Page 26 of Jagged

"Yep." Jordan nodded. "Around his ear. You won't mess it up. Go on."

Finnley held her breath, bit her lip, and made the smooth movement after turning on the buzzing device. Riley watched with glee, attempting to hold on to his laughter. When Finn removed the razor, they both hooted.

"He still has an ear!" announced Finn.

Riley cracked up then waved his hand at her. "Keep going. Eleanor will be here soon."

"Okay, Jordy. The rest is yours. I'm not butchering him before his big date." Finn handed the tool over to the expert then hopped up to sit on the counter facing her friend. "That was terrifying."

Riley cracked up at her, shaking his head before Jordan moved in to take back control. She grinned the entire time, and it took her about thirty seconds to clean up his short style. When she noticed me watching, she tossed me a wink then nodded toward the chair beside them.

"Get comfy, Jags. You're next," she said.

"'Kay. Hey, you two." I joined them.

Finnley waved, a smile plastered on her face. "Hey."

"Hi," said Riley, his eyes widening. "Cool board."

"Thanks." I turned it over to show him the custom deck.

"Sweet. You painted that, right?"

"Yup."

"Awesome. Will you design me a tattoo?" he asked, pointing to his upper arm when Jordan released him to comb out the mess. "Been wanting a graffiti-like sleeve."

"Totally." I nodded. "Text me your thoughts and I'll work it up. Whatever I can't do, Wyatt will draw up."

"Cool." Riley beamed with delight and looked over at Finn. "Getting names is lame, right?"

"It's a curse." She widened her eyes. "Trust me. I'm Scottish. We know about curses."

"Cursed?" Jordan gasped exaggeratedly. "What do you mean?"

"If you get someone's name tattooed on you, the relationship is destined for destruction. Same if you doodle their name with hearts. It's a known fact," Finnley declared, with the conviction of a politician.

"I think it's a known belief, not necessarily a fact," said Jordan, her brow furrowed under her thick, rainbow-and-black fringe. Her return to her original style always resurfaced around the summer. "Yeah?"

"Probably. But it's a fact as far as I can see," Finnley responded.

"Your belief is a fact for you, but not for the world." Jordan pointed at her with her comb. "Remember that."

"Right." Finnley sat up straighter as if she just realized what she declared. "Got it."

"She's a political science major," Riley said directly to me.

I chuckled and nodded my understanding. "Understood."

Finnley grinned, her shoulders broadening when she said, "Gen Z is taking back the power."

"Good." I laughed and shook my head at her. "Do it right, kid."

"I will." She smiled and looked back at Riley. "We will."

Riley raised his fist in the air and Finnley followed suit.

I glanced to Jordan, and she wore a broad grin.

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