by Hazel Kelly
“Why?”
“Cause I think you’d be taking over something far more financially and legally unstable than you realize.”
“So what should I do?”
“If you were my kid, I’d tell you to look for a new job.”
“And as your client?”
“The best I can do is ask you to sit tight. In the meantime, I’ll try to find out as much as I can about the fate of the salon and the status of the sexual harassment case.”
“Thanks, Nathan.”
Fiona was leaning back in her chair with her ears perked up like a cat’s.
“Sorry I can’t do more to help,” he said.
“It’s okay. I know you’re doing the best you can.”
“I’ll keep you posted,” he said. “Take care of yourself.”
“Will do.” I hung up the phone and dropped it on the couch.
“Well?” Fiona asked.
“He talked to the cops, but they didn’t give much away.”
“And what did he say when you suggested you take over the basic managerial stuff for the time being.”
“He seemed to think that was a terrible idea.”
She tilted her head. “Why?”
“I guess because Chuck was even shadier than we realized.”
“That doesn’t surprise me.”
“Seems like the place is in financial and legal ruin as far as Nathan is concerned.”
“Jesus.”
I sighed. “So the bad news is, I still have no job.”
“What’s the good news?”
“I won’t be going back there,” I said. “Cause that is not an option.”
Fiona covered her mouth and shook her head. “Well on that note, there’s vodka in the freezer.”
“What chasers do we have?”
“Coke. Orange Juice.”
“Any cranberry?”
“No, but if that’s what you want, I would be more than happy to go get it for you.”
“Maybe we could also get some cookie dough.”
“The kind that comes in the tube?”
“Yeah,” I said. “It’s been too long since I had some of that.”
Fiona smiled at me through sad eyes. “I’ll get my shoes.”
Chapter 12: Aiden
I took the morning off to go in and sign the lease, and while there were a few tweaks I wanted to make to the place before I showed it to anyone else, it felt good to slip the extra keys on my keychain.
I checked the time when I left Nick’s office. I was hoping I’d have time to see if Lucy wanted to grab lunch, but I would’ve been cutting it too tight considering I could never say good bye to her as easily as I predicted.
Plus, I wanted to be on my best behavior so that when it came time to leave the team, I was in good standing with everyone. After all, if I played my cards right, the college would be a great source of referrals for me going forward, referrals that would help me hit the ground running.
I raced towards the campus, hoping I’d at least have a few minutes to give Lucy a call and tell her the good news. I pulled into my usual space with plenty of time to spare. Tommy’s car was already in the stadium lot, along with two of the coaches’ cars, but they were always earlier than the rest of the team so I knew I had plenty of time.
I dialed Lucy’s number and waited anxiously for her voice to break the monotonous ringing.
“Hello there,” she said.
“Hello yourself.”
“You at work?” she asked.
“Actually I took the morning off.”
“And you didn’t invite me?”
“I had an appointment.”
“Everything alright?”
“Everything’s great actually.”
“Who’d you have to see?”
“Nick.”
“The realtor guy?”
“Yeah.”
“You sound happy? You have some good news or something?”
I smiled. “Guess who’s the proud owner of two thousand square feet of office space in Baylesbury Park?”
“Hmmmm.”
“Me!”
“Congratulations, Aiden. That’s wonderful news.”
“I know. I’m so excited to start decorating the place and hiring and doing all the little things I haven’t realized I’ll have to do.”
“I bet.”
“I can’t wait to show it to you.”
“I can’t wait to see it,” she said.
“You on your lunch break right now?”
“Sort of.”
“What does that mean?”
She blew air out from her lips so loudly it sounded like she was holding the phone out of a moving car window.
“What?” I asked.
“I’m sort of on a perpetual lunch break.”
“A perpetual lunch break?” I let my head fall back against the headrest. “What does that mean?”
“It means I don’t have a job anymore.”
“What are you talking about? Did Chuck fire you, too?” I gripped the wheel. “He didn’t try anything, did he? Oh my god Lucy if he fucking touched you I swear I’ll-”
“No. It’s nothing like that.”
“So what happened?”
“I just showed up the other day and there was a sign on the door that said the salon was closed until further notice.”
“Closed?”
“Nice, huh? I guess the police took Chuck into custody.”
“Shit.”
“I know. I’m starting to think he might be a pretty bad dude.”
“So the salon is just closed? That’s it?”
“That’s it,” she said. “I suggested to Nathan that he see if we could open it up and one of us girls could manage it.”
“Yeah.”
“But he thought it was a bad idea. Said it was a mess we shouldn’t take on.”
“Jesus, Lucy.”
“I know.”
“When was this?”
“Two days ago.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I’m telling you now.”
“Yeah,” I said. “But before. Why didn’t you tell me right when it happened?”
“Cause I was busy.”
“Busy doing what?”
“Drinking vodka and eating cookie dough with Fiona.”
I smiled. “I guess you’re entitled.”
“I thought so.”
“So what now?”
“Now Fiona and I are enjoying each other’s company while we look for work from inside our suddenly very expensive feeling apartment.”
“I’m so sorry, Lucy.”
“It’s going to be okay.”
“Of course it is.”
“We’re a long way off from having to sell our bodies.”
“If you change your mind, I’m prepared to keep you in business.”
“Thanks, Aiden. That’s very sweet.”
“I didn’t mean it to be.”
“I know,” she said.
“I feel like a dick now.”
“Why?”
“For bragging about my new place when you’re at home considering prostitution.”
“I’m not really considering it.”
“Good. Cause it would never work anyway.”
“Why not?”
“You’d have to price yourself out of the market.”
“I’m that good am I?”
“Better.”
“Thanks.”
“Unfortunately, that doesn’t change the fact that I feel like an ass.”
“You shouldn’t,” she said. “You’ve worked really hard to get to this point.”
It was nice of her to say, but a lot of my achievements were strictly down to luck.
“And knowing you’re that much closer to your dream is a win for me too,” she said. “I’m really proud of you.”
“Thanks.”
“I know this is going to be the beginning of a wonderful career.”
“Hopefully.”
“Before you kick things off, could I ask you a favor?”
“Anything.”
“Would you remind Claire that I’m available to do her friend’s hair for their weddings? Bridesmaids, too. Even mother of the bride, flower girls, catering staff-”
“So basically anyone’s hair?”
“Yeah,” she said. “You don’t need to mention that I’m between jobs or anything. Just that I’m available to help.”
“Of course,” I said. “I’m sure she’d be delighted to spread the word.”
“Thanks.”
“No worries.” I pursed my lips. “Lucy?”
“Yeah?”
“You know I’d never let you lose your place or sell your body.”
“To anyone but you?”
“Okay, I admit I was thinking it, but I wasn’t going to say it.”
“I know you too well.”
“Seriously though,” I said. “Everything’s going to work out.”
“I know.”
“I’m sure the universe has something really good lined up for you to make up for this shit.”
“It would be pretty crap if it didn’t.”
“I have a good feeling about it.”
“Maybe you should ask your Magic 8 Ball?”
“I don’t have to. I already know what it would say.”
“What’s that?”
“Outlook good.”
“I’ve never wanted that thing to be more right.”
“You want to get dinner tonight?”
“Not tonight,” she said. “Maybe this weekend?”
“Sure,” I said. “Whatever you feel up for.”
“Thanks.”
“Maybe I could show you my new office while we’re out?”
“I’d like that.”
“Yeah?”
“Of course.”
“How about I pick you up Saturday afternoon? I’ll take you to see my new office space and then we’ll get some dinner- drinks- make a night of it.”
“Only if I can get good and drunk and crash in your comfy bed.”
“I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
“Great,” she said. “That will give me something to look forward to over the next few days while I come to terms with the fact that if the whole world goes bald, I’ll have absolutely no relevant skills with which to feed myself.”
“That’s not true,” I said. “There’s always modeling.”
She laughed. “Oh yeah. I forgot I’m expecting a growth spurt any minute now.”
“Or being my sex slave. That offer’s still on the table.”
“I’d rather model.”
“Ouch,” I said. “That’s really saying something.”
“Again, it’s just the slavery part I take issue with.”
I sighed. “Oh well. A guy can dream.”
“Dream on, lover boy. Dream on.”
“I’m ashamed to admit how much I like when you call me that.”
“I’ll call you anything you want on Saturday.”
“I need to go before you say anything else like that. If I walk into the locker room with a hard on, I’ll never hear the end of it.”
“Fair enough,” she said. “Congratulations again.”
“Thanks. See you Saturday.”
I stared at the phone in my hand until the little picture of her smiling face disappeared. Then I took a deep breath. It killed me to think of her feeling sorry for herself at home in her pajamas.
Actually, I quite liked the thought of her in her pajamas. And she probably wasn’t sulking. She was probably getting on with things like she always did. After all, she was tough and she worked hard. This was only a minor setback, one we’d probably laugh about someday.
Besides, little did she know, her luck was about to change.
Chapter 13: Lucy
I looked away from the toaster in case it was in cahoots with the kettle which refused to work when being watched.
“Who was that on the phone?” Fiona asked, walking into the room with her laptop in front of her.
The two of us had taken to walking around the apartment this way constantly, looking as if we were sunning ourselves with our screens.
“Aiden,” I said, glancing back at the toaster.
“Oh.” She set her laptop on the counter. “I thought maybe it was a callback from one of your applications.”
“No,” I said, turning around and leaning against the counter. “I’m starting to think applying to jobs online isn’t going to work.”
“Tell me about it,” she said. “I’ve been at it for weeks.”
“What else can we do though?” I asked, crossing my arms. “Drop our resume into every salon within a twenty mile radius?”
“Maybe start with five?”
“There has to be a better way.”
“Peter suggested I look on Linkedin.”
“And?”
“I looked,” she said. “But I don’t’ really know what I’m supposed to do.”
“Reach out? Network?”
“I’m familiar with the buzzwords, but what exactly does that mean?”
“I’m not sure.”
“Like who am I supposed to be linking to, and how am I supposed to do it without looking desperate?”
“I know what you mean.”
“Did Aiden have any bright ideas?”
“Not really,” I said. “He was supportive and everything, but he basically just told me to keep my chin up.”
“Did you mention the wedding thing to him?”
“Yeah. I think he’ll put in a good word, but it’s not like he can guarantee anything.”
“Right,” she said, opening the fridge and staring into it. “Is something burning?”
“Damn it,” I said, turning around and pulling my toast out with two fingers. It was so hot I released it instantly, watching as it bounced across the counter, shedding black crumbs everywhere.
Fiona closed the fridge door and turned towards me. “I take it that’s more overdone than you were going for?”
“Significantly.”
“Maybe throw it out the window so it doesn’t stink up the apartment.”
“I’ll just scrape off the burnt bits.”
“Normally I would suggest that, but it’s all burnt bits.”
I sighed and rested my palms on the counter. “I can’t afford to be burning toast right now.”
“That’s one argument,” she said, picking up my black toast and walking to the window.
“You have a better one?”
“Yeah, life’s too short,” she said, dropping it on the ledge outside.
I shook my head and pulled another slice of bread from the bag.
“The world could end tomorrow in which case it would be a shame for that to be your last piece of toast.”
“True. I probably wouldn’t have enjoyed it,” I said, adjusting the setting on the toaster and lowering the slice down into it.
“Plus, the birds will appreciate it.”
“They might not. Do they even eat burnt toast?”
Fiona shrugged. “Even if they don’t, it’s the thought that counts.”
“I know!” I said, clapping my hands together. “What if we just get rid of all of the furniture in the front room and turn our apartment into a temporary salon?”
Fiona crinkled her face.
“What?”
“That sounds horrible.”
“Why?”
“Cause we’d have hair all over our floor and everyone would have to use our bathroom.”
“So?”
“So where would we sit at the end of the day?”
“It would be temporary,” I said. “Just so we don’t lose all our clients.”
“What about the taxman?”
“What about him?”
“I think he might have a problem with it,” she said. “As would the neighbors.”
“It was just an idea.”
&
nbsp; “It’s not my first choice.”
I pursed my lips.
“What?”
“Aiden signed the lease for his new office today.”
“That’s wonderful.”
“I know. He’s really excited.”
“He should be. Aren’t you?”
“Of course I am. I know how bad he’s wanted this and for how long.”
“You just wish it were you?”
I sighed and turned around to check the toast. “It’s not that I wish it were me instead of him, I just wish I was in that position, too.”
“I know, Luce, but you’ll get there.”
I pushed my hair out of my face. “I just thought it would happen sooner rather than later, ya know?”
Fiona nodded.
“I was on track, too. Before all this shit happened with the salon.”
“It’s only a temporary setback,” she said. “As soon as we’re working again, we’ll start saving for our own place.”
I turned around and popped my toast, deciding to settle on slightly underdone to avoid more waste. Then I screwed the lid off the jar of peanut butter.
“Besides, Aiden doesn’t have the same challenges you do.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Just that he’s got the cash in hand,” she said.
I dipped the knife into the jar, reaching for the extra crunchy bits that were visible at the bottom.
“If he had to save up for his own place like you do, he probably wouldn’t be signing a lease yet.”
“I know.”
“That looks nice,” Fiona said, eyeing my peanut butter toast. “Will you chuck a slice in for me?”
“Sure.” I untwisted the bread. “One or two?”
“One, thanks.”
I dropped the toast in behind me and sat up on the counter. “Anyway, don’t get me wrong. I’m thrilled for him. It’s just that when he told me, I felt a little sad, too.”
“Understandable,” she said, jumping up to sit on the counter across from me.
“Maybe even a tad jealous.”
“That’s normal,” she said. “It doesn’t make you a bad person.”
“I hope I can hide it though, ya know? When he shows me his new office this weekend, I just want to put all of that stuff out of my mind and be happy for him because he deserves my support.”
“It’ll be fine.”
I took a bite of my toast, feeling lifted as soon as the sugar hit my tongue.
“Plus,” she said. “Someday when it’s time for you to open your own place, he’ll be there to support you.”