Page 10 of Then Came You

I didn’t know what I was missing until her fingers massaged my scalp. One little touch released all my brain-soothing, happy chemicals, like oxytocin, serotonin, and dopamine at once. I feel euphoric, cared for, safe, soothed, and a tenderness I haven't ever experienced. Everything about her touch is frying my brain.

“You can get up now,” Row whispers in my ear. I hum, opening my eyes, seeing her pretty face grin at me. “Good massage?” she asks, making quick steps to the barber side of the salon.

“Heavenly.” I walk impossibly slow because my legs haven’t received the message yet to wake up from that dream-like experience. Whatever peppermint shampoo she used feels like a comb has been raked up and down every part of my body.

“I could tell. You were very vocal,” she stammers, blushing. Her stained cheeks are going to be a recurring highlight for me. I can just tell.

“When something is that…pleasurable, it’s hard not to sound out my appreciation.” I grin, hoping my answer will send a swarm of bees around in her toned belly.

She capes me up and starts tousling my hair, running the strands through her fingers. She’s giving me a just-fucked look without even knowing it.

“I won’t cut too much off. It looks like you just got it done,” she inspects.

“What do your parents do?” I ask, paving the way for more conversation.

“Um, it’s just my Mum, and she’s between jobs right now.” Aka she’s on Centrelink. I can tell I'm bringing her mood down, so I change the subject quickly.

“Any siblings?” I ask as she busies herself with the scissors, snipping the top strands of my hair.

“Just one. A younger sister.” She answers my questions but she doesn’t offer any more.

“Boyfriend?” My mouth speaks before my brain tells it to. Her eyes dart to me again, before accidentally dropping the scissors. I don’t know why this question would stump her. She’s a temptation few could resist.

“Uh, no. Nope.” She shakes her head vigorously.

“Bad breakup?”

“He was more interested in my friend.” She doesn’t sound bitter, just like that’s the way life is. “What about you? What happened with your wife?” I can tell it took all her courage and then some to ask me this question because it comes out in one quick breath.

“Ex-wife,” I correct, “and honestly, we just fell out of love and outgrew each other. Wanted different things out of life.” Inches of my freshly cut hair slide down to the floor as I shrug.

“I’m sorry,” she murmurs genuinely.

The buzz of her razor roars to life. “We were together a long time, but it was never quite right. We were the old cliche where we stayed together mainly for the kids. I have two.”

“How will you know when it’s right?” The razor skims across my neckline in a swift motion.

“You tell me?” I sigh, stumped at her question.

Silence surrounds us as a contemplative frown mars her face. Pursing her lips back and forth, side to side, she takes a deep breath before answering.

“I think you’ll know it’s right because it will be a love so deep that it transcends the realms of time and space, like you’re meant to find each other in every lifetime, in every universe.”

Her delicate hand sweeps across the path she’s just shaven, emitting more goosebumps across my flesh, or maybe it’s her words causing that effect.

“You’re a bit spellbinding, do you know that?” I stare at her reflection, praising her thoughtful answer. Again, she giggles at my cheesy compliment.

“Tell me about your kids.” I’m just about to when my phone chimes. I glance down and see it’s my little princess, Haven. My display is a photo of me dressed as Superman in the spandex suit and her as Ursula from The Little Mermaid.

“Speak of the devil, that’s one of mine now.” I swipe my finger across the screen to answer Facetime. No matter where I am, what I’m doing, who I’m with, I’ll always answer my kids' calls.

“Haven, it’s late, what are you still doing up?” I drawl, hoping she hears my disappointment.

“I couldn’t sleep, Daddy,” she sniffles, breaking my heart.

“Where’s Mummy?” I ask gently. I see Row sneaking glances at my girl. She looks cute as a button in her purple Disney princess nightie, and her hair plaited in two.

“Here,” Avalon calls out from the background.

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