Page 8 of Safe Haven
We met while I was still in school. The first time. After years of coloring my own hair, I fucked it up to the point I needed professional help.
I walked into Corvin’s salon desperate, and he made magic happen. As we chatted, I mentioned my profession, and he said the words that endeared me to him for life.
“Must be nice to work on people with no opinions or complaints. Sounds like my dream job.” I had laughed and told him how the profession needed more makeup artists and hairdressers.
He quit the same day.
“Corvin, this is Lourdes, a family friend.” I shrug at the glare she shoots at me, but honestly, I know my bestie.
He was like a dog with a bone. He would not let this go.
“Mmhmm, and the stiff?” He points at the body on the gurney, and I curse.
“Um, can we not discuss that?” I bite my lip as his eyes go wide.
Suddenly, he looks behind him through the crack of the door that separates the funeral parlor and the back rooms before closing the door completely.
“Are you moving drugs in bodies like that movie?” he whispers as he comes closer to investigate.
“Corvin, don’t!” But it’s too late.
He swiftly unzips the bag to reveal my face with blonde hair.
“Jesus fucking Christ! Az, that’s you.” He backs away, losing all the color of his rich dark skin.
“You might wanna sit down, man. You’re acting like you’ve never seen a dead body before.” Loki adds very helpfully.
Corvin straightens his spine and goes into one of his famous snap-backs.
“I have beaten the faces of the richest members of the Metro DC area. Celebrities still call me while alive, and I turn them down with a polite see you when you die. So don’t you walk into my house and act like you know shit. How would you feel if you saw the face of your best friend lying dead while she’s still talking to you?” He crosses his arms over his chest and glares at Loki.
The woman has gone quiet.
“That is my best friend.” Her voice is soft and dripping in grief, she’s so clearly trying to hide.
That is how I should be feeling.
But just like always, I’m numb to it all. I sigh and rub my temples.
“Corvin, what did you need?” I try to redirect him as he struggles to think of how to pull his foot out of his mouth.
“You have a visitor who asked for you. Said he’s an old family friend from Jersey.” I frown at not needing this distraction tonight.
“We aren’t even open. Tell them to come back tomorrow.” I push the gurney forward, but he stops it with his foot.
“He’s been here all day. You haven’t been answering your phone.” His suspicious glare goes from my face to Danica, and I see the moment he makes the connection.
“Oh, Haven, this is her, isn’t it? My God, I’m so sorry.” He comes around to me and envelops me in a hug.
“Look, can you just get rid of whoever is out there? I can’t deal with them and this right now.” He nods and kisses my temples.
“Sure, I’ll let Joel know you aren’t available.” Ice runs down my spine at that name.
“Joel?”
Corvin nods.
“Yummy drink of water. He ticks off all my sixes.” He licks his finger and makes three check marks in the air.
