I grin at that. “Happy to be here.”
“Molly is my other employee, but today’s her day off, so you’ll meet her tomorrow,” Jessica says, leading me over to the register. “This is pretty simple. Most people pay with cards nowadays anyway, but if they do pay cash, you just type in the amount and press ENTER to open the cash drawer.”
I look over all the buttons and nod. “No problem.”
She pulls out a piece of laminated paper. “This is the price chart you can refer to if you need to. Lin is usually at reception, so you probably won’t have to do any of this, but I’d rather you know it just in case she’s on her break or it’s her day off or whatever.”
“Okay,” I say, taking it all in.
“You’ll be doing any walk-ins today,” she continues. “Or if some of the clients don’t mind trying someone new, I’ll send them to you. I’ll just show them my hair as proof that you know what you’re doing. Store opens in ten minutes, so I hope you’re ready for this.”
I look around the salon and smile.
Eight mirrors with chairs, two sinks, and a small beauty room for waxing and facials.
Perfect. This is me in my element.
Yeah, I’m ready.
THREE
“SHIT,” I mutter as I empty my purse out on the table for the second time. “Where is it?”
I pick up each card, but it’s not there.
When was the last time I saw my driver’s license?
Racking my brain, I realize it was when I was at that bar, Knox’s Tavern. My cards had fallen out of my purse, but I’d picked them all up, hadn’t I?
I google the number for the bar, then call them.
“Knox’s Tavern, Ryan speaking.”
“Hey,” I say into the phone, crossing my fingers. “I was wondering if I left my driver’s license at your bar the other day.”
“What’s your name, sweetheart?”
“Valentina Sullivan.”
There’s a pause on the other end. “Valentina. Yeah, your license is here. Come pick it up anytime.”
Why did his voice sound suddenly . . . amused?
“Umm, okay, thanks. I’ll be in later today.”
“Perfect, see you then,” he says cheerfully, then hangs up.
I stare at my phone, feeling puzzled about the exchange, but then I shake my head. I don’t have time to wonder about it, because my lunch break is almost over and I have to go back to work. At least I hadn’t lost my license—that would have been a pain in the ass. Not only that, but replacing it would have been a sure way for me to be tracked, having to document my new address and city.
Knowing my luck, a cop will probably pull me over on the way to the bar.
I cross the road and head back into the salon, coffee in my hand.
“Tina,” Jessica says, smiling widely, before I can even take a sip. “Frieda loved the hair color you did on her today. You did well.”
“Thanks,” I reply, looking down at my coffee. “I think being blond suits her.”
“It does,” Jessica says, making me look back up at her. “So much so that she wants you to be her regular hairdresser.”
“Really?” I ask, my eyes flaring. “That’s great.”
Jessica raises her eyebrow. “Quite a feat, girl. You should be proud of yourself.”
I smile, feeling the heat hit my cheeks. “I am.”
“Good,” she says warmly. “Now get back to work. Lin, you can go on break now.”
“Okay,” Lin says, grabbing her bag and pulling out a packet of cigarettes. “Anyone want anything?”
“I’m good,” Jessica says, then looks to Molly. “Molls, Paula, you?”
“Nah,” Molly replies, looking up from where she’s sweeping hair off the floor. “I’ll get something on my break.”
“I’m good,” Paula replies, lifting her chin in our direction.
Molly turned out to be a pretty blonde in her midtwenties. She kind of reminds me of a Barbie doll, with big blue eyes and even bigger boobs. She is nice, though. All the women here make me feel welcome, and there is none of the bitchiness I’d sometimes experienced in other salons.
Two clients walk in, and I go straight back into professional mode.
But I can’t stop smiling for the rest of the day.
“Are you Ryan?” I ask the handsome blond bartender.
“Yes,” he says, dragging the word out.
“I spoke to you today about my license,” I say, sitting down on the stool. “Valentina.”
“Right,” he says, lip twitching. “Of course. Let me get that for you.”
I watch as he walks to the opposite side of the bar and picks up his phone, pressing keys and ignoring me.
“Ummm,” I say, my brow furrowing. “Are you going to get my license or not?”
He puts down his phone, then comes back over to me. “Yes, of course I will. But first, would you like something to drink? On the house. A beer fan, right?”
I narrow my eyes. “Why are you being weird?”
Ryan’s face goes blank. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Can you please just give it to me?” I say, puffing out a breath. “I’ve had a long day, and I’m tired.”