Page 96 of New Growth
Hope just shrugged, uninterested. “Let’s be real. What man in his late thirties wants to be hanging around a twenty-something all damn day? You think you two havesomuch in common or that you’resointeresting he’s just stimulated by conversation alone? Please. You’re young, dumb, and willing to spend the night at his house without going on a real date. The minute you give in, he’s gonna use you up or disappear. Watch.”
Huh.
It felt like a stone had been thrown into my chest, sinking deep and making its home in my stomach. My lips quivered at her words, so I bit them to stop. I’ve thought of it as a possibility, but to hear it out loud was…discouraging.
“Wow,” I muttered.
Chelsea bristled. “You are so—” She groaned when she couldn’t even find the words.
Johanna finished for her. “Fucking mean.”
“Hey,” Hope shrugged again. “Just giving her a reality check. Why else would he be hanging around her like a puppy? He wants to hit.”
“You’re such a jealous, mean-spirited witch. Why is that your first thought when someone is showing genuine interest in your friend?” Esther challenged. Hope just rolled her eyes and returned to her phone, done with the conversation. Over the interaction as well, Esther reached for my hand. “Don’t listen to that damn demon. He likes you. I can tell.”
Uninterested in having any more of my life on display and subject to ridicule, I pulled away.
“Let’s just focus on the meeting. Okay?”
London frowned. “Ellie…”
I ignored her and pushed forward, focusing on the true intent of this meeting.
“Getting into the expo was one thing, but to really stand out is another thing entirely. That being said, I decided to pay homage to Black hair and fashion icons. So think:Diana Ross, Chaka Khan, Lauryn Hill, Janet Jackson, Erykah Badu, Donna Summer, Dorothy Dandridge, Josephine Baker, Pam Grier, Minnie Riperton.”
The girls nodded along, a little excitement spreading through them. I felt relieved to shift the focus away from my situation with Elliot, maybe a little too eager. I had moved on too quickly, and he must’ve sensed it because just as I started to settle into the distraction, my phone buzzed with his name lighting up the screen.
I pressed ignore and continued. “Right. I want to do hair based on each icon’s signature look or one of their most iconic styles. We want voluminous, big, curly hair. For Diana, I wanna recreate her look in ‘I’m gonna wash that man right outta my hair.’ I don’t really know how yet, but I’m gonna do it.”
My phone rang again.Ignore.
I exhaled sharply. “London, I think braids are needed for this. Especially for Janet Jackson. I want to recreate the Poetic Justice look, but longer. Really long. I’m talking dragging on the floor.”
London nodded. “No problem, I’ll go to the beauty supply to get the braiding hair to practice. Maybe I should do some early 2000sAlicia Keysbraids, too? That could be interesting.”
“Great idea. Let me know what you come up with.” I smiled, happy to give her complete creative control. Again, Elliot called me. This time, I silenced my phone.
Then, I turned to Esther, “Es? I think we should have some matching nails for all this. What do you say?”
Esther grinned. “Fuck yes! I’ll order the curved nail tips and airbrush machine!”
Chelsea leaned in. “What should I do, Ellie?”
“Well, you have the best luck sourcing extensions, so maybe focus on that?”
Chelsea gave a mock salute. “Yes, ma’am.”
My chest tightened. For a moment, my thoughts flickered back to last night—El’s arms around me, the heat of his breath against my skin, the way he whispered,“I don’t remember how I did anything before I met you, Peanut.”
I could still feel the way his fingers had traced me, as if every inch of me was a question he was desperate to answer gently. The way he listened when I told him what felt safe and what didn’t… it did something to me. It unraveled something tender and hidden. It wasn’t about pleasure for him. It was about gaining trust. And no man had ever been this close to earning it the way he has.
Focus.
I jotted down all their suggestions in my notes.
“Jo, I need you on social media and documenting all of this,” I added. “I need flyers prepared for hair models and boosted on all our social media. Run all applications by me first, okay?”
Hope huffed, finally putting the phone down. “Hello! Social media is my thing. What the hell am I supposed to do?”
