Page 39 of His Road Dog

Chapter 15

Nicole

––––––––

SNIPS OF HAIR FELLto the floor. Nicole took the cape off Julianne and twirled the chair around to face the mirror.

"Is that enough off your bangs?" She studied the woman's reflection.

Julianne came in with hair down to the middle of her back, all one-length. She was a beautiful girl, but her style needed softening to accent her high cheekbones. A fringe worked much better than a middle part and tucking the strands behind her ears.

"I love it." Julianne stood and stepped closer to the mirror. "I look older, right?"

Nicole smiled, remembering being seventeen years old and wishing she looked like an adult. "You do. At least twenty years old."

"Here's your tip." Julianne beamed and dug in her pocket. "My mom gave me money for my birthday."

"Thank you." She grabbed the broom. "Kristi will help you at the cash register. You might want to check out the new supply of mousse. It will work magic if you want to add some volume to your bangs."

"Cool. Thanks again. I love it." Julianne walked to the front of the room.

Cleaning up her station, Nicole carried the used combs into the back of the room and dropped them in the pan filled with solution to sterilize them. Her workday was officially over. With losing Roy and staying away from Priest until he realized what his dominating attitude was doing to her, she had a lot of time to sit in a motel room by herself.

Frankly, she was bored to death.

Making sure everything she owned was put away so the other beautician could use the workstation on the days she wasn't working, Nicole gathered her purse and walked out to the front of the building.

"You're rushing out." Kristi picked up the cash in front of her and put it in the money bag. "Hot date?"

"Nope." She turned around at the door. "Just me, myself, and I."

Kristi stuck her lower lip out. "One is the loneliest number."

"Two can be as bad as one," she sang on a laugh. "I'll be singing that song all night. Thanks for that."

"Make it three and prove Three Dog Night wrong." Kristi grinned. "Why don't you come out with us? Jason's taking me dancing."

Interested because it meant she wouldn't have to be alone, she said, "Where?"

"The casino." Kristi walked around the counter. "Bang Bang is playing."

She loved that band. They played a mix of hard and soft rock. Roy had taken her twice to listen to them play. She'd ended up dancing until two in the morning.

"I don't want to barge in on your date," she said.

"Nonsense." Kristi walked over to the light switch and shut off all the lights. "Jason's buddies from the bowling league will be there, and half the time, he'll be gabbing with them."

"Are you sure?"

"Positive. I want you to come." Kristi opened the door.

Nicole slipped out to the sidewalk. "Okay, then. I'll meet you there."

"We can pick you up."

"No, don't go out of your way. Besides, you need some time alone with Jason. You work six days a week. I probably see you more often than he does. I'll grab a cab."

Kristi walked backward toward her car. "Fine, but we'll take you home from the casino."

---