Page 193 of New Growth
Chelsea chimed in from her station without missing a beat. “I don’t know why y’all are so shocked. They basically live together.”
“I ain’t shocked,” Esther assured. “I was just waiting on confirmation since Ellie keeps denying it.”
I blushed as she faced me before continuing with a mischievous smile, “So tell us, was it good?”
“Hey,” I warned. “First of all, now is not the time or place. Second, it’s not any of y’all’s business.”
“Not the time or place?” Hope repeated with attitude.
I put my hand on my hip and gave it right back to her. “No, it’s not. The salon is busy.”
“I don’t give a damn!” she snapped. “You think I care about this stupid salon? I’m the reason you even have it!”
Her words were intentionally cruel and designed to sting as she wanted a reaction out of me. I didn’t respond. Instead, I turned and walked away, grabbing the extensions for my next client. She was seated, eyes wide, mouth pressed shut as she watched us.
But Hope wouldn’t let it go. She marched over, snatched the bundle of extensions from my hands, and threw them down on the counter.
“I’m still talking to you!”
I faced her fully. “What is your problem?”
“You!” she shouted. “Why would you sleep with someone after I told you I wanted him?”
“I told you repeatedly that Elliot said no. He’s not interested, Hope. I can’t make him want you.”
Giggles came from behind, and I didn’t need to turn to know it was from Esther and Johanna.
Hope’s face turned crimson. “So you just decided to take him for yourself?!”
“Take him?” I scoffed. “Elliot is a grown man. He makes his own decisions.”
Her eyes burned. “Yes, take him! I bet the only reason he even touched you was because you threw yourself at him. Why else would he want you?”
I stared at her. That one hit deeper than I expected. But I wasn’t going to let her see that.
“I’m not continuing this conversation if you’re going to be disrespectful. Like I said, this isn’t the time or place.”
“Oh, don’t pull the moral high ground bullshit now!” she scolded. “Where was all this discretion when you were fucking someone I told you I liked? Am I not supposed to be your friend?”
Her voice cracked on that word. But she kept going.
“It’s funny. You cry about betrayal and abandonment all the time, but look at you. You betrayed me. It looks like you’re just like your sister, huh Ellie?”
I paused, inhaling deeply.
“What do you want me to say? I’m sorry? Because I’m not. I love El and he loves me. And yes, we slept together. Multiple times. Including last night. What exactly can you do to change that?”
Hope’s face twisted with fury, but underneath it, there was something bitter—something that had clearly been waiting to come out.
“You know what?” she snapped. “We’re not even friends. I never fucking liked you. You’re a drunk, stuck-up, self-righteous, fake bitch. Always playing the victim and always acting like the world owes you something. But it doesn’t.”
“And you’re so obsessed with this drunk, stuck-up, self-righteous, fake bitch that you’re crashing out over the man who eats me out. Es was right. You reallydowanna be me.”
Hope’s eyes went wide. “Bitch, I swear—”
Before she could finish the threat, Esther stepped between us like a wall, lifting both hands.
“Alright, alright,” she said dryly. “As entertaining as this little meltdown has been… it’s time to shut it down.”
