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“Maybe I should sayusedto beef with Von. Von beat her ass a couple years ago, and I don’t think she’s had a problem out of Nya since then.”
“Damn, really?” I asked, eyes wide.
“Mmmhmm,” Jules confirmed, with a wicked smile. “I don’t know the whole story, but Tris and Nya were dating at the time. I guess Nya got particularly flagrant or something, I don’t know. But what Idoknow is that Von went to the salon anddog walkedher in front of everybody. And then…” she broke off from her story to snicker. “Legend has it, Von climbed off her, straightened her clothes, looked at Nya and said…I think your client’s dryer went off.”
“Shut up!” I yelped, letting out a loud burst of laughter I couldn’t keep back. “Did she really?!”
Giggling, Jules shrugged. “If it’s a lie, Nik is the one who told it. This was like a year before I came back, so I missed it.”
“Came back?”
“Yeah,” she nodded. “I was born here, then moved and lived in Cali for a while. Moved back, opened my business… found the love of my life,” she grinned. “So… I’m pretty settled now. What about you? Has the rumor mill correctly spread that you bought that little candle shop across the street?”
Ugh.
I’d forgotten, kinda, aboutthatelement of staying in one place for an extended period. People remembered your face, then your name, then caught on to your routines, and started retaining details of your life.
Dangerous, for the life I used to live.
Now… it was part of blending into the neighborhood.
Deep cover, like Alicia said.
“Uh… yeah,” I answered, smiling. “I got it all cleaned out, got some new supplies in there, all that.”
“Niiice.You should let me come and shoot it for you.”
My eyebrows went up. “Huh?”
“My bad – I’m a photographer,” she explained. “Love Notes.I do all kinds of stuff – engagements, graduations, product shots, whatever, but what I really love is more like… lifestyle. Shooting people in their element. I’m already imagining you and this pretty ass face in like, a wax stained tee shirt, making candles, or just… I don’t know, vibing in a caftan, testing new fragrances out.”
“Wow,” I laughed. “Your imagination is really vivid.”
“It’s not imagination – it’s vision. I canseeit. So… you in, or…?”
“I… don’t know,” I told her, shaking my head. “I’m not really into being photographed.”
“I totally get that, not everybody is. So I won’t pressure you,” Jules assured. “But if you change your mind, or want some shots for a website or something, I’ve got you.”
“Understood. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. And hey,” she said, leaning in. “Don’t let those bitches get under your skin. Think about it, they’re over there pretty as hell – both baddies, honestly. And yet, instead of using those good looks while they’re in their prime, they’re wasting it being petty and acting ugly, and they’re still not gonna get the niggas they want. It’s honestly pretty sad. Kinda makes you feel bad for them.”
I snorted. “No the fuck it doesn’t.”
“You right.”
At that, we both busted out laughing, and…
Damn.
I was turning into some kinda sap, because this benign ass interaction had shifted my mood pretty drastically.
I no longer felt like I might break my commitment to not murder someone.
“I’ve gotta get down to my studio for a session, so I’ll see you later,” Jules said, breaking into my thoughts with a claim that made me raise my eyebrows.
“Later? What’s happening later?”
