“Do you want to tell me what is going on?” Kim asked as I cleaned up for the day. Her voice was soft as she looked at me up and down.
Besides the lack of sleep, constantly listening to Dom’s deep breathing that sent my brain and heart racing most of the night? For hours, I’d be up, running different spells and scenarios in my head to figure out how I could fix everything I screwed up. Other than that, I doubted I looked much different to her.
I might have cursed Dom with a hearty dose of bad luck and heartache, but I had a feeling I had cursed myself more than anyone at this point. Yet the punishment just kept going.
I dipped my chin, finishing up sweeping since the vacuum was once again out of commission. “There isn’t much going on lately.”
“Are you sure about that?”
I paused, unsure of what to say. Kim, of course, knew of Gertie and our little group that offered herbal remedies and soaps during most markets in the summer, but I doubted she would accept a possible hex backfire as a responsible excuse for what she was getting at.
“I know that I’ve been a little … off recently,” I admitted.
Kim cocked her head to the side. “I don’t think it’s a little. I don’t think you think that either.”
I set the broom and pan against the wall. I tried to hang up the pan two times before it finally stayed on the hook.
“Is something going on with a guy? Or is it family at home?” Kim investigated.
“No.”
“I know it isn’t Gertie and the crew since I just saw them out for dinner the other day and they seemed fine, though you weren’t with them.”
Another thing I’d put off, telling them I had a headache. Which, out of all my excuses and with Dom breathing down my neck, was practically true.
“Is it something here then? In the salon? Is Lexie getting to you with all her extra shifts she keeps asking you to take, or is it the pay?”
I stopped her before she could go on any further about the latest intern from the cosmetology school. Lexie was doing fine. “It’s not any of that. I hope you don’t think that.”
“I don’t know what to think, Ana,” said Kim. “All I know is that whatever is going on isn’t like you. You’ve never been clumsy or distracted, let alone having a lapse of judgement when it comes to a client’s hair. That is, like, your superpower, always knowing what the client wants when they come in, even when they don’t.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry.” Kim sighed. “Honestly, if I didn’t know you how I know you, I’d be even more concerned that you were doing other things …”
Other things?
My eyes nearly bulged out of my head. “I’m not doing drugs, Kim.”
“I know you aren’t. Of course you’re not. I just don’t know how to explain this past week. I know I have been pushing you hard, but that’s because I thought you wanted to be here for the extra shifts and tricky customers. I’m sorry if the hours are too much.”
“They aren’t.” I looked around the salon, quiet in between appointments. Almost too quiet. My brow creased in frustration.
Was she going to fire me? I’d been a little off-kilter and made a few mistakes here and there. Sure. I owned that. But I didn’t think it was that bad or a fire-able offense. If she fired me …
What was I going to do then?
My heart raced, and my mouth opened as I tried to find words to make this all right, but what was all right? Everything right now was wrong.
I couldn’t figure out what to say or how to fix this or that or anything. I was floundering, both at work and at home, where I was supposed to find sanctuary but instead found Dom and a whole new can of worms, erupting for me to seal shut, only I couldn’t find the lid.
“I think it might be best if you took some time off work,” said Kim.
“I promise I’ll be fine.”
Kim put up a hand before I could interrupt her and say anything else. “For now. Just a week or two. Let whatever is going on with you blow over. You understand what I’m saying?”
Pressing my lips back together, I didn’t say anything.
