Page 55 of Coming Up Roses

Myla Rose

“Myla, don’t kill me, but . . .”

“But what, Seraphine?”

“I booked you two more haircuts tomorrow.”

“Okay, that’s no biggie. I only have Mrs. Cumberland, so I have room.”

When Azalea and I opened Southern Roots, we decided to only do half a day on Saturdays—and with how busy I’ve been lately, combined with how tired this little bean keeps me, I’m glad for it. “Are they new or repeat?”

“Both?” Seraphine replies, wringing her hands together.

“Okay . . . you’re acting ten kinds of crazy. What gives?”

“I booked you Cash and his nephew,” she confesses.

“Oh.” My nightmare of a date with Cash is common knowledge at the salon, so I can see why she’s hesitant. Lemonade, Myla, lemonade.

“All right, still no big deal. Thanks for letting me know.” Cool, calm, and collected may as well be my middle name—never mind that my left eye keeps twitching.

“Uh, yeah, no problem.” She doesn’t look convinced that I’m okay with her booking him.

But, I am. I totally am. Oh, bless it, I can’t even convince myself, much less someone else. There is just something about him that I can’t shake. And I need to shake it, pronto.

Like, by tomorrow. I can’t pinpoint what exactly it is about him. I mean, he just does it for me. Which is ab-fucking-surd, especially since he only wanted to get some.

Yet, I constantly find myself thinking about the lazy way he drawls out my name, as if he’s savoring every letter. At night, I dream about the feel of his strong hands and his heart-stopping smile. Snap out of it, Myla Rose

“Hey, I’m sure you already know, but AzzyJo—”

“I did what, now?” Azalea sasses, inserting herself into the conversation.

“Well, I was trying to tell Seraphine that you called her cousin to set up an interview.”

“Yes! Mags mentioned it when we talked the other day.” Seraphine's smile is so wide her cheeks look like they might split.

“I bet you’ll be glad to have her here, huh?” Azalea asks.

“I really am. It’ll be nice to have a little help taking care of Daddy, that’s for sure.”

“Heard that. When Grams got sick, I wouldn’t have made it without the help of Az and the boys, that’s for damn sure. You know we’re here if you need help, right?”

God bless Seraphine, she’s tough as damn nails. Her mama, much like mine, ran off, which is what brought us together. Her daddy, on the other hand . . . the man’s got a heart of gold.

Unfortunately, that heart’s failing him, and Seraphine’s doing her best to take care of him. She graduated high school last summer and has been working for us at the salon because the hours match up to when his nurse can be there. But I know she wants to do more than be a receptionist for us. She’s just biding her time. One day, I know that girl will spread her wings and fly. I mean, fucking fly—she’ll do great things.

“I know, but y’all have your own things going on.” We both dead-eye her, causing her to add, “Seriously, with the nurse and Mags arriving next week, I’ve got a good handle on things. But if it ever feels like too much, I promise to call y’all first, okay?”

Azalea and I both nod, finding her answer up to par.

“So, what were y’all discussing before all of these emotions got involved?” Azalea asks.

“Well, I was tellin’ Myla that I added two haircuts to her book tomorrow. Speaking of, I added one to yours as well. Lucas Carson at 10:45.”

“Lucas Carson? Never heard of him.” AzzyJo tilts her head to the side as if she’s trying to reach deep for a face to put with the name.

“You wouldn’t have. He’s a kid. You know his uncle though.”

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