Total pages in book: 60
Estimated words: 55171 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 276(@200wpm)___ 221(@250wpm)___ 184(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 55171 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 276(@200wpm)___ 221(@250wpm)___ 184(@300wpm)
“Head to the salon first. Laura is there and hot to trot,” Jack replies.
“Don’t you worry about Stormy. I’m on my way to the salon now. Laura Busby doesn’t know who she’s messed with. I’m going to make her wish she hadn’t stepped foot in Kitty’s salon. That bitch has never gone there before, yet today she’s there. I think the fuck not,” Barbie is going on in the background. I’m already steering my truck in the opposite direction, taking a side street until my tires hit the red brick in the town square.
“Barbie, I’ve got it covered. I’m pulling into a parking spot now. We all know she’s not gonna say dick when I’m around.”
“That’s just the tip of it, Griff. Mel and Zach are back in town. I imagine it’s going to get worse before it gets better.” Christ on a motherfucking cracker. It’s Monday, and everything is falling to shit.
“Don’t worry about Melissa. I’ll straighten her spoiled ass up, too,” Barbie hollers again. I’ve got to hand it to her. When Barbie brings you into the fold, it’s for good. She’ll fight fire with fire until the bitter end.
“Shit, Mel won’t survive Barbie, you know that, right?” I tell Jack.
“That’s what I’m afraid of. Melissa has a lot coming to her, and I’m not wading in this shit.” Better Jack than me. Mel is a grown-ass woman. She knows better, and he can’t fix this for her.
“Gotta go. My woman is being ambushed. Keep Barbie at the bar, tell her I’ll be back tomorrow. And why don’t you quit holding your dick in your hand? It’s time for you to go after what you want.” I shift the gear into Park, slamming it into place with my good shoulder.
“Keep me posted, and I’m trying. If you ever tried to tame a wild horse, you’d understand that Barbie is making me work for it.” I chuckle at the analogy. He’s not wrong. She’s her own person, been alone for many years, is a hardass with a soft side. It’s getting to the middle that’ll take Jack some time.
“Will do. Good luck.” I hit the end button without saying goodbye again. It’s Jack; he’ll get over it. And I’m sure I’ll get another call from him later on. I’ve been driving for hours, my shoulder is in a sling, and I could sleep for a damn week. I grab my phone and wallet from the center console, managing to put my leather bifold in my back pocket. My keys and phone can stay in my hand. That way, if I have something to keep me busy, I won’t get twitchy and do something I’ll regret.
I’m a block away on foot from the salon. Most of the parking spots were full. Tourist season makes it impossible to get closer, which is alright. Maybe I’ll cool off. I can only imagine what Laura is spewing. Her mouth was awful quick to say that Stormy and I were having an affair. We gave her a fuck lot to talk about, but it wouldn’t have hurt her to ask a question or two. I don’t know, maybe ask her son the reason why his bride was running for the door without a backward glance. Laura’s the reason Stormy didn’t get out of the house for nearly a week, and when she did, well, I was the lucky one she graced with her presence. I knew I had a good thing going with her from the moment she was in my truck and she was clutching the bottles of tequila. Most women would go after champagne. That’s not Stormy, though; she likes her alcohol with a little bite.
I nod my head to a few people I see as I walk the sidewalk. The coffee shop is busy; a line is out the door for people to get their fix of caffeine. Damn good thing I’ll be heading home after I make sure Stormy is okay. The need for coffee of my own is strong, and since I take mine black with one sugar, I don’t see the point in paying four dollars for one. A few more paces, and I’m opening the door to Kitty’s place. The noise from the blow dryers and chatters stops right away. I don’t see Stormy anywhere. What I do see is Laura on the phone. Her face pales, and it seems like I’ve come to save my woman at the right time. The door closes behind me. The air conditioning hums in the quiet. What I’m waiting on is for Stormy to appear.
“Hey, Griffin,” Kitty greets me, head tilting to the back of the shop. I’m just about to head in that direction when my woman appears. She stops in her tracks, barely holding on to what I’m sure is some kind of color. Her hair is down, raven locks cascading in soft waves. A light dusting of makeup. Stormy steals the air from my lungs with one damn look. It doesn’t matter if she’s wearing my clothes, a bathing suit, or what she has on now—a black form-fitting top, loose jeans with her lower abdomen showing, and sandals on her feet.