A Broken Forever

by Megan Noelle

  By the end of Mary-Ann’s cut she was in the best mood she had ever left the salon in. Stefan joined me as I walked her to the desk. As soon as I mentioned the final total for the appointment, Stefan produced his card to pay. Mary-Ann protested for a good five minutes before Stefan put his hand up with a smile.

  “It would be my pleasure, Mary-Ann. You allowed me to hang around, and I can honestly say I haven’t had this much fun in a long time.”

  A warm grin spread reluctantly as she slid her cash away. “I absolutely agree with you. The two of you make a marvelous team! I had better see you here the next time I return.”

  Stefan pat her shoulder and turned his entire focus to me. “As long as Grey lets me, I’m not going anywhere.”

  Without my brain having any control over my thoughts, I replied. “He’ll be here, Mary-Ann. I’m not letting Stefan go anywhere this time.”

  The next hour went the same way and even though Kari was back in her chair, Stefan didn’t mind. He roamed about talking with clients, making everyone laugh, and also provided excellent service. If a client had a beverage, he kept it full. If they wanted a magazine, he got it. Kacie, Kari, and I watched in awe as he worked the room, and gave us all a day no one would soon forget. It was impossible to get myself to leave at the end of my shift. All of this would end as soon as I headed to home. After taking two walk-in’s just to keep busy, Kacie about forced me to go.

  There was no doubt she figured out the sudden interest in working late. Once I hit the hour mark past when I was supposed to leave, she put her foot down. Stefan walked me to my car and a very prominent awkward silence hung between us. We didn’t want to part but it was inevitable.

  “Thank you for coming by today, Stefan. You really made it a great day for anyone who walked through the door.”

  “It was nothing,” he shrugged. I saw just the opposite of his actions. Being included and making everyone happy was all he had wanted for the day. It only made me wonder why. He had nothing to prove to the people here and it wasn’t like he was trying to make a bunch of security sales to the women. Or maybe he was but I was just blind to the selling tactics he utilized.

  “Sure it was. But, I mean, I have to ask, did you honestly have nothing to do at work?” Stefan wasn’t much of a blusher, but the equivalent for him was to look towards his feet as they shuffled around uneasily.

  When that exact thing happened, I had my answer. “Stefan?” I asked in as firm of a tone I could conjure up.

  “The meetings were over and for the most part everything I needed to do was accessible over my phone.”

  “But you never sat on your phone and did work.”

  “That’s true. Things are fine, I’ll promise you that. Other work aspects may have required my attention but it isn’t an issue. I’m going to head back to the office, order some takeout and stay late to catch up.”

  Guilt settled in as the image of that massive building being completely dark and empty, minus a single desk lamp lighting the work that was beneath. The picture gnawed away at my insides as I thought of how incredibly selfish I had been to keep him away.

  “Oh Stef, I’m so…” His finger covered my lips to keep me from saying the words swimming in the pit of my stomach.

  “Don’t apologize, Greyson Rose. I wanted to be here, and it was my choice to stay as long as I had. My line of work is a bit more serious so spending a day joking around and having fun is almost unheard of.”

  “I guess, but, I still wish you didn’t need to stay late to make up all the time lost.”

  Stefan smiled, cupping his hands over my shoulders, and gently rubbing his thumbs in a circular motion. “Time with you is never lost time. I just hope you realize that now, I’m going to stop by even more.”

  My sorrow vanished instantly as my entire body lit up. “Really?”

  “Without a doubt.”

  “Good, you’re welcome anytime.”

  He released me with a relief-filled sigh. “And whenever you want to yell at someone, you know where my office is.”

  I bit back my embarrassed laugh as heat rose to my cheeks at my past outbursts.

  “That I do.”

  He smiled down at me for just a minute before reaching out suddenly and wrapping his arms around my shoulders. My mind hesitated but my arms circled around his back, sliding up to rest against the top of his shoulder blades.

  “I’ll see you soon, pretty girl.” I nodded my head against his chest. My vulnerable side wanted to know if he promised he wouldn’t stay away, but I decided that question was best kept to myself.

  “Don’t stay up too late working, please.” I opted for instead.

  “I promise.”

  With a kiss to the top of my head we separated. Once again getting into our own cars and driving off to our separate lives.

  Richard was off to bed and I promised I’d be in soon. It was a little after 11:00pm; there was one thing I had to do before I would be able to sleep peacefully. After debating this the entire evening, I decided this fell within the realm of acceptable friend concerns. Listening for a few seconds to make sure all was quiet I composed a new text.

  Me: I hope you’re not slaving away over work this late at night.

  I waited anxiously from the moment I pressed send till my phone’s dark screen lit up in my lap.

  Stefan Harrison: Worried about me, Pretty Girl? ; )

  I felt my tension immediately ease at his playful response.

  Me: Hardly! I just figured someone needed to check in with you.

  Stefan Harrison: That is very sweet for someone who isn’t worried. And don’t you worry, Barney the janitor stopped in ten minutes ago. Took the trash and told me to clean up before I left. Sounds like his boss is a hard ass = /

  My laugh came out much louder than anticipated and for a couple minutes I sat with my hand over my mouth, listening. It was absolutely ridiculous that I was behaving like a child that didn’t want to wake mom and dad. I was a grown woman and had every right to have friends. Of course, I knew this was a little different since my fiancé had no idea this particular friend existed in my life. After convincing myself I needed to calm down I went back to my phone.

  Me: Poor Barney! Did he not realize it was you?

  Stefan Harrison: I’m betting not. Most of the late nights I have here are done in the board room with a team of people. At least he’s efficient, I’ll make sure he gets a raise in the morning.

  Me: Good! =] Except now there is no denying you are still working away. Are you going to be done anytime soon?

  Stefan Harrison: Doesn’t really look like it. Few new accounts came in today and it’s great but usually takes a bit to get them into the comp. I need to enter their info before I leave so their coverage with us starts immediately.

  Me: Okay…I suppose I can’t scold you for taking care of others. Can you please promise that you’ll at least try to head home soonish?

  For all I knew Stefan always worked until sunrise, passed out on his desk and was back at it a couple hours later. This time I felt personally responsible for the late night and I had to be sure he didn’t make himself sick because of the day spent with us.

  Stefan Harrison: Tell you what. You admit that you’re worried about me and I will stop everything the second the clock strikes 12.

  Me: Even if you’re in the middle of a big entry?

  Stefan Harrison: Even then.

  Me: Fine! I’m worried about you. You wouldn’t have to stay late to make up work if we didn’t keep you at the salon.

  Admitting my worries felt…strange. Waiting not-so-patiently for a response text was bad enough before but now I was a nervous wreck. It didn’t make sense! I didn’t just tell him the secret to world destruction or anything, just a simple fact. If I hadn’t of been worried I wouldn’t have sent a text in the first place.

  Finally my phone brightened with a new message. I had purposely set my volume to silent before I started texting tonight. Now, I was extremely grateful for that.
If the backlight turning on made me jump, I could only imagine what a sudden buzzing would do.

  Stefan Harrison: You didn’t keep me there. If anything, I refused to leave. It’s going to take everything in me to wake up in the morning and not just drive there straightaway. But thank you—I promise to shut down everything at midnight. : )

  Me: Well, you’re always welcome back! I work every week day but Friday.

  Wow. Could I come off any more desperate? Why did it matter if he only came when I was there!? He now knew just about every stylist, and there was nothing that said he couldn’t drop in if I was off for the day.

  Stefan Harrison: I know. ; )

  Me: You know what?

  Stefan Harrison: That Friday is your day off.

  Me: How?! Seriously! How is it that you know all these little details about my life? Where I work, where I live, which car is mine!

  It wasn’t until right now that I really put all the evidence together. There were coincidences, and then there was this.

  Stefan Harrison: Just because we didn’t talk for six years didn’t mean I was going to just let you completely disappear from my life. I swear to you I never did anything to change or affect your everyday life. I vowed to always protect you. I failed once, and I refuse to let it happen again.

  Stefan Harrison: Now you need to get some sleep, pretty girl. I’ll be done at midnight, as promised. Sleep well. Xox

  I knew this was his clever way of dodging any further questions, and I’d let him win—for now. This was in no way dropped but something about it made a flurry of warmth and security surround me.

  Me: Goodnight Creeper. Sweet dreams.

  With my final text for the evening sent, I made my way to bed and slept better than I had in months.

  Kacie was standing behind the reception desk, ringing out a client’s final bill. She waved goodbye to the young woman. Just as I thought I would slip by without notice her hand reached out and snatched my arm. Trying to gulp back my fear of what was to come I turned to her with a smile. I had no doubt that she was able to see the awkward lopsided grin I conjured up for what it was though.

  “Grey.” her scolding motherly tone softly terrified my senses. “Mind if we chat for a minute?”

  “Of course, that’s what friends do, they talk. And hang out and chit chat.” I forced my awkward rambling to end before I made an even bigger fool of myself.

  Kacie’s eyebrow rose in confusion. “Yeah, they do. So, let’s go do that now.”

  Before anymore strangely forced words or expressions came out, Kacie walked off, pulling me with her. We made our way into the back break room where Tyler gossiped with another stylist, Amelia. The second we stepped into the room Tyler stopped talking, and watched us closely as if we were the first act of a performance. Kacie stared back at him, and when he didn’t get the hint she clarified.

  “Can you two please go back to your stations? Or go outside if you’re on a break?” Amelia was out of her chair before Kacie finished talking. With a smile and apology she stepped out but Tyler took his sweet ol’ time.

  “Everything okay, you two?”

  “It will be much better when you hurry your glamorous butt up.” Kacie crossed her arms over her chest, never letting him leave her sights.

  Tyler laughed and winked. “Oh you know me, doll. But don’t get those cute panties in a wad, I’m leaving.”

  “Good, if you see others about to come in, please let them know they need to wait until we’re done in here.”

  “Sounds swell, girl.”

  Tyler strolled out without pretending to be in any sort of hurry. I waited patiently for Kacie to give him a big swift kick in the rear end to get him moving.

  “Finally!” She sighed when the door closed behind him. “Let’s sit, Grey.”

  “Oh no, this doesn’t sound good. Are you breaking up with me, Kace??” I asked as I took a seat, trying to bring a bit of humor into the growing tension.

  She let out a snort, shaking her head. “Not yet, my love. But if you don’t tell me what the hell is going on I just might.”

  I focused my attention onto the wood table top.

  “And don’t feed me a line of bullshit, Grey. I’m your best friend so I know when you’re lying. Sometimes I let it go because I figure you’ll reach out to me if you need to, but you haven’t. I get bits and pieces of the story and then it’s one extreme after another. The last time you told me about Stefan it was because you wanted me to get rid of everything here. You needed to forget him and his existence. Then yesterday, you about broke the door off the hinges to get outside. Where, turns out, Stefan was waiting for you with lunch. What the hell is going on?”

  Behind her forceful tone I heard the compassion and genuine concern.

  “I’m sorry, Kace. I know I’ve been incredibly flaky lately.”

  “Only since the day you say Stefan’s picture in the magazine. It’s all been because of him. I get that you had a past, you were married, and divorced. It was clear to see yesterday that you once were incredibly in love. Until recently I didn’t even know you had been married let alone that it was to a man we all fawned over.”

  Her force softened and out came the true reason for all the tension between us. Kacie was afraid for me. I saw it behind those compassionate eyes, and in every reaction she has had lately.

  “It’s not fair that I’ve kept everything from you for so long, Kace. Stefan wasn’t just my first love there…” I paused, searching for the right words to describe all that we were together. “There is much more behind our life together that I haven’t shared. He broke me, but because he was already destroyed into a million pieces. When we split it wasn’t because it was right. It was because I saw no other solution to survival. Honestly, if what tore us apart hadn’t happened, we would be blissfully married still.”

  Kacie bit back all she wanted to say, letting me continue. “I love Richard and I love my life now but that doesn’t change things. It is very difficult to just walk away from Stefan and close every window of contact. It was one thing when I hadn’t seen him for years and tried to block out any memory of him. But I thought it was what I had to do. When we were dress shopping my brother talked to me, and I decided I couldn’t just pretend none of my past was real. It’s confusing and a bit scary but I have to have him in my life.”

  There it was. The truth. Stefan and I needed to be in each other’s lives, and maybe that meant as the best of friends. Either way, fate didn’t keep throwing us together because we were meant to stay apart. Anxiously I waited for Kacie’s reaction to my honesty.

  “What happened, Grey?” She was searching for the catastrophic incident that altered the course of our destiny. That was one thing I couldn’t share yet. When I finally did speak about the event that broke us, it first and foremost had to be to Richard.

  “Please don’t hate me for saying this, but I can’t tell you. I swear to you, I will. It’s just that the only people that know are those directly involved, and I need to tell Richard first.”

  She nodded her head, understanding my wishes. Reaching her hands out she closed mine in her grasp.

  “If you ever need me. Just please tell me. When I don’t know the past you share all I see is this dude screwing with my best friend’s head. I’ll never just stand by for that. Just knowing a little more has helped change my opinion of him.”

  “Really?” I asked hopefully.

  “Of course, I’m not some crazy bitch that gets pissed for no reason. I want you to be happy and if having Stefan in your life as your friend is what you need—then so be it. Besides, your brother rarely leads you astray, and if he supports it then I have no reason not to.”

  I turned my hands in hers to give a loving squeeze. “That means more to me than I could ever say. And I promise from here on out I will keep you informed.”

  “Please!” She said with a laugh.

  We both stood and met in the middle, embracing each other in a giant squishy hug.

  “
You know I love you, Grey! Just talk to me more and I swear to ease up on the bitch face where Stefan is concerned.”

  Giggles burst out of me as I kissed her cheek. “Don’t worry, he probably enjoys it. And I love you!”

  In the middle of our hug Tyler and Kari burst in.

  “Awe!” They let out in a sarcastic sigh.

  “Are we done fighting girls?” Tyler used his deep commanding voice, only making all of us laugh.

  “We’re much better!” Kacie replied, returning the kiss onto my cheek.

  “Bout damn time!” Kari burst out. “Now let’s go rock out some hair!”

  The tension in the air evaporated, and now I was able to honestly be myself. Not just the persistently gloomy person everyone knew, but the person I was able to be when Stefan was in my life. As hours passed by I had to pry my eyes from the clock that made me increasingly antsy. Just after 1:00pm I was ready to throw my best pair of shears directly through the middle, so it could no longer antagonize me.

  Kacie joked a bit about my time obsession but misread it as my hormones calling out to my fiancé. I laughed, and played along but only because it was much better than the reality. Stefan had talked about coming around, but maybe I read way too much into it. Not that I didn’t believe he enjoyed being here, or that he didn’t plan on returning. But he was the Harrison of Harrison Towers, his time was precious. It was unrealistic to expect anything more.

  My last client of the morning was gone and I was officially supposed to be on a lunch break. Instead I sunk down into Tyler’s chair, while he played with my hair and tried to cheer up my bummer mood. He finally gave up and walked off to get something to drink. A dazed fog filled my mind, and when someone’s hands rest on top of my shoulders, I nearly jumped through the roof. Gasping to catch my breath I heard Stefan’s familiar snicker. I whipped my head, around and smacked my hand across his chest.

  Stefan laughed harder and stroked my hair gently. It was such a normal gesture of comfort that it took me a minute to realize what he was doing.