“Oh. Just give her something nice. Cut the ends, maybe add some color.”
I groaned out loud to show how uncomfortable.
“Relax, Baby. I killed that beef a long time ago,” Tiffani said after noticing how tensed I was. “I got a family now, a baby girl. We too old to be out here fighting each other.”
“You bit my ear,” I reminded her, frowning.
“Sure did.” Tiffani chuckled with a small smile. “But that was after you pulled out all my edges.”
She pointed at her hair as evidence.
“True, True,” I admitted, while nodding. “Okay, I’m ready.”
I sat up higher in the seat, throwing a grin in Jayda’s direction. She looked at me like I had issues.
Tiffani started by washing my hair, while a lady came over and handled Jayda. She sat me under the dryer afterwards, before cutting the ends off like Jayda suggested.
I can admit, I got nervous when she was picking through all the colors she had. I thought she would pick something wild, but when everything was finished and she turned me around, I loved what she did with it.
I had light brown highlights on the ends that matched my eyes, and she silk pressed my hair to the Gods. Running my fingers through it, I couldn’t believe how different I looked. More like the me I was before I went away. It stopped to the middle of my back; my time in prison gave my hair the time it needed to grow.
“Thanks, girl. You hooked me up, for real.” I glanced at her through the wide mirror. She had a proud smile on her face, and you can tell she’s good at what she does.
“Welcome home, Baby. This one is on the house,” she declared, and I reared my head back in shock.
I wasn’t expecting her to do me like this, and I felt kinda bad for judging her. Jayda was done with her hair too, and of course she looked good with her dark grey deep wave installed.
“She says this free, girl,” I chimed in happily, giving her a look. “I don’t know why you was judging her, Jayda. You dead ass wrong.”
I threw accusations her way and all she did was laugh.
“You are so fucking retarted. Come on,” Jayda said, reaching across me to give Tiffani a hug. I did the same, telling her I'll be back again soon for a touch-up.
We stopped to get something to eat at a seafood spot and didn’t make it back to the house until late. I loved hanging with Jayda, and every time we linked up, neither of us paid attention to the time.
Once we said our goodbyes, I hopped out and make my way up the porch steps. I noticed Leah’s car wasn’t in the driveway, but my Auntie’s was. She was on the couch with a cigarette in one hand, and a glass of wine in the other. When she heard the door opened, she glanced at me over her shoulder.
“Hey Baby. You look pretty, boo,” she complemented. “Your parole officer called for you... said to call him back when you got in.”
Butterflies flew in my stomach. I know he was probably just doing his job and checking in, but my heart didn’t get the memo the way it’s thumping against my ribcage. I was nervous at just the thought of hearing his voice, and I don’t know how long I can keep pretending I didn’t want him.
10
LOVE
Flashback
“Hi Mrs. Hamilton, I’m Lauren. Love has told me so much about you.”
She extended her arm for a handshake. This bitch is crazy.
“Ma don’t listen to this. She off her meds. I never told her shit about you.” I glared at Lauren, who was pouting behind me.
“Love, that ain’t no way to speak to a lady.” Mama gave me a pointed look, like I was embarrassing her.
“She ain’t no lady, mama. She crazy,” I clarified, turning to Lauren. “Ain’t you crazy?”
She gave her an innocent look, pushing her arm to loop through mine. “Boy, you so stupid.”
