Page 51 of Ugly Beautiful Scars

I dismissed it because maybe I was drunk.

When our eyes meet briefly across the crowded bar, he looked away, suddenly fascinated by the ice in his glass. I should've paid more attention to his shifty gaze and the way his eyes kept wandering back to Wunmi.

Wunmi poked my ribs. "What are you doing, bro? So serious."

I broke into a grin. "Had to turn away. I'm not into lesbian porn."

Both of them started howling and Wunmi smacked my arm, but she knew what I was talking about. She and Mickey got explicit in public.

They were just in love.

When I glanced back at the bar, the man was gone. It was the first time I noticed him, and I failed to act decisively.

Because of my non-action, I'd see him again.

Rich leads me to the sink twice to wash my hair while I'm lost in my thoughts. Finally, he pats my shoulder. "Hang tight, we're almost done. Just need to dry."

The whir of the hair dryer fills my ears. Maybe Navy Cap is nobody of interest, but I won't make that mistake again and not investigate. If he's stalking Londyn, Mike and I need visual confirmation. We need Londyn to go out again, establish patterns, see if he reappears. But how do I suggest that without alarming her or revealing I know more about her past than she shared?

"Ready to see the new you?" Rich's voice breaks through my planning.

I blink, suddenly remembering where I am. The haircut. Right.

Rich spins the chair back toward the mirror. "What do you think? It's a big change, but honestly? You're killing it."

It takes several seconds of blinking at my reflection for reality to penetrate my brain.

Blue. My hair is fucking blue.

Chapter 16

SEAN

NO. MY HAIR ISN'T JUST blue. It'selectricblue, with spikes that look like I stuck my finger in a socket while dipping my toe in water. And with these high, sharp cheekbones of mine, I look like—

Holy fuck, I look like my worst nightmare: a K-pop idol.

"Do you… not like it?" Rich's smile falters.

I force my face to relax. This isn't Rich's fault. I told him to surprise me, and damn, did he deliver.

"It's definitely different," I say. The hair actually looks well-executed. The color is even, the cut itself is clean. It's just soaggressively not me that I feel like I'm looking at a stranger. "No, it's good. You did a great job. Thanks. Exactly what I asked for."

Rich's brightness returns. "See? I knew you could pull it off. Some guys would look ridiculous, but with your bone structure? Total rockstar vibes."

I pay at the front desk, adding a generous tip because Rich actually did accomplish the mission. I look nothing like Alan Miller now. Nothing like myself, either, but that's collateral damage.

Warm air hits me as I exit and turn in the direction of Londyn's apartment. I'm trying not to think about the blue hair, but I must be concentrating too hard and sending out beacons because my phone vibrates in my pocket. Sienna's name flashes on the screen with a text, like she psychically sensed something changed in my life. She always had perfect, or bad, timing.

Sienna:Dinner tonight? There's a cool place by the pier I think you'll like.

She thinks I'm still in San Francisco. Damn, I forgot to tell them I left.

Well, that creates a fresh wave of guilt inside me.

Me:Sorry. Had to leave town. Next time. Promise.

The phone immediately starts ringing in my hand and Sienna's picture lights up the screen. I'm trying to decline the video call when my thumb betrays me, accidentally answering instead.

---