Page 29 of The Hellcat Barbies: Zora
Semi
The situation with Morgan sat in the back of my mind longer than I expected, not because of her, but because I kept waiting for Zora to look at me different. I thought that type of chaos might push her back a few steps or make her question what she was stepping into, but she didn’t fold or act shaken. She stayed right where she was, handled everything without raising her voice, and didn’t treat me like I came with too much baggage afterward. That stuck with me more than the argument itself. It made things between us feel solid in a way I wasn’t used to.
Work moved at its own pace once the shop opened, and I kept my focus there. Clients came in steady, everybody had a chair full, and we had a steady flow going. Case was running his mouth to his client the way he always did, switching between cracking jokes and giving advice nobody asked for, but that was normal. I stayed locked in on the cut in front of me, lining the guy up while mentally moving through the rest of my appointments for the day.
When the door opened and Zora walked in, I didn’t have to look up to know it was her; the shift in the room was obvious, not loud, just noticeable enough. Case caught her first and tried to play it cool even though he couldn’t help himself. “What’s good, sis?” he called across the shop.
Zora shook her head at his antics and made her way toward my station. I leaned back slightly and pulled her down for a kiss before going right back to finishing my client’s line-up. “You came all the way over here for what?” I asked, keeping my tone even while trimming the last edge.
“To see you,” she said, setting something down on my counter. “And because I needed to drop this off.”
I eyed the bag but didn’t open it yet. “I’ll check it after I’m done.”
She nodded, unbothered, and stayed near me until I brushed the loose hair off my client’s neck and sent him on his way. Once the guy paid and dipped, I lifted my chin toward the hallway. “Come on.”
She followed me to my office without asking questions. Once the door shut, she set the bag on my desk. “I knew you weren’t going to eat before coming in,” she said. “So, I fixed that.”
I pulled her closer by her waist, kissed her slowly, then leaned back. “My mom wants you to come to dinner on Sunday. She wanted me to let you know that it wasn’t an option… but a request.”
“I’on want no problems, so I’ll be there,” she simpered.
“Good,” I said, brushing my thumb over her hip before stepping back. “I’ll pick you up.”
We walked back to the front together, and I opened the door for her. “Text me when you get to your shop.”
“I will,” she said, giving me one last look before heading out.
The second the door closed behind her, Case turned around with that damn smirk again, leaning on his chair looking like a damn fool. “Yeah, that’s you for real. Don’t try to play it cool.”
I shook my head and grabbed the next appointment card from the counter. “You worried about the wrong shit.”
Case laughed but went right back to work. I tied the cape around my next client and got back into the rhythm of the day, but the ease in my chest wasn’t something I ignored. Zora hadn’t gone anywhere, and I wasn’t planning on letting her either.
***
By the time the shop shut down, the day had run me hard enough that the quiet felt earned. Everybody filtered out with their own plans, talking trash as they left, but I stayed behind for a few minutes to clean my area the way I wanted it. My station ended the day the same way it started… organized, and ready for the next day.
When I finally stepped outside, the sky was shifting into that late-evening blue. Instead of heading home, I walked across to Zora’s shop. Her lights were still on, so I already knew she had someone in the chair. I walked in quietly, and she glanced up from behind her client with a soft smile that was still bright enough to light up the darkest rooms.
“You almost done?” I asked, leaning against the counter.
“This is my last one,” she said, turning back to finish the cut. “Give me ten.”
I nodded.
I stayed off to the side while she wrapped up, letting her work without hovering. When the client stood, paid, and thanked her, I lifted a hand in greeting and stepped forward to help her wipe down the chair and sweep up. She didn’t ask… I just did it, and she didn’t fight me on it.
Once everything was clean enough for her to lock up, we walked out together. I stayed close until we reached her car.
“You coming over?” I asked, already knowing the answer but wanting to hear it from her.
She hesitated for half a second. “I don’t know. It’s… that time.”
“So?” I frown. “I’m not some lil’ ass boy that gets turned off by a period. I want you there. That’s it.”
Her eyes softened, and she tried to play it off with a small smile. “I guess I’ll see you later then.”
“You better,” I murmured, pulling her in for a kiss.
