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Okay, now that’s an understatement. I’m more than excited. I’m over the moon, totally crazy in lust and love with this man. It’s only been two weeks but I can already tell that the handsome trucker is the man for me, and I love taking this time to learn, explore, and grow together. Plus, it’s great because things are so easy between us. Sometimes, time passes slowly and I kick back and relax in the passenger seat while we listen to music. But other times, we talk up a storm. It’s amazing because despite our disparate life experiences, it seems like we never run out of things to say. Not only that, but we have so much in common too. I think we’re the perfect match, and it’s been blissful.
“So has your mom called?” Brand asks, squeezing my thigh again.
“No, thank god,” I sigh. “Of course, Sheena thinks I’m really busy right now. You know I told her that I’m at a six-week intensive nail-tech course in Philly. When she heard that, she was excited and practically kicked me out of the door herself.”
“A nail tech?” Brand asks quizzically. “What’s that?”
I giggle, shaking my head at him. “A nail tech is someone who does manicures and pedicures! Don’t you know that, you big bad wolf?”
But my man merely shakes his head.
“What is a manicure and pedicure?”
“Okay, you’re hopeless!” I snort. “Seriously, Brand. Really?”
He grins.
“Okay, I’ve heard of them,” he admits. “I just don’t know which is which. One is for your hands, and the other your feet, right?”
I nod.
“Yes. Manicures are the fingernails and pedicures are the toenails. Okay, you’re never going to be a nail tech then.”
He chuckles deep in his chest, throwing me another fond look.
“Yeah, I guess I don’t have any interest in that. But hey, being a nail tech sounds great. Women love to get those done and I don’t think having nice nails will go out of style anytime soon, if ever. So I imagine it’d be a steady, secure career. As long as women have hands and feet, there will be work for you.”
“Yes,” I nod in agreement. “Except that I’m not really at the course because I’m here with you. But yeah, Sheena was really happy to hear that I wanted to go to school. To be honest, my mom was happy that I was showing any career initiative at all. She’s been riding me pretty hard for a while now about finding a ‘real’ job, so of course she was very supportive about the class,” I frown. “Okay, now I feel bad about lying.”
Brand shrugs slightly. “Don’t feel bad sweetheart. Taking time to figure out what you want is totally legit, and I think that’s what we’re doing here. It takes some folks a while longer to identify a life-long career for themselves, and I think that’s okay. It doesn’t have to be a huge rush. You’ve got plenty of time, and besides, working in a store at the mall is a real job too. Sheena can’t exactly say you were doing nothing.”
Just as usual, I can’t wipe the smile off my face as I stare at Brand’s handsome profile with his square jaw, strong nose, and mobile lips. It’s so reassuring to hear these words from him when usually I’m getting the exact opposite message of, “You need to hurry up and figure out what you’re going to do,” “Time is a-wasting, and soon life will pass you by,” or my perennial favorite, “You’re getting older, Janie, and soon you’ll be unemployable.” Jeez, I’m only twenty-five! You’d think I was seventy-five, hearing those words.
But I know Sheena has a point.
“My mom isn’t a bad person,” I explain with a quiet sigh. “She just wants the best for me. I know she means well, though, even if her approach isn’t always tactful.”
Brand raises a black brow my way.
“You think?”
I nod.
“My mom’s had to work hard all her life as a single mother. That’s not easy, and I know she just wants better for me. After all, my dad ditched us when I was a baby, and things were scary for a while. We lived in public housing and had food stamps and all that. But Sheena never gave up. It took her a long time to get trained as a hair stylist, to find a steady job and make enough for us to live comfortably, but she managed it.”
“That is impressive” Brand muses.
I nod.
“Right, and my mom’s done well for herself too. She even owns her own salon now, did you know? It’s the best one in our town, and NaNaNa is her baby. That’s why she’s always working,” I explain. “But I’m proud of Sheena and she’s really doing great now, aside from her dating life of course. Her taste in men is a bit…”
