One of Us Is Dead(61)

“You better have one of those for me too, bitch,” Keisha’s voice called from over my shoulder. I turned around to find her dressed in a black miniskirt, a lace tank top, and black heels. Her hair was bigger than it usually was. Her makeup was heavier too. She put her hands on her hips and made her lips extra pouty.

“I know. I know. This wasn’t my idea. Olivia cornered me,” I said, putting my hands up, signaling my surrender.

She looked me up and down, shifting her stance. Her pout turned into a large grin.

“Oh, I can’t be mad at you.” Keisha ran to me and gave me a hug.

After our embrace, I poured her a drink too. We brought the glasses to our lips and gulped down half of them.

“How are we going to make it through tonight?” I asked, wiping away the liquid that had accumulated above my lip.

“I think the question is, are we going to make it through tonight?” Keisha raised an eyebrow.

We each took a seat at the bar and turned ourselves on the swivel chairs to face the front of the salon. The limo Olivia arranged for would be here in ten minutes. She insisted that we arrive in style. She also demanded that everyone dress up for our night out, and by dress up, using the term “Clexy,” her made-up word for classy meets sexy.

“Why the hell did Olivia plan this again?” Keisha took a sip of her drink.

“I don’t know. She said I needed a night out after what happened with the break-in,” I confessed, taking another drink.

Keisha nodded. “It hurts me to agree with Olivia, but you do. I think a distraction would be good for you.”

“Yeah, maybe. It’s better than being inside my own head,” I said.

“I wish you’d open up and tell me.” She placed her hand on mine. I looked to her and then lowered my head.

“I . . . I . . . know.” I hesitated. “I’m just feeling overwhelmed and alone. Like it’s made me question what I’ve done in my life.” I took a deep breath. “I love this salon. But this salon doesn’t love me. I can’t love something that can’t love me back. This can’t be all I have.” I let out a sigh.

Keisha put her arm around me and pulled me in. “You have me.”

I leaned into her. “I know. Honestly, most days I don’t even feel like I have this salon. Olivia’s always bulldozing over me, and lately, it feels like Glow’s just a wrestling ring for my clients and their husbands.” I shook my head and took a sip of my drink.

“This salon is yours, and don’t you forget that,” Keisha said.

I nodded.

“And like I said, you have me. Men are a dime a dozen. You can get one of those tonight. You found your BFF already. Finding a man—now, that’s the easy part.” She laughed. “Why do you think I switched to women? I wanted a challenge,” she said with a laugh.

I laughed too.

“That’s the spirit.” Keisha squeezed my shoulder. “Now, let’s add some more spirits to the spirit.” She poured vodka into both our glasses and held hers up for a toast. I straightened myself and held my glass up too.

“So, you think I still have time?” I asked. “Like it’s not too late for me? I haven’t missed out on my chance for more in life?”

“It’s not over till you’re dead.” She clinked her glass against mine, and we tossed back our drinks.





52

Karen


“Limo’s here,” Mark called from the living room as I spritzed a floral-scented perfume on my neck and wrists. Giving myself a once-over in the oversized floor mirror, I ensured the emerald lace dress and gold sparkly heels I was wearing was the look I was going for—just a night out with some girls, not me trying to seduce Keisha. I quickly applied a bright-red lipstick and took a deep breath. I was nervous—nervous to be around Olivia. She had promised she’d keep Keisha and me a secret, but Olivia’s word was about as strong as a toothpick. I was also anxious to see Keisha. I wasn’t sure how we were, after how we had left things. I had taken off after Olivia to make sure she kept her mouth shut, and by the time I was done talking to her, Keisha had left through the back for a house call with Shannon. So I never got a chance to speak with her, and I wasn’t sure we’d get that chance tonight.

I walked out into the living room. “Better hurry. They’ve honked twice.” Mark raised an eyebrow. He was lying on the couch reading Gravity’s Rainbow for the second time.

“I know. I know.” I transferred a wallet and some other essentials from my oversized day bag to a small evening purse.

“What’s the occasion?” Mark lowered his reading glasses, examining me from head to toe.

“I told you. Olivia planned some girls’ night out for Jenny.” I zipped up my purse and flung it over my shoulder.

“That’s sweet of her.” Mark pushed his glasses back up the bridge of his nose and refocused on his book.

I rolled my eyes and opened the front door. “Don’t wait up,” I called over my shoulder as I closed it behind me. The limo was parked in the driveway with “Dangerous Woman” playing loudly. Olivia popped her body out of the sunroof.

“ ‘And you make me feel like a dangerous woman,’ ” she belted out as if she were Ariana Grande herself, minus the voice. Olivia was tone-deaf and not just when it came to singing, obviously.