Page 9

“What’s on your mind? I can tell it isn’t the surgery you have scheduled later this morning,” Donna Nall said, standing in the doorway to Alexis's office.

Donna had been the office manager at the clinic where Alexis practiced for nearly as long as Alexis had been there. They were more than colleagues; Alexis trusted her as she would an older sister.

Alexis furrowed her brow. “And how do you know that?”

Donna gave her a knowing smile. “You have a hint of a smile on your face and your eyes are a warm brown. You only get that look when—”

“Okay, okay. I wasn’t thinking about surgery. You caught me.” Alexis shrugged. “But I am about to leave for the hospital. What do you need?”

“Is there something or someone you need to tell me about?”

Alexis grinned. “No. I was just thinking about my hairdresser. She opened her new salon earlier in the week.”

“Oh, well, you want to keep her. Your hair looks great.” Donna smiled.

“Thanks. Now, did you need something?”

“No. I just came by to give you an encouraging fist bump.” Donna reached across the desk and knocked her fist into Alexis's and then they both wiggled their fingers.

“Thanks, Donna. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“You’re not coming back by the office?”

“Nope. With any luck I’ll get to leave at a decent hour this evening.”

Alexis's luck did hold. The surgery went well and when she got in her car to leave the hospital it was just before five o’clock. An idea found its way to the front of her brain and a smile followed. She pulled up her contacts and connected a call as she left the parking lot.

“Hey you!” CeCe Sloan’s voice echoed around the car.

“Hey yourself. Are you working?” Alexis asked.

“I just finished my last client for the day. Whatcha need?”

“I need a drink. Are you interested?”

“I’m always interested if it has to do with you, Doc. I know just the place. Come by the salon.”

Alexis smiled at CeCe’s exuberance. “I’m on my way.”

CeCe had been doing Alexis's hair for months now and every time she went to the salon they swapped stories of their lives. Alexis felt like she could tell CeCe anything. They didn’t run in the same circles and it was nice to have someone to share the stress of her job with who wouldn’t judge her.

In the same way, Alexis knew that CeCe confided things in her that she couldn’t share with the other stylists or even her sisters. They were more than acquaintances, but they weren’t friends who hung out together. Yes, they occasionally shared a glass of wine after Alexis's appointments, but they’d never been out to dinner or anything like that. Maybe it was time to change that.

Alexis walked into the salon and smiled at Ryan who was blowing out a client’s hair.

“She’s in the back,” Ryan said, returning her smile.

“Thanks,” Alexis replied and walked through the salon. She found CeCe sitting in her chair, scrolling through her phone.

“Hey,” CeCe said warmly with a bright smile. She hopped up and played with the ends of Alexis's hair. “Bad day?”

“No. It was a good day. I had a surgery that took most of the afternoon, but it went well.”

“Of course it went well. You did it!”

Alexis smiled and shook her head as CeCe gave her another beaming smile.

“Cory has set up a little happy hour bar in the back of The Liquor Box. Come on, I’m buying.”