Page 2 of Starlight Salon

I’ve gotten used to tradies being late when they’re busy on other sites, but usually they call to warn me. This guy has left me for two hours with nothing. He hasn’t even replied to my texts.

I grit my teeth, go back to the staff room and snatch a box of hair dye from the crate to shove on the shelf.

The excitement I had sours to betrayal. Which is ridiculous. How can I feel betrayed by someone I don’t know? But this was finally a chance to talk to him.

The door opens in the front and my heart pounds. I duck out of the room to see him before he disappears.

My shoulders slump. “Oh, it’s you.”

Isla laughs and hands me a coffee cup clinking with ice. “Sorry to disappoint.”

“I mean, yay, Isla. I’m so glad you’re here,” I exclaim and put her bag on a workstation to sip the coffee. Sweet bliss. “Thanks for the pick-me-up. How are the clients today?”

“All tourists and no locals.”

“I’ll come for a new set soon,” I promise her.

Isla sits and takes my hand, analysing the pink swirl design she decorated them with a few weeks ago. “They’re holding up good,” she releases my hand. “We still on for Saturday?”

“That depends on if the water’s fixed.”

“Wasn’t it being fixed today?”

“The plumber hasn’t shown up and hasn’t returned my calls.”

Isla frowns. “What plumber was it?”

“Some guy Dom recommended. Lachlan someone.” Isla doesn’t need to know Lachlan is the guy I’ve been pining over. He always sits opposite us at the bar on Saturdays when we decompress. I didn’t know his name, or his profession, when Dom recommended the plumber. It was the photo on Lachlan’s website where I found out.

Isla blushes and sips her drink. “If Dom recommended him, he should be reliable.”

I slump into the chair beside Isla, disappointed that the guy I desperately want to touch is unreliable. “You’d think. I run a hair salon. I need hot water for that.”

“It would be helpful.”

“I don’t know what to do.”

“Can you call someone else?” Isla asks.

“I tried, but the only other guy I’m willing to work with is booked. I want someone reputable. And Lachlan’s supposed to be.” I sigh and run my fingers through my fringe. “I don’t want to hunt down someone else who can’t fit me in for over a week. I’m supposed to open before then.”

“Why don’t you ask Dom if he knows where the guy is? Aren’t they friends?”

I glance at the line of basins that still don’t have hot water and my chest tightens. Dom’s only across the street. If it means I’ll get answers, maybe I should talk to him. “You’re right. Dom recommended him so he can help me with it.” I grab Isla’s bag and hand it to her, stride to the door and switch off the lights as I go, but leave the mirror lights glowing.

“Are you forcing me to leave? What if I wanted to spend time with you?” Isla pouts teasingly.

“Come to Next Door with me and see Dom.”

Isla ducks outside and heads to her store, saying over her shoulder, “Never mind. I didn’t want to hang out, anyway. Got lots of business things to do.”

I laugh at her exaggerated response. One day, I’ll force them together to face their feelings. Glancing across the street, I cross the road to the bar.

It’s closed since it’s barely lunch, but dim light comes from the windows. My hands cup the glass and I look inside. There’s movement near the bar, so I knock on the door.

The shadow moves closer to the back.

“I can see you, Dom,” I yell through the glass. “Let me in.”

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