Page 34 of No Remedy for Love

“Aye, from now on, you niggas need to eat in the breakroom. And if these niggas ain’t getting their hair cut, they need to move the fuck around.” Mav was still on one but he couldn’t just direct his anger at the person that it was intended for. He didn’t want to make his feelings too obvious by singling Blaze out. He didn’t care that Blaze was the reason for the bulk of his business. He wasn’t thinking like a rational businessman.

“You got that fam.”

He was satisfied when he saw him close his plate. Just then, one of Blaze’s regular customers opened the door and peeked inside.

“What’s good y’all? Come outchea right quick Blaze. I’m trying to…” the man let his words trail off but his actions spoke for him. He lifted his hand up to his mouth in a smoking motion.

“Nah nigga, this is a place of business. Ain’t gon’ be no more of that. Haircuts and nothing else.”

“Damn, since when? We been doing this since forever.”

“Yeah, well, shit changed. This ain’t no trap house.”

“Man, holla at me when you peel out, Blaze.”

“What’s up, Mav? You good?” Blaze looked over at him and asked.

“Yeah, I’m straight. Why? You got a problem?”

“Nah, I’m good. It just seems like you got a problem with me. If so, we’re both men and we can discuss it. No need to punish everybody else for whatever issue you have with me.”

“If I had an issue with you, it would have been made known a long time ago.”

“I’m just saying fam, this shit seems mad personal to me.”

“This is a place of business my dude. I don’t do personal feelings in the work place.” Mav obviously didn’t hide his feelings good enough because Blaze picked right up on it.

“Yeah, I hear you. I’m gone for the day. I’ll see y’all tomorrow.” Blaze grabbed his bag and fist bumped the other barbers before heading for the door.

“Yeah, I’m gone too.” Ricky, another barber, stood up and followed him out. He was parked right next to Blaze and needed to get something from him too. He and Blaze graduated from cosmetology school together and started at Mav’s shop the same day.

“Blaze!” The same man who’d come into the shop a few minutes ago was still out there. He walked over to where Blaze was and handed him some money.

“Man, I don’t know what’s up with Mav. The nigga was fine a few days ago.” Ricky was just as shocked about Mav’s attitude as the others were.

“I don’t know either, but he got me fucked up. I don’t care nothing about this being his shop. That nigga better watch his tone with me. I ain’t hurting for no muthafucking money.” Blaze fumed.

His goal was to get his own shop when he finished school, but paying bills at his grandmother’s house and his own was enough. Not to mention all the extra money he had to pay to have Remi come out twice a week. He still could have done it but he was trying to be wise about whatever decision he made.

“Yeah man. Maybe he just had a bad day. Shit happens.”

“We’ll see in the next coming days.”

Blaze stood out there talking to Ricky for a little while before he got into his truck and pulled off. Mav’s face twisted in jealousy and anger as he watched him drive away.”

“Bitch ass nigga,” Mav mumbled to himself as he watched his newfound enemy disappear from his view.

“Hey Mae. Where is my mama?” Remi greeted her stepmother with a kiss to the cheek as she walked into the kitchen. Marva was sitting there playing on her phone while nursing a glass of wine.

“She’s in the shower. I cooked some gumbo so help yourself.”

“Yes! I gotta bring my granny some of this.”

“I already did. That old lady is a mess.” Marva laughed while shaking her head. Since her mother-in-law lived a few houses down, she made sure to go see her as often as possible.

“What did she do this time? I called her earlier and told her that I was coming over before I see my last client for the day.”

“Me and Lollie were trying to convince her to come on this Jamaican cruise with us in a few months.”

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