Page 23 of Cut Me Down

My fantasy is interrupted by the bell of the front door. A very old man with a walker makes his way in and sits in the front row of waiting chairs. He’s shorter, and hunched over, wearing a nice shirt and bow tie. Looks nice enough, and he probably doesn’t know that the shop is technically closed right now. Or at least, he better not know. I won’t let this old geezer interfere with my time with her.

“Hey Charlie, what are you up to?” The angel speaks comfortably, obviously relaxed and familiar with the old man.

“I came to get my mojo, darling.” He says brightly as he bounces his shoulders up and down. Holding his hands up, with bent elbows in a mock, stationary dance.

Darling?I will fucking end you Charlie.

“You have another date? With who this time?” She scrunches her brows and asks, halfway surprised.

“Lucille.” He bobs his head up and down as a smirk grows on his old, chapped lips.

“Again? Damn Charlie, this is the third time in a week.” Ashia looks at him with her eyes wide. “You must really like this one.”

“What can I say, the way that lady grabs my jewels gets me going.” He balls his fists and moves them back in forth in another small dance. I can’t help but snort out laughing. That’s how we’ll be when we’re old and gray. Playful, still crazed for each other.

“Well, Charlie, I have clients. You know I don’t like to do it with other people here.” She gently glances at me before quickly moving her line of sight back to the old man. She’s nervous, but little does she know that there’s not a single thing she could do to make me repulsed by her.

“I’m sorry sweetheart, I tried to come after hours.” His playful demeanor vanishes and is replaced by something else. Desperation, almost.

“What does he want you to do?” Carter asks chuckling.

“Whenever he has a date, he comes in and I clean him up, and then I sing for him.” Sing?She can sing?I can’t help but widen my eyes at the thought, and she quickly moves her gaze from me again, as if she read my mind and is suddenly embarrassed. “B-but I get nervous in front of other people.” She stutters.

“Oh please, Ashia? You know my dates never go as well when you don’t do it.” She turns back and looks at him, her face softening sweetly, like he’s a kid asking for ice cream before bed. A slight grin creeps on her face as her eyes glisten. She’d make a great mother, but those are thoughts for another time. Perhaps after I introduce myself formally.

“As long as they don’t mind.” She cowers between her shoulders as she cuts to avoid our answer, sure to keep her gaze on the back of Carter’s head.

“Well boys?” Charlie asks, clearly pleased with himself, as he looks between us with a new straightened posture.

“Of course not, I'm sure you sound beautiful.” I say for Carter and I, not giving him the chance to be the nice boy he always is and give her a way out. Carter better cover his fucking ears because if he catches a hard on for my girl, I'll have to find another technical specialist.

“Which song you want Charlie?” She asks as her shoulders sink, giving in to his request.

“Do the one about the trees. That one always has me feeling nostalgic.” He wiggles in his seat excitedly.

I stare at her, and I notice her nervous ticks coming out. She starts shifting her weight between her feet and biting her lower lip slightly between her perfect teeth. Her clippers shake a little more in those delicate hands as she breathes in deeply and avoids eye contact with either me or Carter.

“I was a little girl.

Alone in my little world.

Who dreamed of a little home for me.

I played pretend between the trees

And fed my house guests bark and leaves

And laughed in my pretty bed of green.

I had a dream.

That I could fly from the highest swing,

I had a dream.”

Holy fuck…I like music, love it even. I find it astonishing how certain pitches and tunes can cause different chemical reactions in our brains. Pulling different emotions out of the deepest parts of our souls. But this? Her voice? She’s not an angel, she’s a Goddamn siren. Pulling every part of me in with every word.

“Long walks in the dark

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