Until Lilly (Until, #3)(48)

“Mommy, where are we going?” Ashlyn asks for the fiftieth time since we got into the car.

“I told you, love bug, we’re going to the hairdresser.”

“Oh, yeah,” she sighs, making me laugh. I pull up out front of the salon, park, and hop out of my giant SUV. When I open the back door, both of the kids are standing and waiting for me to help them down. They each grab a hand as we make it into the building. The woman behind the counter greets us right away with a huge smile.

“Hi, I have a three o’clock appointment with Justin.” She looks over her shoulder into the back of the salon.

“He is just finishing up with his client; if you could give him about five minutes, he will be right with you,” she says, looking down at the kids. “Do you guys like to color?” she asks, and they nod. She ducks behind the counter and comes back up with some coloring books and crayons. We go over to the sitting area, and Jax and Ashlyn kneel in front of the table and start coloring.

“Lilly?” I look up when I hear my name being called. My eyes make contact with a very pretty Spanish man, and I say pretty because he has on more makeup than I do.

“That’s me.” I stand, looking down at the kids.

“You both be on your best behavior. I tell them, walking into the back of the salon. The reason I chose this place is because it is one of the only places around that allows you to bring your children with you, and while you are getting your hair done, they watch your kids.

“They will be fine,” the girl who was behind the counter when we arrived says, looking over at the kids.

“Thank you,” I say as my hand is grabbed and I'm dragged into the back of the salon.

“I'm Justin.”

“Nice to meet you,” I say as I'm sat down in a chair and a cape is tossed over my shoulders.

“I love this color, honey. Who is your stylist?” Justin asks, making me smile.

“That would be Nutrisse 6.60,” I say, and smile when his mouth opens and closes like a fish.

“This is from a box?” he asks breathily, lifting my hair and letting it run through his fingers.

“It is,” I confirm. “I came today to have you cut ten inches of it,” I tell him. Watching him smile.

“Ten inches will leave you hair here,” he says, holding my hair up to just below my shoulders.

“That’s fine.” I smile, looking at him in the mirror.

“Are you sure about this? I mean, your hair is so amazing,” he says quietly.

“Well, I really just want a change, and I think that a new cut is a good place to start,” I tell him.

“Let’s do this then,” he says, pulling a rubber band out from a drawer. I watch as he pulls my hair back into a ponytail at the base of my neck, and then pulls it down some before reaching over and grabbing a pair of scissors. “Last chance, love, then there is nothing I can do.”

“Do it.” I grin, watching as the scissors open over my hair and I hear the distinct sound of my hair being cut. Once he has gone through my hair, I watch as it falls down around my shoulders. My first thought is, it’s really short. My second thought is, Cash. He has no idea that I planned on cutting my hair today. I wonder what he will think. Then I look at my hair in Justin’s hand, then back at myself in the mirror, shaking my head back and forth. I already feel lighter. Once he’s done, he stands behind me, gathering my hair before letting what’s left run through his fingers.

“Now, love, on to the really fun part. When all is said and done, and I walk into the waiting area towards the kids, I feel hot. My red hair sits just above my shoulders in a mass of wild waves and flips. I feel sexy. I loved my long hair, but this cut…something about it just makes me want to hold my head a little higher.

“Mommy, you look so pretty!” Ashlyn yells as soon as she sees me. She jumps away from the table in front of her, running to me.

“Thank you, love bug,” I say, crouching down in front of her. Her little hands automatically go to my hair, bouncing it. I look over at Jax, who is looking like he would rather be anywhere but here. “Are you ready to go, honey?” I ask, and he nods then hops off the chair, grabbing my hand. Once he has it, I stand, and he starts tugging me to the door of the salon. “Bye guys,” I call over my shoulder, laughing as Jax drags me behind him. Once we’re out at the car, he drops my hand and looks up at me.

“I'm starbing.” His head is back and I can’t help but to laugh.

“You had breakfast a couple hours ago,” I remind him, opening up the door so he and Ashlyn can climb in.

“That was foreber ago,” he says as he gets into his chair. He buckles in, and so does Ashlyn. I hop in the back to make sure they are both secure before getting out, shutting the door, and climbing into the front seat. “What would you like to eat?” I ask, reversing out of the parking space.

“McDonalds!” both he and Ashlyn say at the same time. I don’t take them very often, but when I do, we end up spending at least a couple hours. The first thirty minutes is me trying to talk both of them into eating; the rest of the time is spent watching them play in the indoor play area.

“Okay,” I say, and then wait a second for them both to stop yelling ‘yippee!’ “But if we go, you have to promise to eat before you go play.”