Page 33 of Give Me a Shot

“Good to see you, too, Darius,” he said. He was glad the shake had been brief because his hands felt clammy. Darius cocked his head to the side.

“ ’Lil didn’t mention you were coming by,” Darius said. “Isn’t your appointment usually on Thursdays?”

Mo cleared his throat.

“Yeah, uh—”

Khalil popped his head through the doorframe leading to the break room, an eyebrow arched.

“Let me call you back…um, tomorrow,” he said to the person on the other end of the corded phone in his hand as he disappeared. Mo looked back at Darius.

“I…had some time. I hoped Khalil could squeeze me in before you closed,” he said.

“Course, Mo,” Darius said. “Why don’t you get comfortable in his chair?”

Mo nodded and sat down. Darius returned to brushing his own chair, and Mo took a deep breath, looking around Khalil’s station, which he already knew by heart.

“Hey, bro,” Khalil said, joining them. Mo caught Darius and Khalil exchanging a quick glance.

“Hey,” Mo said.

“You know what, Dare?” Khalil said as he draped a cape over Mo. “Why don’t you head out early. I got the shop tonight.”

“You s—” Darius stopped when he made eye contact with Khalil again and nodded. “Thanks, man; I appreciate it.” He returned the brush to its place on his station, hustled to grab a bag out of the back, and waved goodbye.

“Bye, Darius,” Mo called out as he left.

Khalil went over to lock the door and strolled back to his station. He picked up his clippers and looked at them before returning them to their place. He leaned against the station, crossing his arms.

“Spill it,” he said.

Mo frowned.

“Spill what?”

Khalil frowned back.

“One, it’s Tuesday,” he said. “At this time of day, you’re either between your forge and your anvil, or you’re home doing something with your plants. Two—”

“How do you know what I do on…Right. Maddie.”

“Exactly,” Khalil said. “And two, you never, ever change your barbering schedule. The last time I even hinted at it, you acted like I was trying to kill you.”

“That sounds a little dramatic,” Mo said. Khalil tilted his head to the side.

“Grouchy eldest brother can’t be dramatic?” he asked.

Mo squinted at him. Khalil wasn’t wrong about his resistance to change in his schedule. And he needed Khalil’s help. No point in dragging his feet. He sighed.

“I kissed someone,” he said.

Khalil’s face broke into a smile, and his energy nearly bowled Mo over.

“Dude!” he said. “Are you serious?” He pushed off the station and knocked into Mo for a hug. Mo couldn’t hug back with the cape on.

“Yeah, yeah,” he said, his cheeks heating. Khalil straightened up, grabbed a stool from somewhere behind them, and sat next to Mo.

“That’s awesome,” he said, his grin a mile wide. “It’s Jess, isn’t it?”

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