Page 63 of Rules

"Oh yeah, you're right she does." Walking back into the closet, I quickly throw on a maxi dress with a jean jacket. "Remind me why we are doing this?"

"Because, pampering yourself is the best thing to do when you go through a heart ache. It's Auntie's answer to taking care of yourself."

Smiling, I pull her close for a hug. "Thank you for always being there for me."

Arriving at the spa, I realize I'm actually excited. I haven't had a full beauty treatment in a long time.

"Good morning, ladies. We are all ready for you." The receptionist greets us as we walk in. "Help yourselves to the coffee bar if you would like. Auntie, I'll take you back when you are ready. Ruth, Dianna will be out in a minute to get you."

"I'm ready now. See you later, dear." And like that, I'm left standing in the lobby by myself. Walking over to make a much needed cup of coffee, my mind strolls through the pleasurable part of last night. Picking a coffee pod, I insert it and wait for the coffee to begin filling my cup. Tobias leaning against me, his breath on my neck.

"Stop! I'm not thinking about him," I whisper to myself.

"Hi Ruth. I'm sorry, I didn't catch what you said."

Startled, I turn and see Dianna standing next to me. She is so beautiful, with her perfect makeup and flawless hair. I'm often so jealous of how stylists never have bad hair days.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you." She places a hand on my forearm.

"No, no, it's okay. My mind is someplace else. How are you?" Grabbing my cup and adding the creamer I picked out.

"I'm good, thanks. How are you?" Dianna leads me to her station. I've been a client of hers for years. She is a really sweet, down-to-earth, tell-it-like-it-is lady, and I love our conversations. She is the kind of person you always mean to call to go out and have a drink with, but you never get around to making it happen.

Wait. I freeze as I'm sitting down. How could I have forgotten? Dianna is Tobias's daughter-in-law. His daughter-in-law. Oh God, what if she knows? What if Auntie told her? What should I say? I'm guessing I shouldn't lead with your father-in-law's great with his fingers. Damn, I should have stayed home!

"Sooo, Auntie told me today's appointment is because of a bad date last night. Girl, I can't wait to hear. You know I love me some man bashing. They can be so dumb. But first, what are wegoing to do with your hair? New cut, new style? What would you like?"

After we make a plan for my hair, I tell her briefly about my man troubles without saying who it is, leaving out the explicit sex details and exactly how he left last night's encounter.

"Do I know him?" She asks me from behind while she is running a comb through my hair.

OH SHIT! No, no, no, no.

"I'm sorry?" I try buying myself some more time to think of an answer.

"Do I know who this loser is?"

Smiling a small, subdued smile, "No, I don't think so."

"Are you going to tell me who he is?" I see her in the mirror. She places her hands on her hips and puts on a play pout.

"Nope, it's embarrassing. But I will tell you the crap he pulled when he left last night."

That should get her off trying to figure out who it is.

"Wait, wait, you two had a super hot make-out session. He was all into you and then he got up and poof, left? Just like that? All because you are a curvy plus-size girl? Is that what you are telling me?" Dianna has scissors in one hand and a comb in the other. She is staring wide-eyed at me in the mirror, doing nothing to hide the shock on her face.

"Yep," I pop my lips as I say it. "That's it exactly. Didn't have the balls to tell me when I asked, gave me the silent treatment while he just got up and walked out."

"Whe-re is his momma? She needs to slap him six ways to Sunday. Walked out without a word, girl! I want to slap him!"

Brenda, whose chair is next to Dianna's, walks over and stands next to me. Brenda has a unique style. She isn't afraid to express who she is, and of course, since she is a beautician, she's beautiful. Has to be close to five foot ten inches tall, toned from all the cross-training she does. A colorful full sleeveof pin-up models covers her left arm. She has the brightest bubblegum pink hair cut in a cute, bouncy bob style. During my appointments, she often comes over and visits. Today is no exception.

"I've been listening. I think you should find him and puncture his nuts with a pair of stilettos!" She places a hand on my shoulder. "Don't you let him get you down. You're gorgeous, have a hell of a rack and your ass is banging! Anytime you want to be treated like a queen and switch teams. You're always welcome to come over to the winning lesbian side. If you do that though, you best be calling me first."

"You know I will," I reply in a sassy, flirtatious tone. This isn't the first time Brenda has made a comment about me becoming a lesbian.

"Good, no lesbian would treat you like that. We love our curvy goddesses and treat them as such. Now listen, even if you aren't going to come over to our side. The winning side. You just say the word and some stud girls will come and teach that boy a lesson." She kisses me on the cheek. A mental image of a group of lesbians all pointing fingers and talking at once as they surround Tobias causes me to throw my head back in laughter.

---