When I'm With You (Little Hollow Series, #2)(79)

I can’t help but burst out laughing at Sam’s statement, I’ve never heard her talk about anyone like that before. But she’s right, he really is.

“So, your hair? What are we doing with it?” She asks.

I shrug. “I’ll let you have at it, I don’t even want to look before it’s done, I’ve avoided mirrors at every turn.”

She kneels and claps her hands. “I’ll just go get everything and we’ll do it now so it’s over and done with.”

I nod and pull the cover over my head. I need sleep and silence, but I guess she’s trying to stop me from wallowing in my own self pity, even though I think I have every right to be drowning right now.

She walks back in, dragging her chair from her dressing table and places the hair clippers and scissors on the bed. I try not to flinch at the sight of them, these are a part of my job, I will not let him ruin my life.

I pull back the covers in determination when she motions for me to sit in the chair. “Do you trust me?”

“Just do it,” I say, wanting to get this over with.

She brushes through my hair and I relax a little at her motherly touch.

“When I was little, my mom used to brush my hair every morning and night,” she says matter-of-factly.

I smile but then it drops. “How is your mom? I’m sorry I haven’t asked sooner.”

“Don’t be silly, you definitely have more important things to worry about. It’s still really weird talking to her normally, she’s not the her I know. She actually rang me this morning from the rehab center. She said she’s struggling with her memory still and is craving a drink but says the place is in the countryside and is beautiful, so that’s something.” Her voice is a little sad but I know this is an amazing thing for Sam. “I’m just worried that she’s going to remember everything and it’s going to hit her harder than before because she’s sober now. She’ll be on her own and that doesn’t sit right with me.”

I squeeze her hand. “I can’t predict the future so I won’t say that won’t happen. But if it does, you’ll be there for her in whatever way you can be, and you know I’ll always be here to help in any way I can. And when she finishes the program, maybe we can all have a memorial for your brother.”

She gives me a sad smile. “I’d like that, I think I’m finally ready.”

She still has her brother’s ashes in her bedroom in a blue box, we tried to scatter them a year after we’d met but she said she wasn’t ready then.

She ties what’s left of my hair in a low ponytail at the nape of my neck, the rest of it falling by my face. “You ready?”

I nod. “As I’ll ever be. If you mess it up, I’ll just wear a hat.”

She swats my shoulder. “Have more faith in my hairdressing skills will you.”

She takes the scissors and cuts above the ponytail, handing me it. I stare at it in my hands, feeling numb. “Throw it away, this is a new chapter in my life now. I don’t want any reminders.”

She tosses it into the metal bucket in the corner of my room, a symbol of one of the steps toward my recovery. She spends half an hour on my hair and says she’s finally done. I’m nervous. Hands over my eyes in front of the mirror, she waits for me to say I’m ready.

“Now?”

“Okay, now.”

She lifts her hands and a different person stares back at me. I look older and edgier than before. She’s cut my hair in a choppy, slightly longer than a pixie cut style with one side above my ear shaved. I love it! I start crying and she starts rubbing my shoulders.

“Oh no, no! I’m so sorry, Kee. I honestly thought you’d like it.”

I spin and cling onto her tiny body. “Thank you. You’re a magician with a pair of scissors.”

She pulls back. “Phew! You had me going there for a moment. You look awesome!”

“Do you think Hunter will like it?” I ask, feeling nervous.

She giggles. “Of course he’s going to like it, you look hot!”

I blush. “Okay, well I’m going for a shower so let’s go see what he thinks.”

I blow out a breath and walk out, both men turn at the same time. My eyes lock with Hunter’s big brown ones and a fire lights inside of them. “Well?”

Connor speaks first. “It suits you.”

“Yeah it does,” Hunter breathes.

He stalks toward me, forgetting Sam and Connor are in the room, and runs his fingers through it. “Real sexy, babe.”

I laugh and swat at his chest, feeling a little on show. “Alright, get your paws off me. I need to take a shower.”

He’s reluctant to let me go but places a chaste kiss on my temple then motions for me to carry on anyway. I’m finding it a little easier to walk but my muscles are still aching from being in the same crouched position on the cold floor for so long. I can’t wait to let the hot water run over them.

It feels amazing. I relish in the feeling of it warming up every part of me and even though the soap stings the cut’s that haven’t fully healed yet, I haven’t enjoyed a shower like this before. Only one thing could make it better.

How hunter reacted to my hair has a fire starting in the pit of my belly and I have to pull myself out of the shower so I don’t get caught up in my head and leave everybody waiting for me.