Vera points to my spreadsheet. “I have two suggestions. One, we raise our prices. I suggested that to your mom last spring before she left for Amarillo, but I think she was too overwhelmed with family stuff to really take it seriously.”
“I’ve been considering that for a while, but I feel bad for our customers.”
“Baylee, look at our economy. The prices of our supplies have gone up. Our rent. Our grocery bills. Everything. We have to do it to stay afloat. People will understand. After all, you and I are the best hairstylists in town. Everyone knows it.”
I smile. “I love how humble you are.”
She buffs her nails. “It’s the truth.”
“I should get us some tiaras.”
“You really should.”
We both laugh.
Okay. I need to raise prices. I pull out our price list and make some notations. “You said you had two suggestions. What’s the second one?”
“We need a bigger presence online. We could post challenges, like which customer had the biggest glow-up.”
“That’s really cute.” But even as I say it, my stomach flips at the thought of doing another social media challenge.
The last one I did didn’t go so well.
Guilt settles in my stomach. I’ve known for a while that this is a marketing direction we should be doing.
Vera nudges me. “Don’t be a wuss. You used to post shit all the time when you were in high school. Don’t grow up, Peter Pan.”
I snort. “All right. Yes, I’m being a big, fat chicken, and I suppose it’s time to get back on the saddle.” I pull out my phone. “Which accounts should I follow for ideas?”
For the rest of the afternoon, in between clients, we brainstorm posts we can make. Once I’m done with my last customer, I’m wiped out. But staying busy has helped keep my mind offlast night’s conversation with Maverick.
A little voice in my head whispers,He promised to make better boundaries with other women, but he never mentioned being transparent about those interactions.
I should just ask him if he’s talked to Nicole.
But what if he admits he has? If I ask him now, and he says he’s been chatting up Nicole at the high school, we’ll end up arguing. And that will be terrible because he’s leaving on Sunday.
Do I really want to be angry at him before his flight back to New York?
My heart is heavy as I flip the sign on the door to ‘closed.’ I wish I could pause time and stay in this bubble with Maverick where we don’t have to worry about his injuries or his football contract.
He’s leaving the day after tomorrow. Will the last month feel like a dream after he’s gone?
“Is Sean still coming over tonight?” Rory asks as she sweeps the floor, jarring me out of my thoughts.
“Yes.” That’s another poorly timed plan, but it’s weird having him meet me in the salon after hours or at a local restaurant where all the looky-loos can watch us.
At least at the condo, we’ll have some privacy. After all, Maverick said it’s fine.
Still, it’s going to be uncomfortable. They’ve never met each other.
When I get to the condo, to my horror, Sean’s already there. He and Maverick are staring at each other over the bar.
“Hey, guys. What’s going on?”
Maverick slaps his beer bottle on the counter, popping off the top. “Sean here was just telling me how he got an apartment in town so he can be near you and Leo.”
I turn to my ex. “Really?”
