Page 22 of The Hellcat Barbies: Zora
The call ended, but the heat in my chest didn’t. Malik had been nothing but deadweight. Semi was steady, certain, and the problem was… I was starting to want every bit of it.
8
Semi
The grand opening was turning out better than expected. Every chair stayed full, people lined along the wall waiting, and business owners from the block slid through to show love. I made my rounds, shaking hands, checking cuts, keeping eyes on everything so the day ran smoothly. Some of my older clients had already pulled up—men who sat in my chair back when I ran my first shop. Handshakes turned into hugs, a few of them reminding me they’d been waiting on this spot to open since the day I closed the last one. That type of loyalty was what made the grind worth it.
Case was in the back running his mouth with a group of barbers, acting like he’d been running shops his whole life. Maya floated around too, keeping things smooth, refilling trays, pointing folks where they needed to go. Mama was up front, hugging damn near everybody and making it clear she was just as much a part of this as me.
She caught me when I passed, pulling me into a hug. “You did good, baby… real good.”
I kissed her cheek. “Thanks, Ma. Besides, I had to… you wouldn’t have let me do anything less.” I smirked.
“You damn right I wouldn’t, now go be nice.”
I chuckled, shaking my head. “Yeah, Ma, I hear you.”
I moved back into the crowd, and that’s when I saw Zora walk in with her girls. Tiana and Nia were laughing about something, but my eyes went straight to her. She didn’t do anything extra—just walked with that calm confidence, but heads still turned. The second her eyes found me, she gave me a soft smile.
Case elbowed me, grinning like a fool. “You see your girl?”
I didn’t make her wait. Soon as Zora hit my line of sight, I cut through the crowd and pulled her in for a hug. She smelled like she wanted me to eat her up right here in front of all these people and my mama, but I kept it cool.
“Glad you came,” I told her.
“Wouldn’t have missed it,” she simpered.
I nodded at her girls. “Appreciate y’all for coming, too.”
Tiana grinned. “Of course. Congrats, Semi. This place looks good.”
“Yeah,” Nia added. “You gotta nice lil’ vibe going on here.”
“’Preciate it,” I said. “Y’all grab some food, and enjoy yourselves.”
Maya came over, still moving quick like she had three jobs to juggle, and her face lit up when she saw Zora. “There she is. I was wondering when you were gonna pop in.”
Zora smiled, leaning in for a quick hug. “I told you I’d be here, but if you keep dodging your touch-ups, I’ll have to come to that hospital and just do your hair on your breaks,” she joked.
Maya laughed, rolling her eyes. “Girl, between the hospital and chasing after CJ, you’re lucky I even make it to the chair, but you always save me, so I’ll shut up.”
“She keep you together better than Case does, that’s for damn sure.” I smirked.
“Don’t start your shit,” Maya warned.
Zora arched a brow at me, that sexy smile tugging at her mouth. “You always got something slick to say, huh?”
“Absolutely.”
Before I could add more, Tiana slid over, holding a drink in her hand. “Hey, girl.” She tapped Maya’s arm. “Let me see those hands.”
Maya laughed, shaking her head as she held her hand out for Tiana to inspect. “They’re still intact, but I’m overdue for a new set.”
“Mhm…I’ll send you your appointment because you’re not about to walk around here like I fucked your hands up or I’m a neglectful technician.” She cut her eyes at Maya, causing all of us to laugh.
The three of them were laughing, Zora blending in like she’d been part of this circle for years, when Mama came strolling up with a grin on her face, I knew she was about to start some shit.
“Well, well,” she said, sliding right into the conversation. “So, this the young lady I been hearing about.”
