Page 19 of Craved By You (Dark Desires Duet #1)

Astrid

I was so happy that Colt had finally opened up to me, but holy wow… That was nothing like I had expected. I zoned out while cutting my client’s hair, thankfully they had requested a haircut that I was beyond confident that I could do in my sleep.

The more I thought about it, the more emotional I had become and I had to step away for a second to pull myself together.

How embarrassing, I’ve probably just lost a client now.

Thankfully, Haileigh had noticed my change of demeanor and offered to step in.

Since this particular client had been coming here for years, they were comfortable with her stepping in.

Quickly, I rushed off to the bathroom and stood in front of the mirror, imagining Colt walking in and finding his mother dead. Then realizing that his psycho step-mother was going to go after him next? I tried to put myself in his shoes. Would I have done the same thing?

He was so young and brave, and for him to trust me with his story meant the world.

Even if I felt like there were some holes that still needed to be filled.

That was for another time though. I turned on the cold water and splashed it in my face.

Standing back up, I realized I had forgotten about my makeup.

The same makeup that was now dripping down my cheeks and making me look like a clown.

I opened up the cabinet next to the sink and pulled out a pack of makeup wipes, gently removing the rest from my face.

It wasn’t often that I allowed myself to go natural. Since I had been with Colt, he made me genuinely feel like I didn’t need all of that crap on my face and I found myself going natural more often than not.

Once I felt ready to return to the floor, I exited the bathroom to see Haileigh standing outside the door with her arms crossed and a concerned look plastered across her face.

“Are you going to tell me what’s going on?

Or am I going to have to take you off the books today so you can figure out your life? ”

I felt like I had let her down. “I’m sorry. I didn’t think I was going to be so out of it today.”

“ Is everything okay with you and Colt?” Of course she would go there .

I smiled. “Colt’s great. We just stayed up late talking and-” Haileigh cut me off.

“ Stop right there.” She glanced around to make sure that the salon was empty of employees and clients. “We have an hour before your next appointment, let’s go ahead and take a break.”

While she ducked behind the desk to grab a couple of sodas from the mini-fridge, I went on my own mission. Hurrying into the break room I grabbed a couple of double chocolate chip muffins and brought them back to where she waited.

“ Muffins and soda?” Haileigh hesitated.

I rolled my eyes. “Well, maybe you should have snacks back there that go better with the drinks you keep in your fridge.” I unwrapped the muffin and took a bite before cracking open the soda and taking a swig as soon as I swallowed. “Mmm. Delicious.”

Ding .

Our conversation was interrupted by a text that came across my phone. From Colt.

Colt : ??I hope you’re drinking plenty of water today, sunshine.

My smile gave me away and Haileigh casually stretched to get a glimpse of the message I had received. “Ooo, yes Daddy Colt!” she cooed.

“ Haileigh!” I pulled my phone back in shock. “What if that was a pic of his,” I motioned toward my crotch, “his, you know?”

“ His dick?” she blurted out. “Astrid, you know damn well that you would have shown it to me, eventually.” ????I felt my face flush; she wasn’t wrong.

As I responded to Colt I couldn’t help but notice that little miss nosey pants was also in her own world smiling from ear to ear, which gave me the perfect opportunity to toss the focus on to her.

“ Now that you know that Colt and I are fine,” I hesitated, worried she wouldn’t share with me. “What’s got you all giddy over there?”

Haileigh let out a sigh. “You can’t judge me.”

“ I would never!” I placed my hand over my heart in shock at such accusations. “I’ve just noticed that while I would have thought you would be all bent out of shape over Braden, you seem to be handling yourself quite well.”

“ I am!” Haileigh blurted out with a squeal.

“Braden deciding he needed to see what else was out there was the best thing he could have ever done.” Confused, I tried to push my own feelings on the situation aside to understand where she was coming from.

“I decided that instead of sitting around and waiting, if the opportunity was to arise and I was asked on a date…” She paused hesitantly. “I would go.”

“ Why would I judge you for that?” I watched her as she smiled nervously. “If you remember, I am the one who told you that you shouldn’t wait around for him to figure out that you were the one he was supposed to be with.”

“ I know I just… I’ve gone on three dates over the past few nights.” We both squealed in unison and I couldn’t wait to hear about her dates. “And you know them both.”

I began to mentally cipher through the list of mutuals that Haileigh and I had, unable to think of anyone who would be remotely her type. “Who?”

“ You know… Chris and Ryder.” Haileigh beamed and I felt silly that they hadn’t even crossed my mind. Especially with how much they flirted with her after the concerts.

I squealed again. “Oh my gosh! That’s amazing!”

“ That’s not even the best part,” Haileigh announced and I couldn’t wait to hear what she had to say. “Last night, I went out with both of them. Together.”

My eyes grew wide. I knew those boys were going to fight over her, but to take her out together?

Was it so that they could all talk and so she could make a decision over who she was going to choose?

If that was the case I was ready to kick them.

It was too soon for her to get serious with just one person, especially only after a couple of dates between them.

“Oh? How did that go?” ???? Haileigh could probably tell by the look in my eye that I had concerns.

“You’re my best friend, so I have to tell you something. But you can’t tell Colt.”

Can’t tell Colt? I couldn’t believe that it was serious enough that I couldn't share it with him. “I promise.”

“ Ryder and Chris are… bi.” Her face lit up again and my eyes widened with the news that I would have never expected.

“ Bi?”

Haileigh bit her lip and started to nod her head. “They’ve gone out together a few times but felt like something was missing, and when they realized that they shared a common interest whose husband happened to leave her… They figured I was that missing piece!”

I stood up quickly and rushed over to my best friend to give her a hug. I wasn’t even a hugger but this felt like a moment that called for one. “You hit the jackpot!”

“ We,” she corrected me. “We’ve hit the jackpot.”

Ding-dong.

I glanced up at the time as my next client stepped into the salon and I couldn’t believe that the hour had already passed. We cleaned up our mess quickly and I got ready for the appointment. Glancing over, Haileigh was watching me from the front desk with the goofiest smile on her face.

I was happy for her, I really was, but the amount of secrets that were quickly forming amongst our group were also growing just as rapidly as our relationships.

I guess everyone has their secrets now.