Page 45 of Before This Ends (Before)

Him wearing jeans with a long-sleeved, plaid button-down shirt in a mixture of oranges, browns, and black that looks good on him. Her in a cute sweater dress with boots and tights, with her hair pulled back from her face with a headband. Last night, we left Clay’s apartment around ten, because I had to get up early for work, and Winter had to get to bed. Instead of me stopping off at their place to say goodnight to the two of them, they walked me out to my car. Which was good since I didn’t have to risk Miles kissing me again. It also sucked because I wouldn’t have minded him kissing me again.

“What are you two doing here?” I ask Winter as she runs across the salon to me with a happy smile on her face.

“Daddy brought me to see if you could give me a haircut.”

“Did he?” I look up at Miles when he gets close.

“I did.” He takes advantage of the lack of distance between us and grabs my hip while bending to kiss me on the edge of my mouth, just like he did a few days ago. “If you don’t have time, I’ll find somewhere else to take her, but she wanted to see you, so I figured we’d stop by anyway,” he says softly, leaning back to catch my eye. I’m sure how much he affects me is written all over my face.

“You have perfect timing. I’m on lunch right now between clients.”

“Yay!” Winter jumps, making me shake, and I smile down at her.

“Did you eat?” Miles asks, and I look at him while I hold my hand out to Winter.

“I had a shake.”

“A shake? That’s not actual food, Em.”

“I’m fine.” I lift Winter onto the foam block I placed on the shampoo chair to give her some height.

“Em.”

“Really, I’m okay.” I laugh, ignoring the way my nose stings, just like it did when he made me a coffee without me asking.

“I’ll feed you tonight.” He sighs.

“Where are we going?” I glance over at him as I start to wash Winter’s hair. Surprisingly, I don’t feel anxious about our impending date. Maybe because I know him and have spent so much time with him. That’s not to say I’m not nervous; I am, but that nervousness has more to do with us being alone and what it might mean if tonight goes well—or even if it sucks.

“The Standard.”

“I’ve never heard of it.” I wring out Winter’s hair, then pump some conditioner into my hands.

“You’ll like it.”

“Have you been there?” I glance over at him again as he leans his shoulder against the wall next to me, crossing his arms over his chest.

“A couple of times. It’s one of the few places you can get a good steak in Nashville.”

I want to ask if he’s taken other women there, but I know that question would sound ridiculous. Heck, even thinking it makes me feel weird.

I finish rinsing Winter’s hair, then wrap it in a towel and help her down, listening to her giggle when the towel slips off her head.

“So, what are we doing, Dad? Just a trim?” I ask him.

“Yeah,” he says, but Winter shakes her head and looks up at me.

“I want my hair like this.” She takes her hair at each side of her face and lifts it so it looks like a bob. And seeing the look she is going for in my head, I know without a doubt the cut would look adorable on her.

“Win, you can’t cut all your hair off,” Miles tells her, and she looks over at him.

“But Tapia cut her hair like that.”

“I get that, but that’s something you’re going to have to talk to your mom about.”

“Why? It’s notherhair.” She crosses her arms over her chest and sits back with a huff.

“Honey,” I say softly, turning her toward the mirror. She stops glaring at her dad and looks at me. “How about we cut your bangs so you can see and trim your hair today? Then, when your mom comes to visit, you can talk to her. If she says it’s okay, you can come back, and I’ll cut your hair again.”

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