Page 44 of Words We Didn't Say

“You’ve seen it.” She pointed a black fingernail across the room. “Why don’t you take another look at the door on your way out?”

Except for the quick shake of my head, I didn’t budge. “I want to learn more about Eden’s job. What she does. So I can support her better.”

“Or, you know,at all.”

“Fair. I’m not proud of how I treated her, Andie. I know I made these last six months all about me. I didn’t listen. Eden must’ve talked about her salon a hundred times, but I’d decided for my own stupid reasons she was putting on a brave face ’cause she was working for some dive.”

“A dive? You think this place”—Andie’s arms spread wide as she motioned around the salon—“is adive?”

I grimaced. The ridiculousness hit even harder when I stood smack bang in the middle of what a viral influencer called ‘luxury meets comfort.’ Mum had swiped through photo after photo for me to see on her phone, and none had done Voom any justice.

Eden’s salon was high-end, but every inch looked warm and cosy—exposed brick, overstuffed white chairs, delicate wooden edging, and drooping greenery, all offset with a whiff of fresh citrus.

“So, you’re here trying to weasel your way back into Ed’s life?” Andie scoffed. “Wanna earn yourself some brownie points?”

“This isn’t about point scoring,” I said. “I’m honest about wanting to learn about the salon. You don’t even have to tell Eden I was here if you think it’s best. I know she’s working on location for a TV show today.”

I’d learned that information thanks to my mother’s call barking at me, “Hashtag so much eye candy, Zachary!”—whatever the heck that meant. And, maybe, also because I’ddeveloped an awful habit of checking for Eden’s updates via the social media account I’d vowed never to create.

Heels tapped across the floor.

“Well, well, well. Look who’s here.” Yvette never just walked anywhere. She pranced past me. “Colour me shocked.” She didn’t look shocked. Her smirk and the way she popped her hip when she stopped beside Andie suggested she expected to see me standing there.

“Um, h-hi,” I said.

“Hi?” Yvette giggled. “Isn’t he the sweetest little morsel of nerd?”

“Nope,” Andie said.

“Aw, don’t be such a grouch.” Yvette poked a finger in Andie’s side. “Look how nice he’s dressed up! Forget everything Deenie said about the eye candy on set.” She examined me lazily from head to toe. “I think we’ve got our own distraction right here.”

“Uh.” Confused, I glanced down at my faded jeans. Andie had on nicer trousers than me. Even her sequinned tank top was fancier than the white T-shirt I’d yanked on.

“Turn around,” Yvette instructed.

“Why?” I asked suspiciously.

“We need to check out your butt in those jeans.”

Embarrassment blazed a fiery trail up my neck. “Y-You can’t say stuff like that—” I gulped, not sure where to look. “E-Eden…”

“Sweetie, allow me to be the one to break it to you,” Yvette said. “Our fearless leader has drooled over your butt plenty of times.Morethan your butt. Our clients knowallabout you.”

“Let’s not objectify the man,” Andie said.

I beamed. “Thanks.”

“I’d rather keep down my breakfast,” Andie added.

I cringed.

Yvette cackled a laugh. “So, what brings you uptown, Mr. Lawyer Man?” She peered with interest around the salon.“More peace offerings? Geez, I hope you’ve bought some nice chocolates. It’s my damn luteal phase, and I’d literally kill for sugar right now.”

“He’s here to learn about the salon,” Andie said. “Allegedly.”

Yvette nodded. “I approve.”

One down. One to go. I turned to Andie to plead my case. “I can be useful,” I said. “I’ll do anything you want.”

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