Page 24 of Save the Last Dance
“That’s the problem. I don’t.” She shook her head, flustered again and needing to retreat more than ever. “I’ve spent a long time trying to rein it in to be more efficient in business and more discerning in my love life.” Too bad Mack had a close and personal relationship with her adventurous side. He seemed to bring it out in her without even trying.
“Don’t tell me you’re turning practical on me.” He grinned as she revved the engine on the pickup and put it in Reverse.
“Okay, I won’t tell you.” She would go home, bake some cupcakes and wise up before she did anything stupid, like actually get involved with a man who never wanted a family. “You’ll just have to see for yourself.”
Chapter Six
Ally Finley wassweeping up hair from the floor of The Strand Salon when she heard the words that stopped her cold.
“I have a date with Ethan Brady tonight,” chirped a feminine voice somewhere behind her, the overhead fan wafting the scent of hair chemicals and shampoo around her.
They wereherwords. The ones Ally had been wanting to say ever since Ethan moved into town. But they were coming from another girl’s mouth. That wasn’t totally surprising, she thought as she stared at a growing collection of auburn baby curls from a previous haircut. Ethan had always been popular at school. He’d dated plenty of girls.
Except that he’d totally flirted with Ally in the peach orchard just the weekend before. He was even considering leaving town with her after Harvest Fest, and they’d talked about meeting last night at Lucky’s. Only he’d been laughing and dancing withanother girl.
Risking a glance up from her sweeping, Ally spotted Rachel Wagoner in one of the chairs near the door. Her pink designer purse was perched on the table in front of the mirror. Sleek blond hair fell in a perfect sheet around her shoulders. Rachel was in Ally’s grade and she already had her pick of boy admirers. Why did she have to go after Ethan? Was it Rachel’s mission in life to collect every guy’s heart in Williamson County?
“How exciting!” Lisa, the newest stylist, squealed, mixing up a chemical in a plastic dish with a miniature paintbrush. “I saw you two together behind Lucky’s last night.”
So had Ally. But she’d tried telling herself that Ethan was just being nice. Keeping the broom moving, she swiped the bristles underneath one of the other stylist’s station, her arms itching with the need to scratch her skin. She hadn’t touched her scarred forearms in almost two weeks, but the pain inside her chest was burning so strong that scratching would be the only thing that would release it. At least then, the pain would be outside.
“Excuse me,” she mumbled to no one in particular. She propped the broom in the corner, leaning the handle against a framed cosmetology license for the salon’s owner. “Be right back.”
“You okay, hon?” one of the older stylists, Trish, asked as Ally hurried toward the staff bathroom. Trish had big, overdone curls that must have been popular a long time ago and wore cat-eye make up every single day, but she was sweet and Ally liked her.
“Fine.” She tried to smile, but her lips wouldn’t turn that way. “Just a cramp, I think.” She clutched her stomach, hoping that would buy her some time in the bathroom.
“There’s some Midol over the sink,” Trish called after her. “A big, industrial-size container. We consider that a business expense here, you know.” The woman in Trish’s chair laughed with her, their voices fading as Ally pushed open the door marked Employees Only and stalked through the empty break room past the washer and dryer.
Ethan was going out with Rachel.
The hurt stabbed her so hard that a sob escaped her throat as she flung open the private bathroom door and locked it behind her. She needed to talk to Gram. Her grandmother was smart about stuff like this. She would know what to do.
Ally was so rattled she pressed the wrong digits three times before inputting the correct speed dial key on her cell phone.
Please pick up. Please pick up.
It hurt that Gram hadn’t invited her over lately, but surely she would see Ally’s call coming through and answer her phone? Emotions clogged Ally’s throat, the hurt in her chest spreading with every unanswered ring. Right until Gram’s voice message came on. “Sorry I can’t take your call right now…”
Frustration boiled over and a cry bubbled up her throat as she shoved her phone back in her purse. That sob unleashed more sobs. And more. So many that Ally couldn’t keep them quiet. They raked up her chest in wrenching heaves, leaving a trail of fire inside her.
How could this happen? She’d worked so hard to get good grades, to be a good student, a good daughter and granddaughter, a good freaking everything. What for? No one noticed or cared. She’d busted her ass in high school only to have her parents’ marriage turn to shit, her housebecome a war zone, her weekend nights spent rattling through the cold silences of the living room or else locked in her bedroom with the stereo cranked so she didn’t have to hear them fighting.
Through it all, she at least had the thought of Ethan. He’d been a friend if not a boyfriend. Now, she didn’t even have that. Because a “friend” wouldn’t flirt with her and then ask out another girl.
Especially not Rachel Freaking Wagoner, who bought her blond by the half gallon and whose parents gave her a Lexus before she’d even graduated.
“Ally?” The sound of her name penetrated the raw sobs as they echoed around the gray tile.
Ally tried to stop long enough to listen.
“Is everything all right, hon?” Trish’s voice came through the door. “Want me to call your mom to give you a ride home?”
A ride home?
Had she been in the bathroom that long? Or had the sound of her crying slipped out into the break room?
Ally turned on a water faucet to mask any noise she was making.
