look just like we said it should.”
Just like that it’s like I’m not there and the two women get lost in chatter and laughs, opening and closing cabinets, testing chairs and exploring the new staffroom and kitchen.
The upstairs space is much bigger than downstairs, and spans the entire length of the building, which gave us enough space to fit in all the extras she wanted. A deep relief settles in as I listen to them praise my work, and I hope that it’s enough to make my cousin happy too. This was a chance to prove I am capable of being in charge, and I don’t want to fail, now or ever.
Ailee’s mobile phone chirps from her pocket.
“I need to pop back down for a delivery,” she says after checking the devise.
I know what she’s talking about. One glance out the window and I see Vick’s car.
“Stay and look around, I’ll be back soon.”
She leaves me with Chelsey, and this hum of electricity in the air around us.
“You did an amazing job,” Chelsey says, still taking it all in, her eyes looking everywhere except at me. “It is exactly the way she said it would be.”
“Thanks.”
I feel a wave of shyness wash through me, and I look down at the floor. Silence fills the place, not the awkward kind, just the kind where we have nothing to say.
She is different to me, normal. Dragging a girl like her into our world would be unfair. The thought catches me off guard, for this is the closest thing to a conversation I’ve had with her and I’m thinking about how she will fit into my life. This place is making me crazy, crazy and soft.
In this moment of madness I look up to her. The redness of yesterday’s tears is gone and a shimmer of happiness dances in her eyes.
“Have dinner with me tonight?” I ask, the words blurted from me without thought.
Raising her eyebrows, a little shocked at my invitation, her mouth opens to speak but no words come out, and my shyness returns. I’m an idiot. Of course she doesn’t want to have dinner with the skinny rat.
“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have asked.” I retract it as fast as I can.
“No, don’t be sorry. I’d love to have dinner with you, but my life is a little complicated right now.”
She wrings her hands together and looks away from me. Complicated is the definition of my life, it’s not something I’m afraid of.
“I can deal with complicated, it’s just a meal. A chance to get to know you. I think I want to know you, Chelsey, complicated or not.”
Who is this person in my body? What am I doing?
“Okay, my last client is at four, so I’ll be done by five. Can we make it an early dinner? Tomorrow will be a crazy day if we have to move the entire staff up here.”
“I’ll be around. We can leave when you are ready.”
I feel the thunder of a quickening pulse, the thought of being close to her makes me dizzy with anticipation.
“It’s not a date.” She kills the butterflies in my belly quickly. “I can’t date, but I think we could be friends.”
I don’t want to be her friend. I want to rip off her clothes and do dirty things to her in my bed. I shake my head and smile, trying to get the image of her naked body out of my mind before I nod in agreement.
This is the day that just won’t die. I send my staff home before lunch, but stay so that I can take her out after work. Ailee brings everyone up to the new space, and amid the whoops and high fives I feel I have done a really good job. My work is appreciated, acknowledged for a change; it is as if I have a purpose, even if that is to build a hair salon. It feels good, I feel good.
Rain arrives at lunchtime and takes me down the road for a sandwich.
“You did good, Rat.” Stroking his beard, he looks at me with a half-smile.
“Thanks, Rain, I did my best.”
I want to say, ‘your wife is a crazy woman, how have you not murdered her yet?’ but I hold it in, not wanting to upset him when for once he actually looks happy.
“Salvi, how are things with your father?” He sounds concerned, but also like he is fishing for something from me.
“I don’t see him much. We pass each other at home