Page 11 of Unbreakable Love

“This was the only table I could find,” Dolly said, scrunching her nose. “Out of the mayhem a little bit, though.”

“No worries,” Faye said and let go of my hand so she could gesture to me. “Dolly, meet Penny. Penny meet Dolly, my best friend since we were in diapers.”

Dolly rolled her eyes and leaned over the table, smirking like she had a secret to share. “Her thighs were always chubbier.”

“Hey!” Faye slapped Dolly’s shoulder and they both took their seat across from me. “Not nice.”

“I wasn’t the one who was nicknamed Thunder Thighs.”

“Ouch,” Faye grumbled, but there was only laughter in her eyes. “Tell my new friend all the dirty secrets, why don’t you.” She turned to me as she pushed out of the booth. “I’m going to get a drink. It’ll be faster if I go find Regina. What would you like?”

“Oh, I can come with you.”

“Don’t worry about it. First round is on me.” She turned to Dolly. “Vodka soda?”

“You got it.” Dolly tipped her glass of clear liquid in Faye’s direction and then brought the red straw to her mouth and sipped.

“Sprite or 7Up is fine.”

I didn’t drink, and prepped myself for the questions that usually came. For some reason, many people couldn’t fathom you could have fun, be social, and be sober at the same time.

Faye’s eyes narrowed for a blink before she grinned. “Got it. Be back soon.” She shoved her finger in Dolly’s direction. “No more secrets about me until I get back.”

“Can I tell her secrets about everyone else?”

I chuckled, but gosh yes, please. That was what I wanted.

“I can’t stop that from happening. Be back,” she said again and disappeared into the madness behind us.

“We’ve been friends with Regina, the owner, for a long time. She won’t be gone long.”

“It’s no problem,” I told Dolly. “So you’ve grown up in New Haven, too?”

“Yep. I left to go to cosmetology school in Texas. Came straight back as fast as I could. Thought Texas would be an adventure, but there’s something about this place. The dirt digs its way into your soul if you’re lucky enough. I’m sure there are all sorts of small towns like this all over, but there was something about the city I never liked. A lost feeling. Here I’m settled, known. I think that’s important.”

“I think that makes perfect sense.” Part of why I couldn’t wait to get out of Kansas City when I had the chance. It wasn’t the largest city, and definitely not the smallest, but I was so unknown. Unseen. Even when Maize and I were little, there was no one who offered to lend a helping hand, and mostly, no one who saw all the trouble and danger we were usually in. Sure, I could have told teachers, but that would have meant DHS getting involved, us being taken, maybe separated. I didn’t want that.

But some help along the way would have been nice.

On the other hand, Maize loved being able to do her thing without anyone looking over their shoulder at her. She and I couldn’t be more different, and not only in looks since we had different sperm donors for fathers, but where she craved anonymity, I desired the intimacy that came from truly knowing someone.

“Do you work at a salon in town, then?”

“My aunt and I run it. It’s back behind the creamery if you’ve been there yet, a block up from Whiskey Mixer.”

I’d seen the Whiskey Mixer sign and the creamery but hadn’t been to either. “I’ll have to get on your books soon, then.”

“Damn straight you will. My aunt can handle trims and she’s excellent at haircutting and the old-school perms, but I’m the high and low light queen around here.”

Dolly took another sip of her drink, with a twinkle in her eyes. I liked her. She was bold, unabashedly herself. Her olive skin tone set off her light green eyes. Her hair was shorter than mine but thicker, and if she’d done her own highlights, she was definitely going to be doing my hair.

“Sounds good. So… what about all these secrets you were going to share?”

“Oh God,” Faye groaned and slipped into the booth. “First, I heard that, and I can’t believe Dolly didn’t jump into town gossip first, so good job, girl.”

“Give me my drink,” she muttered and grabbed her glass from the drinks Faye was setting on the table. “And be quiet.”

“No way. Jimmy’s here.”

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