The Look of Love

by Crystal B. Bright

  “Thane, it’s Gunnar, again.” He tried to keep the growl out of his voice, but his baby brother’s attitude wore down on his last nerve. “Calling to let you know about Mom if she hasn’t called you already.” He thought about leaving a message about her condition and that Thane would need to take care of the clothing shop, but he decided that if Thane wanted to know, he would have to call Gunnar. “Call me back and I’ll tell you what’s going on.” He paused and took a deep breath. “She needs us, man.”

  Gunnar disconnected the call. Before he did anything else, he fixed the queen-size bed, including covering the four pillows with pillowcases. He walked toward the bathroom that came complete with a full-size bathtub and shower.

  Before stepping inside, he braced his hands on the doorframe and thought about everything, about his mother, his brothers, and especially about Eboni.

  He dove into his bag and pulled out a roll of tape. He taped up his knuckles on both hands. Despite the slight bit of pain, he needed to work out some aggression.

  Gunnar stomped back downstairs to the garage area. He had to thank his mother for getting the smaller car since it now gave him additional room to work on the heavy bag that hung next to it.

  The black bag suspended on chains didn’t move until Gunnar put his hand on it. The familiar training device felt stiff under his touch. The cold air had hardened the leather. Good. The harder the obstacle, the more it would punish him.

  He started punching the sack. The thudding sound echoed off the walls. His heavy panting accompanied the sound of his fists connecting to the bag. His heart pounded, but with the thoughts of Eboni on his mind, he wondered if the workout or Eboni had a hand in his excited state.

  “I need to be here for Mom,” he said in between punches. “Have to keep my head on straight for her and not think of anything else.”

  Gunnar curved his body and landed an uppercut shot on the heavy bag. Like when he’d trained on the bag as a teenager, he attempted to get out all his pent-up feelings. Then he would take his shower, change, and go to the salon. With it being Monday, it wouldn’t be open.

  “Got to get things together. Have to keep the family together.” Gunnar huffed between each word.

  He fought through the pain of his tightening back. He got on the balls of his feet, as much as he could in his heavy boots, and he hopped around the bag, throwing jabs as he kept moving. He felt the burn in his butt and thighs, and he liked the sensation. The feeling meant that he pushed his body.

  When he thought of his body, Eboni’s form came to mind, or rather her new figure. He wished he hadn’t seen her again, not here, not now. Too many memories came flooding back.

  “Can’t. Think. Of. Eboni.” His punches became harder, like he wanted to put his fist through the bag. “Can’t. Think. Of. Her. Body.” His body trembled. “Work. Then. Go.” Sweat rolled in his eyes. If he kept up this intense pace, he would have to go outside to cool himself off. “Stay strong. Don’t think of touching her. Don’t think of--”

  Gunnar turned to the side door when he caught something in his peripheral vision. Eboni stood in the side doorway. She stared at him with her arms crossed over her chest. Her breathing matched his, heavy and ragged.

  “Don’t think of what?” She stepped into the garage and closed the door behind herself.

  Gunnar kept himself on the other side of his punching bag. He wanted to claw off his sweatshirt to relieve the heat. He feared with his recent monologue that he’d exposed himself enough today.

  “I want us to talk about the center.” Eboni stalked him, never removing her stare from him.

  Gunnar had almost forgotten about her stubborn streak. He knew she wouldn’t give up without a fight.

  She now stood close enough for him to catch that sweet scent again. His senses went into overload.

  “I’m going to shower and change.” He walked over to the stairs. “I’m a little sweaty right now.” He climbed up the bottom two steps and turned to her. “I’m going to get a rental and then go over to the salon.”

  “It’s closed.”

  “I know. Best time to look at it and get a lay of the land, so to speak.” He stared into her eyes and felt hypnotized. “We can talk on the way and in the salon.”

  He waited for her to respond. Her simple nod satisfied him.

  Gunnar excused himself and climbed the stairs to the apartment. If he planned on working with Eboni, he had to do two things--keep things businesslike and keep his distance. If he could do that, he might have a chance.

  * * * *

  Eboni glanced at Gunnar as he drove his big Hummer to his mother’s hair salon. She thought she’d caught him smiling a couple of times in during the drive. Being in the large vehicle must make him happy.

  “I’d forgotten about your arrest.” Eboni had to bite the bullet and get Gunnar in a good mood before she relayed her plan.

  He glanced at her but said nothing.

  She kept talking until she could crack him. “I remember the good times there. Remember the dances?”

  Gunnar shook his head. “I attended, but I didn’t dance.” He glanced at her.

  “That’s right. You did kind of have that white-boy dance thing going on.” Eboni laughed. When he glared at her, she continued talking. “Have you improved since then?” She smiled.

  He redirected his attention back to the road. “I do my dancing in the ring now.”

  “I don’t watch your fights.” She shook her head and settled back into her seat. “I can’t. To see you like that.” She pointed to his face. “How can Queen stand that?” Eboni remained quiet for a moment before she said, “Oh, because she doesn’t watch your fights either, and you haven’t been home.”

  He regarded her for a moment as he stopped at a traffic light. “I understand. To me, it’s just work.”

  “Not to me. Seeing you fight one time up close was enough.” She couldn’t tell him why the entire fight bothered her.

  Eboni balled her gloved hands into fists to ward off the cold. When she saw Gunnar driving down a side street, she turned to him.

  “Why are you going this way?”

  “It’s the main road going to Press ’N Curl.”

  Eboni shook her head. “Not anymore.” When she caught his confused expression, she explained. “There’s been a ton of construction. They rerouted the main road. No one comes this way unless they live out here.”

  Gunnar gazed around the area and must have seen what Eboni had noticed for years. With traffic rerouted, businesses in the area had either collapsed or dwindled. Homes looked dilapidated with faded paint jobs, broken-down cars in driveways, and lots of for-sale signs all around.

  Stray dogs and cats ran in front of the vehicle as it rolled through the neighborhood.

  “Mom never told me about this.” Gunnar kept scanning the area. “How’s business?”

  Eboni kept quiet. No use saying what he would soon find out in moments.

  Gunnar pulled the massive vehicle behind the shop. He parked and turned off the truck. Gunnar got out of the driver’s side, ran over to the passenger side, and opened her door as Eboni had put her hand on her door handle.

  As much as Eboni hated to admit it, she liked gentlemanly side of Gunnar, a man who looked like he probably never used utensils. Her insides rattled when he held his hand up to assist her out of the tall ride.

  When she got out and nearly buckled from his touch and the feel of his hard body against hers, she blamed the wobble on ice on the parking lot. Thankfully, he didn’t peer down to verify her claim.

  Gunnar used his mother’s keys to unlock the back door. He opened it and allowed her to walk through first. She appreciated that, not because she liked the generous gesture, but because she wanted to view the salon before he could see it, not that she would have an opportunity to change anything.

  Eboni skipped turning on the lights. With the blinds drawn, it cloaked the shop in darkness. Too bad Gunnar knew whe
re the location of the light switch and had no problem flicking them.

  “Wow.” Gunnar walked by Eboni and scanned the modest salon.

  “Still the same shop.” She placed her purse on the reception station desk.

  He turned to the wall of hair bonnet dryers. “The hair bonnets look the same from when I was here.”

  “Queen makes sure everything works.” Eboni stared at Gunnar.

  He walked over to the row of inky black sinks. He put his hand on one sink and ran his fingertips over the midnight-colored bowl. “Nothing has really changed. It all looks…good.”

  “You know your mother. She has high standards.”

  Gunnar strolled over to the styling chairs. One sat in the front window and six sat along the wall of mirrors. Gunnar ran his fingertips over the gold frame surrounding one of the mirrors.

  He glanced down at the black-and-white checkered floor before bringing his attention back to her. “The place smells like her.”

  Eboni smiled. “This place is her in every sense.”

  She couldn’t wait any longer to talk about her idea. No time like the present. She took a deep, cleansing breath and spoke before he could say anything.

  “Since you left”--she noticed his glare but kept going--“I’ve been donating my time and my money to the Oceanfront Community Center. That place really does help a lot of kids. I was one of them. It’s gone downhill a little.” She stepped closer to Gunnar so that he can see the intensity in her eyes. “They’re in dire need of some money.”

  Gunnar tilted his head. “You’re asking me for money?”

  Eboni blinked and took a couple of steps back. “Hell, no. I don’t want your money or your time.” She needed to corral her emotions otherwise she would end up arguing with the man, and she did not want her day to go that way. “I talked to your mom about doing a fund-raiser. She liked the idea but said in her current condition she can’t really help.” Eboni moved in closer. “She suggested I talk to you.” She licked her lips. “I was thinking of maybe doing a hair-cut promotion where a portion of the proceeds will go to the center.”

  Gunnar put his fists to his hips. From his stance, Eboni knew he had some objections to her proposal. Whatever he said, she would have an argument to spin it around.

  “Fund-raiser? My mom is in the hospital, business has slowed, and you want her to raise money to help the center?”

  “I would only ask for the tips.”

  “From everyone?”

  Eboni nodded. “Yes. I would even do hair for one of my shifts and give all proceeds to the center.”

  “You can’t ask the other employees to give up their money for your endeavor.” Gunnar moved away from her. “I don’t approve of this.”

  It felt like flames engulfed her entire body. The throbbing that filled her head wouldn’t be going away with just an aspirin. “You have no right to tell me what I can do here. I asked your mother and she gave me her approval, and she’s the one who owns this place. Like I said before, you’re simply a distraction.”

  “I can see now that the demands of this place put her in the hospital. My mother needs to rest. That’s not going to happen with selfish people around her.” He scanned the shop. “No, I’m going to do what my mother hasn’t been able to do. I’m selling this place.”

  Chapter 4

  Eboni glared at Gunnar for what felt like twenty years before she sprang into action. She pulled out her cell phone from her purse and activated the speed-dial number to Elizabeth. She paced in order to keep somewhat calm.

  As soon as she heard a click on the other side of the line, Eboni launched into an attack. “Queen, I hope I didn’t wake you.”

  Eboni heard heavy footfalls, turned around, and caught Gunnar charging toward her.

  “Is everything okay at the house?” Queen Elizabeth sounded very wide awake considering. Her medical prognosis must be keeping her restless.

  “The house is fine. But if you leave your business up to your son, he’s going to try and sell it from under you.”

  A pause lingered before Elizabeth said, “Put him on the phone, please.”

  Eboni held up her phone to Gunnar. “Your mother would like a word with you.”

  Gunnar’s jaw flexed before he accepted the phone. The brief graze of his fingers against hers ignited a small spark in her that quickly died down as soon as he turned his back on her.

  “Hey, Ma.”

  Eboni tried to hear what his mother said. Queen Elizabeth couldn’t be classified as a yeller. When she spoke, people couldn’t help but to be wrapped up in her every word. From the stiffness of Gunnar’s body, he must have fallen under that same spell.

  “You don’t understand.” Gunnar paused. “But I made the decision because of you and your health.” He waited again. “Yes, I know you’re a grown woman.”

  Eboni snickered. When she did, Gunnar glared at her. He shook his head and paced back and forth in front of the styling chairs.

  “Yes, ma’am.” He cleared his throat. “I’ll leave running the business to Eboni. I’ll take a step back.” His voice lowered. “I love you too.” He handed the phone back to Eboni. “She’d like to talk to you.”

  Eboni took the phone from Gunnar. As soon as the device left his hand, he stomped to the back door and pushed his way through it on his head full of steam.

  “Hey, Queen.”

  “Although I appreciate you keeping me in the loop about Gunnar’s misguided plans, don’t you ever undermine him by running to me like a child.”

  Elizabeth’s harsh words forced Eboni to sit down in one of the chairs. The air deflated out of her lungs and her head weighed as much as a tank.

  “I thought you would want to know what Gunnar had said. It’s not right for him to try and sell the place that you worked so hard to build.” Elizabeth had to see that Eboni came from a good place with her intentions.

  “Gunnar and you are a lot alike. You’re both passionate, you two want to see results, and you think you know what’s best for everyone. I appreciate both of you. If you want to be a business leader, you’re going to need to learn how to communicate with stubborn fools like Gunnar. It’s easy to lead when you have folks who are rooting for you. It’s a challenge to sway an adversary.”

  As usual, Elizabeth’s wise words rang true.

  Her friend continued. “Put on your big-girl panties. Apologize to my son for putting me in the middle of this and do what you two do best. In the short amount of time since you left the hospital, I doubt you two have had much sleep. Why don’t you go home and get some rest. Calmer heads will prevail.”

  Eboni smiled. “Yes, ma’am. You rest your nerves.”

  “Oh, no. Now I’m wide awake thanks to all this drama. I’ll see you two later. Love you.”

  “Love you too.” Eboni disconnected the call and took a deep breath.

  Damn Queen Elizabeth for being right. Eboni secured the shop. She locked the back door and then headed to Gunnar’s rented monstrosity.

  Like before, he jumped out of the vehicle in order to open the door for her. Damn his home training.

  As soon as she sat down and closed the door, she took a deep breath to apologize to him as Queen Elizabeth had instructed. Before she could get a word out, Gunnar spoke.

  “I apologize for trying to take over the decisions of the salon,” he began. “As my mother so succinctly stated, this is her shop, not mine.”

  Eboni liked this kinder, gentler side of Gunnar. She knew that the man still had his fighter side inside of him that he didn’t mind pulling out when needed.

  “Thank you.” Eboni nodded.

  Gunnar put the SUV in gear, but didn’t move. He turned to her and waited as though anticipating something.

  Eboni shook her head. “Your mother told you she wanted me to apologize too, right?”

  He nodded.

  Busted. She didn’t think she’d done anything wrong, but she wanted to be a woman of her w
ord. “Fine. I’m sorry for calling your mother on you. We’re both grown-ups. We should know how to resolve issues without a mediator.”

  He shrugged. “You’re right.” Then he backed out of the spot and headed to the road. “And you’re not sorry.”

  She started to open her mouth to refute his claim.

  “You’ve apologized. But there’s absolutely nothing sorry about you.” He scanned her with a slight smile before driving back on the road.

  “Did you just flirt?” Eboni crossed her arms and pressed her back against the door as he drove.

  “Nope. Just stating facts. Lord knows, I don’t want to make your boyfriend jealous.” He put his hand to his chest to express sincerity.

  Eboni laughed. “You are so transparent. Just ask me if I’m seeing someone.”

  “I don’t care about that. Why would I care if you’re dating or married? It’s not like we’re going to date each other again.” He accelerated down the road.

  “You got that right.” She glanced out the window. “Besides, I’m sure you have lots of little groupies throwing themselves at you. We love you, Guns.” She puckered her lips and made a kissing sound.

  He laughed. “Really? You think I would go for a woman like that?”

  “I have no idea what you want anymore.”

  Gunnar glanced at her.

  She finished off her statement. “And I don’t care.” In her mind, Gunnar had pushed her away so that he could go off and have a different life, one that didn’t involve her. “Let’s get through this for Elizabeth’s sake. Any problems we have, we talk about it. Agreed?”

  Gunnar regarded her for a moment at a traffic light. “Agreed.” He continued on back toward his mother’s house.

  “Will you turn down this road?” Eboni pointed to the right.

  “Why? What’s down there?”

  “The center. I want you to see what it’s like now.” She watched Gunnar shift in his seat as he kept his stare on the road. “I think if you saw the state it’s in now, you’ll feel differently about helping.”

  “Or I’ll feel exactly the same.” He glanced at her when they stopped at another light.