I nod. “Yeah, that was definitely a nightmare.”
“What was it about?” he asks, pushing the button on the coffee machine.
“I was the princess of groupies,” I answer, already lost in thought again.
Nate bursts out laughing. “You? A groupie?”
I smile and lower my head. Yeah, it’s embarrassing. “Exactly my thoughts upon waking.”
“That’s hilarious.” He laughs as he sits down at the table.
I sit, too, leaning back in my chair. “I have no idea where that came from.”
“Well, they say that in your dreams, you work through the stuff that happened during your day.”
I perk up at that. “Really? Then tell me what happened that made me see myself as a screaming groupie.”
“Did you maybe do anything yesterday that reminded you of your favorite band?”
“Nope. You know I don’t even have a favorite band.” I grin.
“Did you meet a man?”
My grin vanishes.
“I see. I bet he was in your dream, too!”
I give a curt nod. “Yeah.”
“What do you know about him?” Nate asks.
“Not much,” I explain, “because I picked him up on the side of the road and he couldn’t remember where he was, or much else …”
Nate cocks his head to the side. “Then—”
“Then what?” I cut him short, hoping he can enlighten me about my crazy dream.
“Then I have no idea where that groupie bit came from,” he says with a shrug.
I roll my eyes. “So why am I telling you my dreams?”
He shrugs again. “Dunno.”
My laugh sounds a little desperate, and I slap my palm to my face. “I guess I know why.”
“Why?” he prods.
“Because you are a nosey person, Nate,” I answer with a smile.
“Damn.”
“Yeah. Gotcha.”
He chuckles. “And here I thought you wouldn’t notice.”
“Duh,” I say with a shrug. “I’m a clever girl, in case you didn’t know that.” My grin is wide.
“Morning,” Draven croaks, shuffling into the kitchen.
“Morning,” Nate and I echo simultaneously.
I rise. “I should get dressed. Anyone need the bathroom urgently?” They shake their heads. “Fine. I’ll camp out in there then.” I turn away and go to my bedroom to fetch my clothes, before locking myself in the bathroom to have some peace.
In the shower, I find the relaxation that eluded me during the night. I’d love to go back to bed and sleep the whole day, but I bet it wouldn’t take two hours for someone to call, just to ask me how I am. Or maybe to ask whether they woke me. I tend to answer that with: No, I was doing Zumba in my bed.
After toweling myself dry and getting dressed, I look at my reflection in the mirror. There are dark circles under my eyes, a fact that bothers me a lot. With a sigh, I grab the concealer and try to cover up the dark smudges. I’m just glad I have a lot of makeup, so I can make myself presentable. Most of the time, I only use it when I go out.
***
Everything is in place, and the new dress I bought wraps around my curves in a decisively flattering way. The only thing that needs tending to is my hair. I should get it cut again, but I feel much more like having my long hair back. A makeover would be nice. Maybe I should just call my dad and ask him for a little extra cash so I can pay for some extensions. It’s worth a try, even though I doubt he’ll give me any money. As my grandma used to say, I’ve already got a no, but I could also get a yes. I know long hair isn’t a necessity, but I want it anyway, and I want it now! I’ve been cursing my decision to cut off my hair for a while now. It used to fall down to my hips, and now it’s a stupid bob! With a sigh, I sit down on my bed and call my dad.
“Hello, darling, how are you?” he says when he picks up.
“Hey, Dad. I’m fine. How are you?”
“Fine and dandy, thank you, my dear.”
I take a deep breath and muster up some courage. “Daddy?”
I can hear his smirk. “How much do you need, Thally?”
“I wanted to get some hair extensions, and I wondered if you could advance me some money …”
He sounds calm. “Will you work off your debt during school breaks?”
My father has his own company, and I help out whenever I’m home, to pay off my debts. I mean, he’s giving me a sum for rent and such every month, but I often borrow extra money, you know, because a girl has needs. “Sure, Dad, I always do,” I promise.
“Okay. I’ll send you $500, but try to make that stretch, darling, please.”
My lips curve into a half smile. “Thank you, Daddy! You’re the best!”
“You say that every time.” He laughs.
“Because it’s true.” I giggle.
“Send me a picture of the new hairstyle,” he says once his laughter has ceased.
“Aye, Daddy. Talk to you soon. I love you.”
“Love you, too, Thalia.”
“Bye.” I hang up and feel that my mood has suddenly become awfully bubbly. As I walk to my car, I’m exuberant that he didn’t raise a fuss this time. That would have meant no extensions. Then I call Theo to ask whether he has time for me today, though I know it’s supposed to be his day off.
“Hello, honey,” he greets me. Theo’s gay, and he’s not merely my hair stylist, he’s also sort of my best friend. There was still space left in my heart for him, next to Hailey, Cami, and Ave.
“Hey, Theo. I was wondering if you could do my hair today?” I come right out with it. “How are you, anyway?”
“I’m splendid, and of course I can do that. Come over to the salon in … half an hour?”
“Oh, awesome. You’re awesome!” I gush. “I’m already in the car, so I might be there a little earlier. I hope that’s not a problem?”
“Honey, that just means I need to get fluffed up and ready in fifteen minutes instead of thirty. Piece of cake,” he says cheerfully.
***
“There she is,” Theo calls when I come in.
“Hey.” I grin and sit down in the chair he indicates.
He comes over and clicks his tongue as he looks at my outgrown bob. “You took your time, honey.”
“I know.”
“So now you want me to whip that back into shape, yeah?” He runs his fingers through my hair, feeling its texture.
“No. Actually, I want to wear my hair longer again. I’ve had it with this bob. I want extensions.”
Theo looks my reflection in the eye. “Ooh. How long?”
“Down to the middle of my back?” I suggest with a smile.
He shakes his head. “Too short for you.”
I heave one of my trademark sighs. “How long do you think they should be?”
“Down to the hips or even below your ass.”
Below my ass? Far too long. “Hips it’ll be,” I say.
“And back to black?” he asks, chuckling at his Amy Winehouse reference.
I nod. “Yeah. I don’t want to dye them. It’s annoying to have to re-dye the roots all the time.”
“Right. Sit tight, and I’ll get the extensions. I hope you have enough time. This is going to take a while.”
I smile. “No other plans for today.”
Theo disappears into the back, and I look in the mirror. I can’t wait to have long hair again, to be able to sweep up elaborate ’dos that weren’t possible with the bob. This is going to cost me the next few hours of my life, but I’m sure it’ll be worth it.
When he returns, Theo says, “All right. First we’ll see if I need to cut it a little bit, and then I’ll do the extensions.”
“Okay.”
“Come along to the washbasin.”
I rise with a nod and walk over to the weird-shaped basin, sitting down again and leaning my head back into the indentation. I don’t like the sensation of cold ceramic around my neck, but that’s the price fo
r getting to look good again. That bob was nothing but a knee-jerk reaction when I thought I was getting boring. I’ve regretted it ever since, but I guess everyone makes mistakes.
“So how are you doing?” Theo asks. “How’s college?”
“Good. Well, classes are so-so. I don’t know, I seem to have missed a lot this semester. Too lazy and tired.”
“Too many cute boys crossing your way and distracting you?” He smirks.
I blush. I didn’t see that coming. “I guess you could say so,” I stall.
“I could say so? Or is that a fact?”
“Okay, there was one guy who distracted me for a while. But then he replaced me with someone else.”
“Oh, no! I’m sorry, honey,” Theo pouts in my stead. “And that’s the reason you feel you need a makeover, huh?”
“Maybe.” As he shampoos my hair, I decide he has a point. “Yeah, I guess I want to close that chapter with a new hairstyle.”
Theo focuses on his work, and I’m glad he doesn’t probe any further. I don’t want to talk about Colton, who replaced me with Pearl. PEARL! The same bitch who came close to driving a wedge between Ave and Dale, simply by sitting at her daddy’s computer and researching Dale’s background. I’m glad the pair made it anyway, and that Dale gave Pearl a good fright. Whenever Pearl and Dale meet now, it’s hilarious to watch Pearl take to her heels and run. I smile at the memory of their last encounter.
“What is it?” Theo asks.
I tell him the short version of the story, and it takes just as long as he needs to finish washing my hair. He giggles like a child.
“Ave chose a girl with a talent for repartee,” he says appreciatively.
“Yeah, he did, and what’s even better is that she makes him happy. He’s very relaxed these days.”
“Haven’t seen him in a while. I wonder who’s doing his hair,” Theo muses.
I grin. “I don’t think anybody is, so maybe I should send him in for an appointment with you.”
“I’d appreciate that. Hey, from time to time I need a pretty man to look at, too,” he whispers conspiratorially.
I laugh out loud. “I doubt you have a chance with Ave, but I guess looking won’t hurt anyone.”
“Exactly,” he drawls.
We return to the hairdresser’s chair, where Theo combs my hair and then starts to cut a few strands to get it straight and manageable.
I can hardly wait to see the final result.
***
Five hours, four cups of coffee, and three Ouches later, I stare at myself in the mirror. “Oh my God! Is that really me?” I ask in an awestruck whisper.
Finally! My hair is long again, I have bangs, and I’m in a very good mood.
“Yes, honey, that’s the real you. And you’re hot,” Theo says. “Now tell me I’m awesome!”
We both laugh happily. “You’re the second best.”
“What? Who’s first?”
“My dad, of course. Because without his money, I couldn’t have come here today.” I grin.
“Okay, in that case, I’m content with being second best. Or your dad can be the best dad, and I still get to be the best hairstylist,” he suggests.
“Deal!”
We walk over to the front desk, where Theo enters the price. Wow, $299 is a lot of money, but I’d actually expected it to cost more. Now I still have some money for a new dress. Yay for comfort shopping! I’ll probably buy more than a dress anyway, because I rarely pick stuff that costs more than $30. That means there could be several new dresses in my closet tonight. Suddenly Theo enters a rebate, and the amount due shows as $250.
“Theo, I think you just hit a wrong key,” I say softly.
He looks at me. “No, I didn’t. Why?”
“The price just went down by $49,” I tell him, puzzled.
“Let’s call it a valued customer’s discount.” He grins.
“Wow. Thank you!” I come around the desk to hug him.
“After your disaster with Colton and Pearl you probably want to get a new wardrobe, too, don’t you?” he whispers.
“Of course, but 200 would have been enough for that,” I answer with a grateful smile. When I hand him my money, I try to add a generous tip, but he refuses it.
“No tips from my best friend,” he insists.
“Sorry, I forgot that was your rule.”
“Yeah, yeah.” Theo hands me my change and smiles. “Send me pictures of your new outfits.”
“Okay.” That reminds me of my daddy’s request. “Oh, could you take a picture of my new hair?” I hand him my phone, turn so my profile is facing him, and he snaps a picture.
“Thanks, Theo.”
“You’re welcome, honey.”
We say goodbye and I step outside, wondering where to go next. I have no plans whatsoever for this Monday afternoon. I take out my phone again, looking at my contact list. Cami? But she might still be in mama-bear mode after Saturday night.
My problem seems to vanish into thin air, because right then, my phone begins to ring in my hand.
It’s Alexis Kingston.
“Yes?” I say when I pick up.
“Miss Leroux?”
“That’s me. What can I do for you, Mr. Kingston?” I ask calmly, though I feel slightly irritated, expecting him to need a tourist guide again.
“Would you come to the hospital again?” he asks. “Linden wants to introduce his savior to his brother.”
“Uh … In my opinion, I was done after yesterday’s visit,” I say, trying to sound determined. “Apparently people suddenly think I’m a damn hero, but I don’t feel like coming over there again. Please tell Linden I don’t want any further contact.”
“You brought back our lead singer,” Alexis insists. “You have no idea how glad we all are that you didn’t decide to go all Misery on him and chain him to a bed or something.”
“Mr. Kingston, I don’t want to, plain and simple.”
“Please do me this one favor, and I promise you that I won’t bother you anymore,” he pleads.
I sigh and throw my decision to stay away from Linden Priest overboard. I don’t know why, though. “I was about to do some shopping, but I could come over after.”
“Okay. Just come by any time you’re done.”
“See you later.” I hang up without waiting for his reply, because the topic of Linden Priest is beginning to annoy me like hell. Not only did Cami bug me to go out with him after I was so busy helping him get to the ER and contact his friend and all that, but to top it all off, I had that stupid dream about him! I’m still wondering what it meant. I know the interpretation of dreams is total bullshit, but maybe I should google some key terms anyway… Or maybe not. No, definitely better not. I don’t want to know any stupid details. I discard that idea as quickly as it came.
With another sigh I get in my car, place my phone in its holder, start the engine, and turn on the radio. I decide to try Forever 21 first. They usually have some hot dresses that don’t cost me a small fortune. I laugh at the thought of $250 being a small fortune.
“In the end, it doesn’t even matter,” I sing along with one of my favorite songs. I even rap along with Mike Shinoda, who is like my personal rock god.
I left the top closed today, even though now I’m feeling like letting the wind muss up my hair. But I didn’t bring a hair band, so I wouldn’t be able to tame it afterwards and would probably look like a cartoon character who put her finger in an outlet. No, thank you.
***
Half an hour later, after taking my time looking around Forever 21, I find a powder-pink summer dress ideal for this time of year. I pick a turquoise bolero jacket to go with it, because I love bold contrasts. I also pick two pairs of short shorts and a few tees, so I’ll have something to wear on the really hot days, even though I’ll spend most of my summer in Austin, working off my debt at my dad’s company.
“Thally?”
I turn around. “Hey, Hailey,” I greet my friend.
“How come you have long hair again?” she asks right after hugging me.
“Uh … I just felt like it, to be honest. The bob had grown out, and I was already sick of having short hair,” I explain.
“Well, you look really great.”
“Thanks.”
“And now you’re spending all your money?” she asks, amusement in her voice.
“Well, my dad gave me a little advance. And because I’ll have to spend the entire summer locked up in an office, I may just as well splash the cash now,” I say with a grin. “I just need this after breaking things off with Colton. I want to distract myself, I’ll admit that.”
“And you’re sure it doesn’t have anything to do with a certain singer?” Hailey giggles as she looks around the store for something to catch her fancy.
I snort. “Did Cami tell you about that?”
“Her and Dale and Ave, and especially Delsin, who was still laughing about your little bitch fight with his girlfriend.” She laughs.
I roll my eyes. “Oh, great. All my friends are making fun of me.”
“Bullshit. We’re just excited that you met someone new.”
“I picked him up because he was injured, and since then I’ve seen him exactly once, when I chauffeured his friend to his hospital room,” I explain. “I really don’t want anything else to do with this Linden Priest rock star guy.”
“Famous last words of Thalia Leroux, queen of the self-deceivers,” Hailey taunts with a smirk.
“I’m not the queen of anything, Hailey,” I hiss defensively. “I just don’t want any further contact with this man.”
“Whoa, no need to get all worked up, sister. I am the last one to tell you what to do.”
My answer is another sigh. “It’s just that … he had me all confused,” I confide. “When I picked up his friend Alexis from the airport yesterday and brought him to the hospital, Linden asked me out, even though they mentioned a girlfriend or fiancée just a few minutes earlier. That’s not normal, right?”
“Did he tell you why he wanted to take you out?”
“I think he wanted to thank me again, but wouldn’t you think he’d have said he was bringing his girlfriend or that I could bring my boyfriend or something, in case I had one? You know?”
“Well, not necessarily, but I know what you mean,” she says, looking thoughtful. “Do you like him?”
Linden: Rocking Pleasure: New Adult College Romance (Coral Gables Series Book 3) Page 4
