Page 33 of Matteo

Yet,a voice whispered to me, and chill rolled down my spine.

Chapter 12

Rain

Two Weeks Later…

The bell above the door gave a slight jingle. The shop had been busy all day and it was all I could do not to scream. I really wasn’t trying to do another head today. I was ready to go home and prepare for my sleepover with Nora. We had finally narrowed down some time.

“Welcome to The Siren,” I gave a wave without turning around.

As I finished tidying up my stand, I admired the work Rita, another one of the stylists, was doing on a child. “Looking cute,baby doll,” I told the little girl who had her iPad in front of her, staring intently.

Going to the front desk, I offered the woman who was waiting a beautiful smile.

“Hi, how can I help you?”

The woman was absolutely stunning, but her hair was jacked up. She had bright pink power suit and colored contacts giving her eyes a grey appearance. Whoever had done her lashes had done a great job, they were full and fresh looking.

“Are you Rain Ellis-Allan?” She inquired, a small smile on her face.

I nodded a frown coming on my face. “Yes.”

“Oh good!” She clapped her hands together in glee, while I remained dumbfounded. “Your mother sent me over. She says you’re the best hair stylist in Seattle.”

Relief flooded through me. “My mom is always telling someone about my services.”

“She should do your marketing,” the woman chuckled. “But as you can see, I am in need of some work. Since I moved here, I’ve been trying to find new everything. I just found an esthetician this evening.”

“I’m happy to do a consultation for you right, now. The shop is closing in an hour so we’ll have to make an appointment for next week.”

She sighed. “I was really hoping that you might be able to squeeze me in today. There’s a rainbow tea on Sunday.”

Biting my lip, I surveyed her hair. I loved making women feel beautiful inside and out.

“What do you need done? Or better yet what do you want done?”

The woman clapped her hands together in glee. “Oh, thank you, thank you.”

Holding up my hand while a grin hit my lips, I replied. “Hold on, I haven’t agreed to anything just yet.”

She sobered and then pulled out her phone before handing it to me. “I want to get my hair trimmed into this asymmetrical bob. My ends need the trim anyway.”

Raking my eyes over the phone, I nodded. It was a very doable hairstyle.

“Alright, take a seat and give me about fifteen minutes.”

“Oh, I’m so excited. This is long overdue.”

Silently, I agreed because her kitchen needed a remodel. Watching as she took a seat, I went back over to my station and began cleaning it up. A text message from Kenji was waiting for me.

I’d kind of been avoiding him. Ever since Cassie’s funeral, I’d been trying to clean up my act. I’d been focused on staying away from anything that would trigger me.

Anything that would have me making very bad fucking decisions.

I want to see you,it read.

“I’ll just bet you do,” I said out loud to no one.

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