Page 51 of Suleem and Yahzi
“Nah, you’re gonna make money. I told you I won’t stop your shine, just keep your hands in the neutral zone.”
I turned against his body and looped my arms around his neck. “I told you that was just for you.”
“It better be.” He slapped my ass and pecked my lips. “Get your stuff so we can head out or you’re gonna be late.”
We madeit to the shop at ten minutes to nine but it was already full. The chairs that lined the wall were filled with waiting customers and there were also bodies chilling outside the shop leaning against their rides, blazing enough to provide a contact high on the short walk from Suleem’s Grand National to the door.
I begged him not to come in, but he ignored my request and walked me to my station, returning acknowledgement to those who spoke. A few he dapped, others simply received a nod. He placed my bag with my clippers and other necessities on the chair and watched me while I set up.
“Jordie, she got you.” Niecy pointed to my station and Jordie walked over while one of the guys two seats down frowned.
“How she got next? I was here before her.”
Niecy grinned and looked at Suleem. “You really want to be in her chair while he’s in here, Mook?”
Mook glanced at Suleem then placed his focus on the device in his hand instead. I groaned, cutting my eyes at Suleem who grinned and dragged his tongue over his grill before he tugged at his beard. “Do your thing, Yah. I’ma go handle my shit. Hit my line when y’all get ready to shut down so I can pull up.”
Thank fucking goodness…
There was no way I could cut in peace with him policing my every move. “I will.”
I walked up and pecked his lips but his hand moved to my ass and he held me in place, pushing his tongue into my mouth.
“Leem, let her live. They get the point. She’s yours,” Niecy said with an amused tone that had Jordie laughing.
He nodded when he released me, looking me over before he sent a visual warning to the men waiting next in line. As soon as he was out of the shop, Niecy put her clippers down and did a rotation of the other stations with her hand open. Each one of them placed a hundred in her palm.
“They thought he was gonna be holding the clippers while you directed him. I told them he was gonna let you live because none of them would be stupid enough to try you.”
I rolled my eyes and removed my cape, which I draped over Jordie. She brushed her fingers over the shaved side of her head. “You good with designs?”
“I’m decent.”
“Let me get D-Ville Ballerz then.”
“I got you.” I got started on her cut, creating a drop fade that would leave enough room for the design. “How’s my baby?”
I couldn’t wait until my Porsche was finished. I would be driving around the city just to be seen as soon as it was restored.
She grinned through the mirror. “You’ll see today.”
I got giddy as hell. “It’s done?”
“Yeah, it’s done. Shit is tight too. You wanna see? I have video.”
I shook my head. “No, not until I can drive it.”
For the next couple hours I had a rotation in my chair. Several others requested designs after seeing how dope Jordie’s was. Niecy wasn’t lying when she said they would be in here thick before the games. The other barbers were cool. The conversation around the shop was mostly them talking shit about the games later and everyone discussing how much money they put on D-Ville. A few of them made jokes about keeping it cordial and professional so Suleem wouldn’t be on their ass but for the most part I felt at home. The vibe was chill.
Niecy ended up turning away four customers who showed up at two because taking them would have meant us being late to the games. I was grateful because I didn’t want to miss anything. She made the guys sweep up the shop and Makai took the trash out. A compromise because they wanted to leave early to head to the courts which would have left Niecy and me cutting the last eight heads split between just the two of us. After I counted out my money and smiled at my total for the day, I dropped into my chair and watched while she packed up her station.
“How does this work? Does Kassir get a percentage of our daily totals or just the booth fee?”
She grinned at me through the mirror before she turned my way. “Um, I’m not sure how things will work for you, princess, but with the rest of us, just a booth fee. You’re on a different pay scale.”
I rolled my eyes and shook my head. “Nope, I’m following the rules.”
“Mhm, which is why your booth fee is paid up for the year.”
