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“See you later,” Alessandro murmured before giving my cheek a friendly kiss.
With everything so up in the air, I was thankful for the little mercies. Alessandro and I were still...us. Whateveruswas.
Chapter Fifteen
Grace
I was holding my breath as I stared at my reflection in the mirror. Kaydence looked very proud of herself, and if I didn't treat my red hair like it was a personality trait, I probably wouldn't feel so devastated. The dark hair was a sharp contrast to my porcelain, freckled skin. It didn’t suit me at all, but it did its job. I hardly recognized myself.
This entire trip was changing me. It felt like my appearance finally echoed how I was feeling inside. I was no longer the pining girl that got on a plane with her heart on her sleeve. I was no longer the girl that ignored her friendship with Alessandro, either. Although I felt a little lost and was still trying to find my footing, I liked the newness. Even if this makeover wasn’t what I was expecting.
"Do you like it? You are so rocking the brown hair, girl. And even though I had to take a Xanax beforehand, I did a pretty decent job of cutting your hair."
This was Kaydenceaftertaking a Xanax? Her hands were shaking as they clutched the scissors. I appreciated her determination not to fuck up my locks, but that didn’t make this experience any easier.
I pinched a shoulder-length strand between my fingers and eyed the blunt bangs covering my forehead. "You did great," I lied. It wasn't terrible, it just wasn't salon quality. I'd gotten used to my five-hundred-dollar trips to see my stylist, Cindy, over the years. Her client list boasted names like Kim Kardashian and Hailey Baldwin. I didn’t want to come across as superficial. I suppose my brother’s love language was spoiling me with high-end luxuries, and I let him. Since I spent my childhood in poverty and sleeping on a mattress on the floor with rats, I guess I was allowed to like the finer things as an adult.
But this would have to do. I didn’t really have another choice. I could handle a shitty haircut. I could handle having nothing. I could handle being on the run. Nix proved last night that he still wanted me. What we had surpassed my appearance. I was banged up, exhausted, and worn down, but he lapped me up like I was a decadent treat. I wanted to look good for Nix, but our relationship was so much more than looks.
Not to mention, I refused to be vain while running for my life.
"It'll grow out," Kaydence whispered, losing some of her bravado while eyeing a spot in the back. Nope. I refused to look at the back. As long as I could put it up in a messy bun, I'd survive.
“Thank you for this. Seriously. You have some major balls. I wouldn’t trust myself with a pair of scissors,” I joked while giving her a tight smile.
“Oh, I absolutely didn’t want to touch your hair. I’d kill for your red locks. And it was so long. So healthy—”
“Yeah. Let’s stop talking about how perfect my hair used to be,” I teased.
“Right. If it makes you feel better, I once accidentally gave myself a mullet,” Kaydence replied with a smile.
“I’m glad you waited to tell me thatafteryou cut my hair,” I said. Both of us burst out laughing, and I had to clutch my stomach as I bent over in hysterics. It felt good to laugh about silly, normal things.
Once the last of the giggles faded, she spoke up. "I'm going to go look for those fake glasses I bought you," she chirped while exiting the bathroom. I watched her go, then turned my attention back to my reflection.
I looked in the mirror while trying to find traces of myself. Even though it was a drastic change to my appearance, there was still something new buzzing in my expression. I still had bruises and scratches from the blast. There were bags under my eyes from the lack of sleep, and there was a hickey on my lip.
But I stood taller. I looked alive for the first time in five years. There was a bright newness in my sparkling eyes. My smile felt wider. My shoulders were rolled back.
I had Nix back. Everything else was just the consequences of my happily ever after.
"Grace!" Kaydence yelled.
The urgency in her tone made me stop looking at my reflection and run toward her. She was standing in the kitchen, looking through the blinds outside. "Unmarked car. Not sure how long they've been parked out there."
"Where are the guys?" I asked.
"Still trying to cash out the money."
"Well, don't tell them someone is camped out. They'll run back and try saving our asses," I replied in a whisper, as if the parked SUV across the street could hear us. Hell, maybe they could. I didn’t know what kind of technology these people had.
Kaydence grinned and looked at me. "I knew I liked you," she whispered. "I’m not in the mood to be rescued. Ready to run?"
"To where? How?" I sputtered.
Kaydence pulled out her cell. "John has a tracking device on my phone. He'll see us leaving and will meet us. I don't want to call or text in case it tips them off."
“Meet us where, exactly?” I asked.
