Drowning In Love

by Beth Rinyu

  "Girl, what is going on with that hair?" Juan asked, clearly referring to the messy bun I was sporting today. Normally, I would have my blonde hair either perfectly flat-ironed or in big loose waves. Today, I wasn’t in the mood to mess with it, so this was the outcome.

  "Deal with it," I said.

  "Mmm…..you're never going get back into the dating game with that mess on top of your head."

  Juan had been on my case for the past few months about testing the waters again, but I wasn't ready. I wasn't sure if I would ever be ready. I couldn't fathom ever loving someone as much as I loved Eric.

  "That's okay. I'm perfectly fine being miserable alone."

  “Mia, need I remind you that you just turned twenty-seven? Thirty is just around the corner. I know it’s going to be hard at first, but you have to take that first step. You’re still alive and you have a life to live whether you want to or not.”

  If anyone else had said that to me, I would have probably told them to go to hell. But Juan and I had no boundaries. He was allowed to tell me exactly what he thought and vice versa. He picked up the can of hair spray and ran his fingers over my hair, giving it a good spray. "There. That's a little better." Juan was always so into his appearance. He was a walking fashion plate. He had dark brown eyes that matched his closely cropped dark brown curly hair.

  My schedule was up on the computer and I had noticed that my first appointment had canceled. Great. Just when I thought I was going to be too busy to think about anything else today.

  My attention was hastily taken away from the computer screen when I heard Juan mumble under his breath, "Oh, Miss Thing, look at him." I looked up to find a very tall, attractive man, dressed in what looked to be a very expensive suit, approaching the front desk. I kicked Juan under the desk to stop him from his obvious eyeball assault on this man. He pulled it together and put on his best deep voice. "Can I help you, sir?"

  "Yes, I wanted to see if you could squeeze me in for a haircut before my ten o'clock meeting."

  Juan looked down at the computer screen. "Sure. Mia will be able to do you." Juan must have felt me staring at him. "Oh, I mean she'll be able to fit you in – to, umm, cut your hair. Abby will take you to her chair.”

  His stare was intense as he fixated his hazel eyes on mine before Abby took him back.

  Juan grabbed me by the hand and pulled me over to the make-up artist's station. "What are you doing?" I asked.

  "Of all days for you to look like you've just rolled out of bed," he said as he began to powder my face. “And no mascara today? What is up with that? You have these beautiful blue eyes and you do nothing to accent them!”

  "Juan, will you -" I stopped talking when he began to attack my lips with lip-gloss. He adjusted my bun the best that he could and gave it another spray with the hair spray. I looked at him and shook my head as I began to walk away.

  "Wait, one more thing," he said as he grabbed my arm and pulled me back. He unbuttoned the top button on my blouse. "Work it, girl!"

  I buttoned my blouse back up to where I had it. "I'm not working anything except my scissors, cutting his hair!"

  "Such a waste of a perfectly beautiful straight guy," I heard him say as I walked away.

  I took a deep breath and walked over to my chair. “Hi, I’m Mia.” Normally, I didn’t get nervous when I was around incredibly handsome men. Because the truth was, I had never really paid attention when I was around one. I always had the most handsome guy in the world, so there was no reason for my eyes to wander. But now, since Juan had to bring to my attention just how good looking this man was, I could feel my nerves getting the best of me.

  “Hey,” he replied as if it was effort to do so.

  “So, what did you want done today?”

  “Just trim it.”

  I grabbed my scissors and began to cut his thick brown hair. At first, the silence was a little awkward, but after a few minutes, he began to respond to the endless alerts of text messages coming through on his phone, allowing me to cut his hair in comfortable silence.

  I was just about done. All that was left to do was to shave the back of his neck. His phone began to ring and I was surprised when he answered it instead of letting it go to voice mail until we were done. His conversation sounded like it was a bad business deal. He began to move his head, expressing his disdain to the person on the other end. This was making it very difficult for me to finish. I stopped for a few seconds, holding the razor in my hand, waiting for him to hang up. He gave me a look of displeasure and then looked down at his watch, never skipping a beat in his phone conversation.

  Well, maybe if you hung up the damn phone and stopped moving your head, I could finish – jerk! I did my best to work with his moving head as his anger continued to build and his head continued to move. Then the caller on the other end of the phone must have said something that really irked him. He jerked his head just as I was gliding the straight-edged razor over the back of his neck. I panicked as I watched the blood begin to roll down his neck. I hurried up and grabbed the towel, trying to control the bleeding, but it was too late – the collar on the crisp white shirt that he had on under that expensive suit was stained with blood.

  He stopped his phone conversation for a brief second when he looked up and saw the blood on the towel.

  “I’m sorry,” I whispered.

  He abruptly hung up the phone. “Are you an idiot or something? I have to be at a meeting in twenty minutes!”

  I felt my anger growing. I was the type of person who always stood up for myself. I never allowed anyone to talk to me that way, customer or not. “I’m sorry, but maybe if you weren’t moving your head all over the place, then this wouldn’t have happened!” My voice was growing louder.

  “Oh, well, sorry. I guess I didn’t realize that they gave me the most inexperienced person to cut my hair!” he shouted.

  My jaw dropped. Luckily, Juan came running over just in the nick of time to stop what was about to come from my mouth.

  “Oh, what happened?” Juan asked, trying to play peacekeeper.

  “I’ll tell you what happened. This incompetent doesn’t know what the hell she’s doing when it comes to cutting hair!” His voice carried so everyone in the salon could hear what was going on.

  I was fuming and I was about to let him know it. “You know what –”

  “Mia, I’ll finish up here.” Juan shot me a look as if he were trying to tell me to stop.

  I stood there silently as I bit my lip, trying to control myself from what I wanted to say. “Mia, I got it,” Juan repeated. I gave the man sitting in my chair one last look of displeasure and stormed into the break room, ignoring the stares of the clients, who had heard what had just transpired.

  I stayed in the break room until Juan came back to tell me that he was gone. “Well, I guess you won’t be going out on any dates with him,” Juan joked.

  I didn’t find it humorous at all. My blood was still boiling over that jerk. “He was a complete asshole!”

  “Yeah, I guess he was,” Juan finally admitted.

  “I am so glad that tomorrow is Sunday. I need a break.” Even though that break would mean how I spent most Sundays for the past two months: going to my client Charlotte Montgomery’s home and doing her hair. Mrs. Montgomery had been my client in the salon since I had first gone to work there. She was well into her eighties, very wealthy, and very demanding. Most of the staff at the salon didn’t care for her, but she and I had hit it off immediately. I was the only person she would allow to touch her hair when she would come for her weekly appointments. She had recently undergone surgery and was still recovering, so I had made arrangements to go to her posh penthouse on the Upper East Side every Sunday and do her hair. I actually enjoyed the few hours that I would spend there each week. It was nice to see how the other half lived. She would always have a nice spread, which would include an array of elaborate breakfast items. She had several maids and a cook. I felt like I was in a different world when I entere
d her home.

  “Are you going to the Ice Queen’s tomorrow?” Juan asked.

  “Juan, that’s not nice; she really isn’t bad.”

  “Well, she’s been hogging you every Sunday morning for the past two months. I miss our Sunday breakfast dates,” Juan whined.

  “Well, you do have a boyfriend that you can go on those breakfast dates with, you know.”

  “Yeah, but he’s no fun. I like it when it’s just us girls!” We both began to laugh. I shook my head and went back out to the front to greet my next client, hoping that the next one would be a little bit nicer than the last.

  Chapter 2

  Mia…

  I was glad to enter the confines of my tiny little apartment after a very long and tiring day of feeling like I couldn’t please any of my clients. I poured myself a glass of wine and dumped the vegetable lo mein that I had picked up on my way home onto a plate. I had found that I was able to muddle through the daytime and put on a happy face; it was the nights that I was having the hardest time coping with. Sure, I was used to not having Eric around on the nights that he had to work, but I knew I would be able to hug him and kiss him when he returned home in the morning. Going to bed alone and knowing that the man you love wouldn’t be walking through that door ever again wasn’t easy.

  I was feeling unusually low tonight. I wasn’t sure if it was because of the fact that tonight was the one-year anniversary of that dreaded day or because of that jerk I had encountered at the salon today. I took a sip of wine and a few bites of my food before becoming disinterested in both. I walked over to the tiny closet that contained mine and Eric’s clothes. After a whole year, I was finally able to start slowly getting rid of his things, but there were a couple of items that I refused to part with. I pulled out his black hoodie. It was his favorite sweatshirt and even though it was old and worn, he had refused to part with it – and now, so did I. If I breathed in really hard, I could swear that it still smelled like him. At least that was what I told myself. I lay down on the couch and hugged the sweatshirt tightly. I closed my eyes, imagining that I was wrapped in his arms, and fell into a deep sleep.

  I jumped from the couch the next morning, trying to figure out where I was. Once I awoke a little, I looked at the clock. Shit, 8:45. I had to be at Mrs. Montgomery’s by ten o’clock. I got up, took a quick shower, and dressed. I chugged down a cup of coffee and got on my way.

  I got out of the taxi and was greeted by John, the doorman for Mrs. Montgomery’s upscale apartment building.

  “Hey, Mia, how are you?” John said as he held the door open for me. John was a middle-aged, chubby guy who always had a smile on his face, and always managed to put a smile on mine every time I saw him. He had just had his fourth child, a little girl after three boys. He was so proud and would always show me pictures of her.

  “I’m good. How’s the beautiful little baby doing?” His smile widened.

  “Oh, she’s perfect, thanks for asking.” I smiled back and headed inside. I waited for the elevator door to open and made my way up to Mrs. Montgomery’s penthouse. I was greeted by Mrs. Montgomery’s maid, Bernice. “Good morning, Mia, Mrs. Montgomery is waiting for you in the dining room.

  Mrs. Montgomery was sitting at the large dining room table with a cup of tea in her hand and her head buried in the newspaper. She looked up when she heard me enter. “Oh, Good morning, Mia, dear. Sit down and have a cup of tea with me.” I took the seat across from her as Bernice poured the hot water into my teacup. It always felt a little strange to me, having these elaborate breakfasts with Mrs. Montgomery. I wasn’t used to having people wait on me. I felt like a little kid again, having a tea party with my stuffed animals. “So how was your week?” Mrs. Montgomery asked as she took a sip of her tea.

  I dipped my tea bag in the water. “Okay, I guess. Yesterday was a year ago that –” I took a deep breath and tried to regain my composure.

  Mrs. Montgomery placed her hand on mine. “Oh dear, I’m so sorry.” Despite what everyone else thought about Mrs. Montgomery, I really liked her. She had been so kind and caring to me after Eric’s death and it really had meant a lot to me.

  I nodded in appreciation.

  “You know, when my husband passed away, I thought my world had ended. It took me a while to live my life again, but I did. I was too old to get back into the dating game and, quite frankly, I really didn’t have any interest. But Mia, you are a young beautiful girl; don’t let your life pass you by. I’m sure that’s not what Eric would have wanted either.”

  “I know,” I whispered. “I just miss him so much.” I bit my lip to stop from crying.

  Mrs. Montgomery rubbed my hand gently. “Someday, you will meet that someone special who will help take away the pain.”

  I nodded as I wiped the tears that were beginning to flow from my eyes.

  The rest of the morning was spent coloring and cutting Mrs. Montgomery’s hair. She told me all about her latest purchases that she had made online while I put the final curls in her hair. We were deep in conversation when Mrs. Montgomery looked up at the person who had just entered her kitchen.

  “Travis!” she stood up and threw her arms around a very familiar-looking man. I stared at him closely and realized it was the same arrogant man that had screamed his head off at me in the salon yesterday. But instead of being dressed in his overpriced suit, he was wearing a casual pair of sweats and a grey tee shirt.

  “Mia, this is my grandson.” I could feel my face turning red as he gazed at me. I had heard all about Mrs. Montgomery’s grandson. He was an Olympic swimmer who had won multiple gold medals and Mrs. Montgomery adored him. There was no doubt at all that he was handsome. His body was the definition of perfection. If only Juan could see the way his muscles rippled through the t-shirt that he was wearing right now, he would for sure be having a full-blown heart attack.

  “Charlotte, I’m sorry to interrupt, but there’s a Tom Kellerman on the phone for you,” Bernice interrupted.

  “Oh, yes, I have to take this call. I’ll be right back.” Mrs. Montgomery walked out of the kitchen, leaving me feeling awkward and alone with her grandson. I began to pack up my stuff, trying my best to ignore his gaze.

  I finally looked up at him. He narrowed his eyes as if he were confused by my presence. "Are you -"

  "The girl that you humiliated in front of all of her co-workers and clients yesterday? Yes, that would be me."

  "What are you doing here?" His tone was much softer than it had been yesterday.

  "Your grandmother has been a client of mine for the past three years. I’ve been coming here to do her hair for her while she’s recovering from her surgery.”

  There was a softness in his eyes that was non-existent yesterday.

  "Obviously, she doesn’t think I’m incompetent. But then again, she isn’t stupid enough to move her head around when I’m using a straight-edge razor." I couldn't resist getting in that dig.

  "Look, I'm really sorry about that. I was just having a really bad -"

  "No need to apologize.”

  "I’m Travis Montgomery." He extended his hand to me. I hesitantly took his hand in mine and shook it. "I'm sorry, what was your name again?"

  "Mia Taylor."

  I hurried up and wrapped the cord around my curling iron and threw the rest of the items in my bag. I could still hear Mrs. Montgomery on the phone and was beginning to feel extremely uncomfortable being left alone with her grandson.

  “Well, I really have to run. Would you mind telling your grandmother that I had to get going?”

  “Sure, no problem. Again, I’m really sorry about yesterday.”

  “Okay - whatever.” I looked up at him briefly and headed out the door.

  I stood waiting for the elevator. God he was gorgeous! Too bad he’s an arrogant jerk and not to mention totally out of my league. But that didn’t mean I couldn’t imagine what it must feel like to have those muscular arms wrapped around me. I stepped into the elevator. Must stop thinking such cr
azy thoughts! I said to myself as the elevator door closed behind me.

  Chapter 3

  Travis…

  I watched her walk out the door. I felt like such a jerk. I was really horrible with the way I treated her yesterday. She seemed like a really nice girl and I couldn’t help but notice the obvious; she was hot. Yesterday started out bad and just got worse. Unfortunately for her, she had gotten the brunt of it.

  My grandmother finished up with her phone call and walked back into the kitchen.

  “Oh, did Mia leave?” she asked.

  “Yeah, she told me to tell you she had to get going.”

  “Oh, okay.” My grandmother looked disappointed.

  “She, umm, seems like a really nice girl,” I said, trying to get some more information about her without it looking obvious.

  “Oh, she is, dear. They don’t get any sweeter than her. She’s been through a lot, though, the poor thing.”

  “Oh, really? Why is that?”

  “Well, she – ”

  “Charlotte, I’m so sorry, but Tom Kellerman says he needs to talk to you again.”

  “Oh, Travis, I’m so sorry but I have to take this again.”

  “No problem, I just popped in to say hi. I’ve got to get going anyway.”

  “Well, please pop in any time. I love seeing you.” She kissed me on the cheek and went off to answer the phone.

  I stood in the hallway, waiting for the elevator. I began to think about this Mia girl. According to my grandmother, she was sweet, she seemed wholesome enough, and she certainly was beautiful. Yes, she would be perfect. I pulled out my phone and texted my agent: I think I found the perfect girl.

  Chapter 4

  Mia…

  Saturday was the one-year anniversary of the day that Eric was shot, but today was the day - the actual anniversary of Eric’s death. I was handling it rather well. It was only 9 a.m. and I had already talked to my sister and was just finishing up with my phone call from my mother.