Page 82 of Not Until Her
“We don’t need these,” she says, putting the foils back. “I just wanted to show you how seriously I take this.”
“Very serious. I understand.” I school my expression into the most innocent, obedient thing I can make it, until one smirk from her makes me crack.
I watch as she gets to work, rolling her sleeves up and putting on gloves. She decides on two different shades, mixing them up in a little plastic bowl. Then she turns to me, and uses the end of the brush to evenly section out my hair, and clips them up and out of her way.
Everything this woman does is hot as hell, but all of this isreallyworking for me. She’s so smart, and capable, and focused, and it’s so fucking attractive.
I’m so distracted by her face, that I don’t realize when she actually goes in to start applying the dye. The first cold swipe of the brush pulls me out of my ogling. It’s not as shocking as it usually is when I plop a giant pile of dye onto my head.
Her method won’t leave my scalp a neon color, so I suppose that’s another positive.
“See? It’s so much easier with a brush,” Kara tells me.
She looks like quite the expert painting my roots.
“I don’t think it’seasier.It just looks fancier. I’ve never missed a spot going straight in with my hands.”
“You’re using so much more product that way. It’s a waste.”
I shrug.
“It’s worth it in my opinion.”
I might be lying.
I let my eyes close, something I’d never do at a hair salon. I wouldn’t be able to forgive myself for falling asleep in someone’s chair, it would be so embarrassing.
Falling asleep in my own bathroom? With a woman who has already seen me fall asleep in all kinds of positions? Easy.
Except I doze off for a total of five seconds before her voice pulls me awake.
“Sunshine.” Her voice is soft and quiet, sending a wave of warmth through me. “I need you to tilt your chin down so I can get back here.” She taps the back of my head.
I do as I’m told, trying to force my eyes to stay open.
It’s not an easy feat. Her hands in my hair feel so good. From what I can tell, she’s really good at this, too. I just don’t have the patience to try and do it better.
It’s so cute that she does. This grumpy girl that wants to pretend she can’t be bothered with anything.
“Talk to me so I don’t fall asleep again.”
“Okay…” she trails off. The only sound in the bathroom is the rumbling of the fan. The dye I use smells really sweet, but I doubt it’s the best idea to breathe it in without some ventilation. “So, Dahlia is leaving with them in a few weeks?”
I groan, hating the reminder.
“That’s the last thing I want to talk about.”
“Because you’ll miss her?”
“Yeah, of course. I miss her whenever she’s gone for a few days. This will be torture on top of the fact, that I don’t trustCaleb in the slightest. His attention span is too short. Raquel better be ready to over compensate, but I don’t feel confident about that either. She’s never had to be responsible for a child before.” I bury my face in my hands, accidentally touching my hair with the tips of my fingers. I pretend I don’t notice, if only to not embarrass myself in front of Kara. “I’m terrified. I don’t know how I’m going to function when they’re gone.”
She hums once, like she’s thinking. I wouldn’t be surprised if it was her only answer.
I feel her get closer, lean in towards my ear. I can’t help the shiver that flies down my spine when her breath hits my neck.
“You seem like a good mom,” she says quietly. “You care so much.”
I know she’s complimenting me, and I do feel the rush of her kind words. I also know it’s because of her own mother that she felt the need to say it.