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Chapter one

Julius

“So what are we doing today?” I fastened the cape around Willow’s shoulders and looked at her in the mirror.

“I was thinking something a little edgier. Like this, maybe?” She handed me her phone to show me a picture of an artfully tousled mess of short layers and bangs. “Someone online called it a wolf cut, but I don’t know if that’s like the official name or not.” “That would look fabulous on you. Do you like the bangs this short, or would you prefer them a little longer, like a curtain bang?” I asked.

“Whatever you think, Jules. You’re the expert, and I trust you.”

“Let’s kind of go in the middle. Short enough to blend in with the layers, but still long enough to tuck behind your ears.” I handed her back her phone. “Sound good?”

“You know what I always say…”

“It’s just hair, it’ll grow back.” We said it together and then laughed.

“Okay, let’s do it,” I said, combing out Willow’s hair. “You’re going to look fabulous.”

Willow was one of my favorite clients. She’d started with me five years ago when I was renting a booth at another salon and had been one of the people who’d encouraged me to take the risk and openThe Shag Shack.

I looked around at the salon and smiled. Tori and Harper were at their stations working on clients, while our apprentice, Devon, was busy restocking the product shelves. Music played, filling the space with a funky, fun vibe, and natural light streamed in through the glass storefront. If the world outside was messy, at least in here, it was bright and full of people who had my back. I loved everything about this space. It had cost me a fortune, but it was worth every penny.

“I can’t wait to see it.” She handed me her glasses and settled back in her chair while I got to work. “So, how did things go at the gallery opening in Austin?”

I let out a sigh. “I ended up not going.”

“But you were so excited about it the last time I was in. What happened?” she asked.

“My date canceled.”

“The doctor you’re seeing? I thought things were going pretty good?”

I shrugged like it didn’t matter. “Story of my life, hon. It was going good until it wasn’t.”

“Men are assholes.” She looked at me in the mirror and gave me a sympathetic smile.

“That they are.”

“Too bad you aren’t straight. We could run away together and live happily ever after.”

I scoffed. “Happily ever after is nothing but a fantasy created to sell tickets to a theme park, girlfriend.”

“You’re way too young to be so skeptical,” Harper called over. “Molly and I are forever, just you wait and see.”

“You and Molly have only been an item for six weeks, Harper.”

“When you know, you know.” She went back to work on her client’s hair.

Willow and I shared abless her heartlook in the mirror, and I rolled my eyes before going back to work on her hair. She’d been coming in long enough to have heard the number of times Harper hadmet the one,none of which ever lasted long. The thing was, Harper was a romantic. Sweet summer child, she truly believed her fairy tale ending was out there somewhere.

“So what happened with the doctor, or would you rather not say?” Willow asked.

“Nothing much to tell. I know I’m a lot, and not everyone can handle all this fabulousness.” I stepped back and dramatically motioned down my body.

“The right man will be able to.”

I loved her for saying that, I really did, but I’d stopped believing in unicorns a long, long time ago.

“How about you? Are you getting back out there?”