Page 16 of Savage in the Streets
“Your first appointment will demand that she be allowed to bring in her dog Chester…and you’re going to have to cut his hair too.”
Her head snaps as she turns to look at me. “Huh?”
“You don’t have to do a good job, but I keep a pair of yellow sheers in the bottom drawer for whenever she comes in.”
“Okay….”
“The two-twenty always complains. Never tips.”
She gives an exaggerated eye roll. “Great.”
“Three-forty-five likes to have the ends of her hair singed with fire.”
“No fucking way!”
“It’s not that hard. I have a mini blowtorch in the middle drawer with instructions next to it. You just quickly run the flames across the ends.”
“I can’t.”
“You’ll be fine. Seriously.”
“What else?”
“Luckily, there are no tattoos. I’m gonna have to cancel with those clients.”
“How often do you do those?”
“Barely. My friend was the artist, but he’s…gone. I do simple shit. Good shit, but easy.”
Mabel flips the French toast and puts another pat of butter in the pan.
“How do you know Ashton?” I ask.
She quirks a brow at me. “How doyouknow Ashton?”
“He’s my lawyer.”
“Yeah, but I’m not stupid enough to think you can afford him. He’s a corporate attorney, and this isn’t his usual type of case.”
“He’s doing my brother a favor by taking me on,” I answer truthfully, figuring Ashton will probably tell her anyway. “Your turn.”
“Mutual friends and acquaintances.”
“Has he always been a prick?”
“Every day of his life.”
“Is he good at his job?”
“The best.”
So there’s hope…
She plates the toast, scatters berries on top, and places it in front of me.
“Enjoy.”
After a couple bites, I ask, “Where are my shorts?”
