Page 335 of Filthy Elites

I wish someone would have told me.

I’m a bit nervous as she washes and conditions. My anxiety ramps up when she gets out her scissors.

In the end, Dare was right, though. She only gave me a trim, just making the cut neater and sleeker, and styling it so my hair feels like silk between my fingers when I touch it afterward.

“So, what do you think?” she asks, turning me to look in the mirror.

“I actually really love it,” I tell her.

She grins. “Yay! Now, let’s go show your boyfriend.”

I was worried when I walked away from him, but I feel happier and significantly more confident when she leads me back out to the waiting room to show off my more polished look.

A slow smile spreads across Dare’s face when he sees me. He stands, and I do a little spin to show him my pretty hair. “What do you think?”

“You look gorgeous, as always.”

I smile, and Dare wraps an arm around me, leading me over to the counter so he can pay.

I may not have initially wanted the haircut, but my hair feels so amazing, I can’t stop playing with it in the car.

He drives us to the next place, but I’m not immediately sure what it is. There’s a strip of shops across the street from where he parks the car.

He takes my hand and we walk across the street. Before we go inside, he stops and glances at the decal on the storefront we’re in front of.

“We should take a selfie together,” he says.

I blink in surprise. I don’t actually have any pictures of us together yet. I wasn’t sure he would want to take any since things are still complicated with Anae.

He smiles like it’s no big deal. “Gotta show off that new haircut, after all.”

“That’s true,” I say, flipping my hair playfully. “Hair this good should be shown off.”

He comes up behind me, wrapping his arms around me in a tight hug. My heart jumps and I hold out my camera, preparing to take a picture of us. Right before I do, he presses a kiss against my cheek.

My heart hammers with happiness when I look at the picture. We look so much like a couple. I look like a cherished girlfriend, not… whatever I technically am.

“Post it,” he says.

My eyes widen and my smile falls. “What?”

He nods at my phone. “You can tag me if you want.”

“Um… are you trying to get me killed?” I ask lightly, but also not, because what the fuck? “If Anae sees it…”

“She will.” Almost casually, he reaches over and toys with the necklace he bought me. He gives me another small smile, but no explanation.

I frown down at the picture.

I don’t think posting it is a good idea, but I guess if he really wants me to…

I don’t tempt fate by tagging him, though.

I feel uneasy as we walk into the shop. I don’t have a ton of followers, but it seems impossible that the picture won’t get back to Anae. I don’t understand why he wants her to see that.

“Dare, I think I should at least private the picture so no one else can see it,” I say, unable to get it off my mind. “Of course it would be nice to be able to put pictures of us up on social media, but I don’t think it’s a good idea to provoke her.”

“Stop worrying about her,” he tells me, giving my hand a squeeze. “I’ve got all that under control.”

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