Page 54 of An Uphill Battle

Ignoring them both as best I can, I pull up Mrs. Keeler’s client card on the computer and start scrolling through Myla Rose’s availability to get her scheduled with her in the next week or two. “Oh–oh, my!” Mrs. Keeler jolts when she steps up to the front desk, bringing a hand to her chest. “I didn’t realize we weren’t alone. Are these girls friends of yours, Azalea,dear?”

Fighting back a rather unladylike snort, I tell her, “Notparticularly.”

Nervously, her eyes flit back and forth between us before finally settling on me. “Are you safe,dear?”

“Yes, ma’am, I am. They’re friends of... a friend, I guess you could say. They just wanna talk. You have a nice night, and be sure to tell all those jealous housewives to come see us,yeah?”

“You know I most certainly will. Oh, and myappointment—”

Sliding a card across the counter toward her, I smile. “Yes, ma’am. I booked you for a re-touch and trim two weeks from now. On your normal day of the week and time. Does that suityou?”

“It does. Thank you so much, Azalea. Have a happy NewYear!”

I wish Mrs. Keeler well and walk her to the door, locking up behind her before turning to face Kelly and Kasey. “Okay, ladies. What gives? Why’re y’all here darkening my door, so tospeak?”

“Jesus, dramatic much?” Kellyscoffs.

“Right, and you’re one to talk. So, let’snot.”

“Look, I’m sorry. We’re not here to be rude, not really. So, let’s start over,okay?”

My skepticism weighs heavy. “Why?”

“Well, because if you don’t manage to fuck everything up this weekend, you’ll be seeing a lot more of us.” Kelly’s words have my mind reeling, trying to find some sort of logic to latchonto.

“Wh–what do youmean?”

Kasey sighs and Kelly shakes her head. “I’m engaged to Drake’s one and only employee.” She flashes her ring in my face. “He popped the question earlier this month, and we cut our vacation short by a day so I could come talk to you.” She stares at meexpectantly.

“Uh...thanks?”

That earns me a smile, and damn if I can’t see exactly what Drake saw in her. Kelly James is freaking gorgeous. “You’rewelcome.”

“Seriously, listen up,” Kasey cuts in. “Drake called us both and told us about your note. We’re just here to make sure you mean it. That you’re really—for real—allin.”

I try not to let it show that I’m upset he told them about my letter. I poured my heart and soul into it. But I trust him, and if he chose to share it with Kelly and Kasey, I’m sure he had a goodreason.

“Wait! If y’all are here to make sure I’m serious, does that mean he’scoming?”

“Slow your roll, honey,” Kasey says, her words like a needle to my hope-inflated balloon. “He didn’t tell us if he was gonna be there or not. We’re just here to make sure you’re gonna be there, and for the right reasons. For some reason, that man loves you, and if you hurt him again...” She lets her words trail off, but I’m no dummy, and I can fill in theblanks.

I take a few steps away from them, toward the front desk to grab my jacket and purse. “Listen, ladies. As much as it pains me to say this, I’m glad Drake has y’all in his corner. Friends like that are hard to come by. Thank you for stopping by, but I assure you, it wasn’t necessary. Drake Collins is my past, my present, and my future. He’s the end game. The grand prize. And he’smine.

“I may have made some mistakes along the way, but I get it now. I’m not scared of the future, and I’m no longer stuck in the past. I know exactly what I need to do, and I have no qualms about doing it. So, if you ladies could just be on your way, I need to get home andpack.”

Once my little mini-rant is finished, Kelly and Kasey exchange bright smiles before hopping up and heading out the door. I follow behind them, immediately dialing Myla Rose the second they’re out ofsight.

30

Azalea

“Sister-girl, you need to chill,”Myla Rose soothes, her voice that perfect mixture of mom andfriend.

“I just... Ugh. The fact that they came to see me has to mean he’s coming, right? Right?” I’ve been on the phone with Myla Rose for the past hour, asking the same questions over and over, and God bless her, she hasn’t snapped at me. Not evenonce.

“Azzy. Please sitdown—”

“How do you know I’m not sitting?” I ask, interruptingher.

---