Page 103 of Take This Heart
“Absolutely not,” Dad cuts me off. “Please, baby girl. The thought of you cutting this off kills me.” He runs his hand over my hair and shakes his head.
Milo’s eyes are wide when his eyes meet mine in the mirror. He leans over and kisses my cheek, wiping the tears off my face.
“Looks like I’ve missed quite a party,” he says.
My face crumbles and Dylan yelps. “Hey, watch the head. I don’t want nicks.”
I sniffle and laugh and get through the haircut. Dylan had the longest hair of all my brothers and is the most vain about it, but he’s grinning when he stands up.
“I kinda like it. No one’s gonna recognize me, but I still look badass,” he says.
“Hasn’t humbled you at all,” I mutter.
Everyone moves into action to start the clean-up. I step to the sink, wash my hands, and move to get the vacuum when someone clears their throat.
I turn around and Milo is sitting in the chair. I put my hand to my mouth.
“No,” Dad says, shaking his head. “Don’t do it. I’ve caught my daughter playing with your hair all week.”
Tears stream down my cheeks.
“If he’s a real man, he’ll do it,” Tully teases.
“Tulls!” I yelp.
“Does he have it in him?” Noah adds, nudging Camden.
“I think he does.” Camden nods.
“Nah. And anyway, bet you can’t look this good,” Dylan says, rubbing his head.
“You guys are the worst,” I say.
Milo just laughs and nods. “I’m not scared. Say bye to this goodness, Golo,” he says to me in the mirror.
“Aw, he’s pulling out a nickname and everything,” Tully says. “I think he’s really into you, Golds.”
“I’m going to kill you guys,” I mutter under my breath. But the tears keep falling even as I’m laughing.
Milo looks back at me. “Do you need to sink your hands in it one more time before it goes?”
My brothers all shudder.
I move in front of Milo and put my fingers in his hair—because I want to, and to gross my brothers out. I lean down and take my time kissing him, despite the protests.
He kisses me back, not deterred in the slightest by my dad and brothers.
“This just got you so many points,” I whisper in his ear.
“Ew, no whispering,” Dylan says.
I smack Dylan’s shoulder and move into place behind Milo, letting out a ragged exhale. I do one long buzz, Milo’s beautiful dark hair falling to the ground in one large clump. A tear drips down my cheek and Milo’s eyes caress me from the mirror.
This is the moment I realize I’m in love with him.
“We were just kidding, dude. You didn’t have to shave your head,” Tully says, earning a glare from me.
“It wasn’t for you,” Milo says, his eyes never leaving mine.
