Page 42 of Somewhere We Belong

My lipsstill tingled from Theodore’s kiss a week later. It was life-altering. I didn't know kissing was supposed to feel like that. He kissed me like I was his. The possessiveness was intoxicating, mesmerizing and I loved it. Never in a million years did I imagine he would kiss like that, and jealousy burned in me that we would never kiss again.

I had avoided them at all costs, even when Theodore came to the house the day after we had kissed. We couldn’t be alone together, it couldn’t happen again and the guilt I felt was eating me alive. This was no way to say thank you to Atlas and Colt. I had no idea what Theo had told them, or if he was going to tell them at all.

Sol asked to go over, and more guilt hit me when I had to make up an excuse. I could only hold her off for so long, since she would want to go see her pig, and now I regretted letting them give her one. It was only a matter of time before I would have to go over, it made me wonder if this was their plan all along with the pig.

In an effort to forget the kiss, I finally messaged back the guys I matched with on a dating app. The guy was kind of new to the area, moving to Monroe last year. He worked in tech andworked from home, but he hadn't had a chance to explore the area. He was an extremely attractive man, younger than me, but it seemed that didn’t matter to him, and he seemed like he had his life together. We matched before my fall, and I finally got back to him explaining what had happened. He was more than happy to go on a date tomorrow in town. I needed this. I need to forget that Theodore was off limits and needed to focus on single men.

Thankfully, my physical therapist let me come back to work at the salon half a day with breaks between clients. This was a test to see how my arm was doing and so far, I felt great. Clients with long hair were the toughest to get through with all the blow drying, but I felt stronger every day. Today I had one client with the possibility of two more who had yet to confirm.

I was finishing Betty’s roller set hearing her gossiping with Gladis about her grandson’s promiscuousness and how he needed to finally settle down because he was in his thirties and he wasn’t getting any younger.

“Oh, Nova, you are single, right?” Gladis asked me.

“Nope, I’m not going to date anyone’s grandson,” I said immediately.

There was nothing worse than trying to be set up by these women. I made that mistake once and I wouldn’t do it again.

“Oh, come on, he has a job—” Betty said, but stopped talking mid-sentence.

“If that is all he’s got going for him then, no thanks.” I shook my head. “Plus, he has to be ok with kids, and I highly doubt he would be.”

“Well, maybe he meets you and you change him,” Gladis added.

“Nope, I have no time to change men. I need them potty trained already.” I teased my last section before combining everything into a bowl just how she liked it.

“Girl, you are too picky. Next thing you know, you will be a single mom forever,” Betty said, shaking her head.

“I would rather be single forever than have to deal with men who don’t add anything to my life. Why waste my time with someone for companionship just because I don’t want to be alone?” I shrugged my shoulders. “That sounds like it would be awful and I’d rather it just be me and Sol. Plus, I have a date tonight so, who knows.”

“Oh, do we know him?” Betty’s eyes grew wide like she just got a hit from her favorite drug.

“Nope,” I said, grateful he did not live here.

“When is it, this date?” Gladis looked excited.

“Tomorrow,” I said, regretting saying it immediately.

I didn’t trust them not to go to the place we were going, with popcorn ready, to comment on the entire date.

“Where at?” Betty asked sweetly.

“Oh no, we are not discussing that.” I shook my head at her.

“Oh, come on, give these old ladies a little excitement,” Betty pleaded.

“Nope, you can hear about it next time,” I said, grabbing the hairspray. “Alright, cover your eyes and mouth.”

I sprayed Betty’s hair ensuring it lasted till next week. That shit wasn’t moving an inch. After the cloud of spray dissipated. Betty checked herself in the mirror and gave me her nod of approval.

“Nova, you have a men's haircut next,” Michelle, our front desk girl, said.

My heart stopped when the possibility of seeing Theodore hit me. I wasn’t ready to see him, it was too soon.

“Alright, darling, thank you so much for squeezing me in.” Betty air kissed me.

“Need me to go up with you?” I asked, praying she said no.

“Oh, no honey, go ahead and get ready for your next client,” she said, and then said goodbye to Gladis.

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