Page 41 of His Forever
“Sounds good to me. Okay, let’s get this show on the road then. Time is money and all that jazz,” she said, laughing, as she gathered up their dirty plates and carried them inside. Making quick work of the dirty dishes, she moved the cat food into the other bathroom and put up the small gate.
“Marleigh? Your car should finally be done today, do you want to ride in with me?” he asked her as he filled up the water dishes. “National backorders really stretched this repair out needlessly,” he told her.
“Yeah, I’d like that, Zeus. I think I’m on the coffee and donut run today, though, is that okay?”
As if spending time with her would ever be a problem. “Not a problem, mi siempre hermosa.”
***
They walked into the salon with their arms full of donuts, coffee, and some of the treats they had picked up in their travels the day before. He helped her carry everything into the breakroom before he claimed a quick but scorching kiss, saying, “I’ll check with you around lunch to see if you’re free, okay?”
Breathless, she smiled up at him before replying, “I’d like that a lot.”
With thirty minutes to spare before their clients came in, the girls sat in the breakroom talking about their weekend. When she mentioned that her aunt, uncle and father were coming that weekend, Mamá spoke up and said, “We should have a girl’s night, si? The men can play poker or something while we go and have a bit of fun. I want to meet your family, Marleigh.”
“I’m game,” Chandra said. “My folks were taking the kids this weekend anyhow, and Pete won’t mind me having a girl’s night. He always benefits,” she exclaimed, wiggling her eyes.
Marleigh laughed and, pulling out her phone, sent a text to her aunt advising of their Saturday night plans. This was going to be fun!
***
As lunchtime approached, the salon got busier. Realizing that the likelihood of being able to slip out with Zeus was slim to none, she sent him a quick text apologizing and saying they were probably going to order take-out of some kind. Thirty minutes later, he came into the salon with arms loaded down with all their favorites from the Mexican restaurant amid cheers and smiles from the girls. “Figured you ladies would need your strength,” he told them as he carried it into the breakroom. “And seeing as y’all order from there all the time, they went ahead and labeled your food and sent over plenty of chips and salsa.”
“They’re a godsend, Mijo,” his mother said as she deftly applied color. “We have been busier than normal today and even Marleigh has had a few walk-in appointments.”
“So she’s busy right now?” he asked.
“No, she’s not,” Marleigh said, coming up behind him and wrapping her arms around his waist. “She just got done.”
He turned around and smiled down at the face he had grown to love. Stroking a thumb over her cheek he leaned down and kissed her forehead before saying, “How long before your next one, mi siempre hermosa?”
“Hmmm, about thirty minutes or so. This was a walk-in and she just wanted a mini-facial so I worked her in,” she replied.
“Then sit down and eat with me, okay?” he asked as he led her over to the table and pulled out a chair for her. Going to the refrigerator, he pulled out a water and a Diet Coke, knowing she usually drank both at lunch.
“Thank you, Zeus! I was eyeballing Chandra’s chocolate stash for lunch,” she told him, unwrapping her burrito.
“Oh hell no you weren’t!” Chandra said, coming into the breakroom and sitting down. “I’ll share with no problem, but I have the need right now.”
Mamá, coming in quickly, nodded at the three eating as she said, “I will watch the front. Chandra, your girl is processing so go ahead and eat.”
Chandra smiled at the older woman and said, “I had planned to and have her timer going on my phone. I can’t believe how busy we are today but I won’t complain and I don’t think anyone else will either.”
They ate and joked, keeping an eye on the clock. When the door chimes went off, Marleigh looked down at her watch and said, “I think that’s my next one. Thanks again for lunch, Zeus. Want me to come over when I’m done and get the car?”
He stood when she did and gathered their trash saying, “Si, come over when you are done. I know you do things before you start on your clients so go, I’ve got this.”
She smiled at him and leaned up to give him a quick kiss, replying, “Yeah, since I work so close to them, I try to brush my teeth. No one needs to know my penchant for garlic or onions.”
Pulling her close again, he gave her another kiss before whispering, “I don’t care, mi siempre hermosa. I’ll see you later.”
***
The rest of the day flew, with each of the women stepping in and helping each other. At one point, Marleigh found herself elbows deep at the shampoo bowl since one of her customers had to cancel. She was grateful that she knew how to shampoo because it meant that the other women could keep going. With everyone shampooed and her rooms ready, she went back and swapped out the laundry, folding another load of towels and getting them put up. “Okay ladies, let me go back to my massage room,” she finally said. “I think we’re uh, good, for a little bit.”
Joy looked at her and smiled. “Girl, I don’t know how we ever made it without you here. Mamá made a good call asking you to work here.”
“It takes us all to keep it running, Joy. I don’t mind and like I’ve said before, y’all help me out too when you’re able, whether it’s changing out my rooms so I can keep going, or washing my sheets for the tables.”