Page 10 of The Hellcat Barbies: Zora
I was finishing up a client when the door opened and Breezy walked in, sliding into one of the chairs by the wall.
“Wassup, Zo?” she asked.
“I can’t complain,” I said, pressing the flat iron down the last section of hair. “You good?”
“Always. Between getting ready for the show and checking on the girls, my plate’s full.” She crossed one leg over the other, watching me through the mirror. “Everybody’s looking solid though.”
“They better be,” I said with a grin. “We can’t pull up half-stepping.”
“You know we won’t,” she said. Then she leaned forward a little. “I came to grab what you had for Aubree.”
I set the flat iron down and reached under my counter, pulling out the envelope. “Here you go.” Handing it over, I added, “Let her know I’ll stop by this weekend too.”
“She’ll appreciate that,” Breezy said, slipping it into her jacket. “She’s tough, but this one hit her harder than she lets on. She needs to feel us standing with her.”
“She will,” I said, steady. “We all got her.”
“That’s facts.” Breezy stood and gave me a nod. “I’ll catch you later, Zo.”
I finished with my last client, put away my tools, and swept the floor until the shop was ready to close. I had just reached for the sign when the door opened and Semi walked in, crossing the room with the same calm stride he always carried.
“You closing already?” he asked, settling against the counter while his eyes stayed on me.
“The day’s done,” I replied, sliding the broom to the side. “What brought you back over here?”
“I wanted to make sure you didn’t forget me,” he said, his tone steady but deliberate. “Saturday night at eight. I’ll pick you up.”
I lifted an eyebrow, folding my arms. “You didn’t even ask if I was available.”
“Ain’t no need in asking,” he said, keeping his focus on me without wavering. “Be ready at eight.”
A quiet laugh escaped me, and I shook my head slowly. “You really do like making your own rules.”
“That’s the only way I move, love,” he answered, pushing himself away from the counter. At the door, he paused just long enough to add, “Lock up behind me. I’ll see you Saturday.”
He left without waiting for a reply, and I turned the key once the door clicked shut. My hands moved through the familiar motions, but my head was nowhere near closing. Semi had a way of stepping in and making it feel like he had already claimed space that wasn’t his, and for the first time in a longtime I caught myself not minding. That thought alone pissed me off more than it should have. He could have my time, maybe my body if I let the night carry me there, but nothing beyond that. The problem was I knew myself well enough to catch the hesitation buried under all that certainty. Semi had me curious, and curiosity was dangerous. I swore I’d keep the line drawn, but a small part of me was already wondering what would happen if I didn’t.
4
Semi
Things in the shop were coming along good. The shelves Case had been stacking were just about filled, the chairs were lined up neatly, and my station looked like it could see its first client any second. I was laying out my clippers, checking the weight in my hands before setting them down, while the kids kept each other busy in the corner. Semerah stayed locked in on her iPad while CJ was steady trying to pull her attention away.
Case dusted his hands off and leaned against the wall, eyes sliding toward me. “You ready for tonight?”
“It’s just a date. The fuck I gotta be ready for?” I countered.
“Yeah, but you’on date and neither does Zora.”
“Bro, what you tryna say?” I knew my brother well enough to know that he was trying to say some shit without saying it.
“Just make sure you’on get caught up. From what I’ve heard, Zora doesn’t stick around for long. She treats men the same way we treat women when we don’t wanna be bothered. She’ll keep it casual until she’s over it, and then she’s gone.”
“And where you hearing all this?” I asked.
“I know things.” He grinned.
I shook my head and laughed. “Maya got you sounding like a bitch wit’ all that gossiping like a bitch.”
