Page 72 of Trusting the Fall
I stand just inside the door of the salon, a weightless high taking over my senses as I absorb every little detail. The rose gold waterfall chandelier above the welcome desk, the off-white cabinetry set up along the makeup wall, and then all the little touches of Leif that somehow still feel like me.
The diamond laid tiles with the pink mosaic flowers dotted here and there, the peony wallpaper, the soft pink walls. Unspoken Love, it was called.
I leave the pastry box on the front desk and walk further into the room. Looking around the corner, I see the nail stations set up along one wall, another chandelier hanging in the centre, and the private treatment rooms along the other wall. At the very end are the huge barn doors—with their rose gold pull handles—painted in bubblegum pink. Romance pink.
With a smile, I move toward the room and open the doors to my beauty classroom.
Another chandelier sits front and centre, having the exact wow factor I was hoping for. What I wasn’t expecting, however, are the hundreds of flowers lining the workstations.
Vases completely cover the desks, full of roses in every colour. Holy shit. Tears burn my eyes as I think of Leif. This has his name written all over it.
“You’re here already!” Westley says from behind me.
I swipe under my eyes and plaster a smile on my face. “Was too excited to sleep.”
“I thought I’d have time to run over to Sweet Escape first.” He chuckles.
“I put a box of treats from Liv on the front desk for you to take back for the boys. A little thank you from me.”
“It’s been our pleasure, Claire. I’m looking forward to your opening party. I think all the boys are.”
“You’re all coming?” I ask, hoping he can vouch for Leif’s attendance.
I’m almost positive he will be there. He said he would be when we ran into each other last weekend, but I almost need someone else to say it.
“Oh, yeah, boss said everyone had to be there.” My heart punches against my chest with the confirmation. “Will any of the local business owners be attending?”
“Yep, tech guys upstairs, the florist, a few of the people from Chord and Coupe, and Liv, if she can get a babysitter, I guess.”
“I met her little girl a few weeks ago.” He smiles. “I’m going to be an uncle myself soon. I’ve been asking Liv about being a single mum. My sister’s in the same boat.”
Oh, maybe he hasn’t been flirting. He was asking for his sister.
“That’s nice. Sorry your sister’s going through it alone. Liv definitely seems like a good go-to person for that.”
“She’s a real sweetheart, so willing to answer all my questions. Even passed on her number for me to give to my sister. Lee’s been a great support, too. Let me take off a few weeks back to go visit her.”
My chest goes off like fireworks at the mention of his name. It’s not my name. Leif. But then I remember what his sister said. Only family calls him Leif. Everyone else calls him Lee. Why did he tell me to call him something that was meant for only his closest people? I can’t ignore all the ways that man constantly puts himself out there for me. Even when I didn’t give him the same back.
“Anyway,” Westley interrupts my mental turbulence, “we should do your walk-through and get this baby handed over to you.”
We walk through the salon from the front to the back, inspecting all the walls, fixtures, and fittings. We make sure everything works properly and there’s no damage from when various trades have been working throughout the space.
We save the kitchen for last, and I’m surprised, yet again, when I see a pink coffee machine sitting on the bench. A white mug with gold ‘boss lady’ embellished on the front sits under the filter with a bag of red licorice beside it.
“I can’t believe you found a pink coffee machine.” Westley laughs. “It already looks like Barbie threw up in here.”
“I didn’t put that there.” But I know who did. The same guy who’s imprinted himself in every step of this project. He’s conquered the barren wasteland that used to be my heart. Now it’s in full bloom.
31
Thelivelybeatthatpunches through the air doesn’t have the same effect as it usually does as Lex and I sway together on the dancefloor.
We’re both stuck in our melancholy feelings that start and end with men. A place I never thought I’d find myself.
“I thought you said tequila would help,” Lex shouts over the music.
“We clearly haven’t had enough then.” I grab her hand and pull her behind me through the crowd to the bar.
