busy?” Mac
asks Tyler directly.
“Not a damn thing on
the agenda,” Tyler replies, shooting me a now-smug smile.
“You’re
I say a polite goodbye
to Eliza and turn on my heel, walking into the beauty salon. It
unnerves me that she knows where I was on Saturday. That I was with
Tyler . I wouldn’t be surprised
if she had me followed.
Mac turns his head as I
walk in. “That better not be donuts, honey, or you’re gonna fuck
my diet right up!”
“It’s a ball gown,”
I say. “From my future mother in law.” I roll my eyes, still
irritated at the conversation we just had. I frown defiantly. “I’m
not wearing it.”
“Oooh,” Mac
exclaims. He considers himself a fabulous fashionista. “Wipe that
ugly scowl off your face and try it on!” he yells.
“Where’s Janie?”
I ask.
“Not in today, and
we’re light on clients, so we have all the time in the world for
you to model that dress!” Mac explains.
Grabbing the box, I
walk into one of the treatment rooms. Arguing
with Mac is pointless . He nags better than most of the
women I’ve ever known. I open the box and gasp. The dress is made
of a perfectly colored lemon silk. I finger the delicate fabric
before carefully lifting it from the box. The fabric swishes as it
gently falls before me.
I stare in awe at the
luminous material. The dress is strapless, the open back draping down
elegantly. I think it may reach the very bottom of my back. Across
the exposed back are a series of braided silver chains. The gown
looks like it’ll hug my frame tightly, until it splays out
elegantly at my knees.
Though I hate to admit
it, I am excited to try it on. I slip the dress on and close my eyes
as the soft fabric caresses my bare skin. There isn’t a mirror in
this room, so I have to walk out into the shop to see how it looks.
Mac is standing near the front door, talking to someone. I can’t
quite see who from this vantage point. The door shuts behind me, and
Mac turns. Revealing Tyler.
Mac squeals, though I
don’t react. But my eyes are fixed on Tyler. He stands completely
still, his eyes capturing mine, not wavering. I’m
suddenly frozen . Frozen by the way his gaze warms me, so
tenderly. Mac looks between the two of us, his head shooting back and
forth like a psychotic carnival clown game. Realizing how this must
look, I quickly avert my eyes.
“You promised to stop
stalking me,” I say with a small smile.
“I did, but you
dropped this,” Tyler replies, raising his hand, exposing my single
house key on its worn silver ring.
“Oh.” I say,
embarrassed that I was so sure of myself.
“You look beautiful,”
he says.
“I like the dress.
I’d like it more if it hadn’t come from your mother, though,” I
spit.
“I try never to
compliment my mother, but she chose well.” Tyler says, giving me an
approving smile. “Although, it is a little formal for work.” The
drooling Tyler has now disappeared, and the familiar smart ass is
back.
“It’s for some
charity thing on Saturday.” The tone in my voice makes my
abhorrence of the pretentious parties very obvious.
“I sympathize,”
Tyler says seriously. “I’d better go.” He turns towards the
door to walk out.
I open my mouth to say
goodbye, but Mac beats me to it.
“You know, I don’t
really need Emily here today. In case you can’t tell, it’s like a
zombie apocalypse in here. Dead as hell. Why don’t you two kids
take the day off?” Mac shoots me an or
else glare.
“Janie won’t be
impressed,” I rebut.
“I’ll tell her it
was my idea,” Mac replies.
“What if it gets
busy?” I counter.
“Then I’ll
entertain the waiting clients with my witty charm, and they’ll
forget that I took two hours to wax their eyebrows,” Mac replies
firmly.
“What if—” I
start.
“What if what?” Mac
asks.
Tyler leans against the
countertop, a small, satisfied smile playing on his lips.
“I’m sure Tyler’s
busy,” I say.
“Are you busy?” Mac
asks Tyler directly.
“Not a damn thing on
the agenda,” Tyler replies, shooting me a now-smug smile.
“You’re
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