Page 1 of Reaching Roland

Chapter One

KENNY

“Oh, stop it now. It must be Thursday,” Michaela teased.

“What’re you sing-songing about?” I asked the co-owner of Labelle’s Salon. She was always giving me crap about something, and I couldn’t ask for a better boss and friend.

Michaela sauntered toward me, waving a comb in the air. “What I'm talking about, you fine sexy thing, is every Thursday, before that sweet older gentleman comes in, you floof yourself all up.”

I finished applying my lip gloss and turned toward her, planting my hands on my hips. “First of all, miss thang, Roland is a silver fox. He’s in no way past his prime, like you're insinuating. Number two, I fix my face and make sure I'm presentable between all my clients.”

She leaned her elbow on the side of my swivel chair, giving me a completely exasperated face. “Kenny, baby, you've worked for me since the minute you stepped foot into Takoda. I've watched you grow from an innocent and naïve small-town boy into the?—”

“Magnificence,” I supplied.

She smirked. “Yes, Kenny. Into the stunningly handsome man that you are now. I’ve seen you date countless men, and I've held your hand through more heartbreaks than I care to remember.”

“You and me both,” I mumbled.

She swiped that damn comb through the air, gesturing from the top of my head to the bottom of my shoes. “All I'm saying is, I know how you look when you're dressing to impress, and you bring it all, baby boy, on Thursdays. Have been for the last couple of months. Anyone want to guess who started coming in every Thursday like clockwork at the beginning of January?”

Austin, Michaela’s brother and the co-owner of the salon, chuckled. “Leave him alone, Michaela. I think they're cute.”

Done with this conversation, I whirled back to my station and adjusted a few hairs on top of my head. “Gee, thanks, Austin. I would think you'd at least have stuck up for me.”

Like his sister, he’d become a close friend and confidant. He didn’t give me as much shit as she did, but that was only because his husband, Judson, was a total sweetheart and protective of all of us he’d adopted under his wing.

Austin finished sweeping underneath his chair and stopped. “What did I say wrong?”

“Roland is a client like anyone else. He also happens to be the father of one of my friends, as you know.” He also knew Roland through his son and his son’s partner, Julian. “So maybe I give him a little special care. You both have family and friends that come in that you’re the same way with, and you’d treat Roland like I do if he’d started coming to you instead of me.”

Austin grinned. “You’ve got me there.”

Michaela stepped up next to me, laying her comb down on my table, and began readjusting the kerchief she was wearing, making sure her beautiful braids spilled out down her back just so. Side-eyeing her, I asked, “Where are you going when you leave here that you're spoofing yourself? Oh, wait. No, you just mess with your braids as soon as you come in, between clients, and before you head home. Geez, what was I thinking?”

Austin laughed. “He's got you there, Michaela.”

She turned and leaned her butt against the side of my work counter. “You like this one.”

Nudging her gently to the side and out of my way, I opened my drawer and dug through my assortment ofJolly Ranchers, Butterscotch, spearmint rods,Blow Pops, sugar-free lollipops, and leftover mini-candy canes from Christmas time. Plucking out a spearmint stick, I peeled the wrapper halfway down and stuck it in the side of my mouth. “I enjoy all of my regulars. It's fun to check in with them.” Plus, Roland was a straight widower. Even if the sweet and sexy man had been on my radar, I was done offering myself up as a straight man’s plaything.

“I agree with that,” Austin said as he grabbed his keys out of his drawer. “And now I'm off so you can enjoy Roland in privacy. Michaela, it's past time that you leave, too, so stop pestering him and go home to your family.”

She nodded her head, running her gaze over me thoughtfully. “You're right.” Leaning in, she kissed my cheek. “I'm teasing you…”

“But?” I prompted, knowing she had more to say. I’d been working here for over ten years, so I knew her and Austin as well as they knew me. Probably better since she tended toward over-sharing. I talked… okay, I talked a lot, but I’d learned a long,longtime ago to watch that I only shared what was necessary. At thirty-five, I was a grown-ass man, and I didn’t need nor want anyone feeling sorry for me.

“But, there's something about the way you look at him, and I think you should?—”

I held my hand up, cutting her off. “I'm going to stop you right there. You know, I've given up on men. For now, I'm going to focus on my job. Considering you're my boss, I think you'd be happy with this plan.”

Austin stepped up next to Michaela and settled one of his large hands on my shoulder. “We want you to be happy, Kenny. That's all.” He squeezed.

“Gah, you two.” I pretended to wipe a tear from the corner of my eye.

“Such a clown.” Austin shoved me gently, then kissed his much smaller sister’s temple, and backed away. “I’ve got a hot date with my husband tonight, so I’m heading out.”

Michaela shook her head. “You’ve been saying that every night since you and Judson became a thing. At some point, you’re going to have to settle into being an old married couple.”

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