“Are you ready?” she asks, moving toward the back of the shop without stopping to look at us.

“Are you okay?”

Her shoulders slump and she spins to face me, plastering what I know is a fake smile on her face. “Absolutely fabulous.”

“You’re as bad of a liar as Ellie.” I smile, and she presses her lips together.

“He’s annoying.” She waves me off then narrows her eyes past my shoulder, and I turn to look out the window to find Sage standing in front of his truck, pointing at his watch while looking at her.

“Oh my, what does that mean?” Cara asks, sounding breathless while she stares at my cousin.

“My guess is Kim’s time is just about up.” Ellie giggles, and Kim growls something under her breath before turning and stomping to the back of the salon.

“That man is seriously hot,” Cara mutters behind me as I follow Kim to her station and take a seat in the chair she’s turned around for me.

“You’re not so pissed that you’ll accidentally chop all of my hair off, right?” I joke, and her eyes meet mine in the mirror.

“I’m good.” She smiles, pulling in a breath. “I may end up killing your cousin, but I swear I won’t mess up your hair.”

“Good.”

“And you didn’t hear me say I may kill Sage out loud, since then it would be premeditated, and I can only get off if it looks like it was a spontaneous decision.”

“I didn’t hear anything.” I smile back then pull my eyes from hers in the mirror to look up at her. “Do you want me to tell him to back off?” I ask quietly, and her face softens.

“I don’t know what I want anymore.” She shrugs. “Everyday, he asks me out. And everyday, I say no, but…” She shakes her head, tucking a chunk of hair behind her ear. “I just… He’s making it really hard to keep saying no.”

“You liked him and he hurt you. I get that, but maybe you should give him a chance to apologize, and then go from there.”

“He has apologized.” She shrugs. “I just haven’t forgiven him.”

“Maybe you can find a way to do that so you can move on,” I say, giving her hand a squeeze. “I’m not saying you need to move on with him, but I think you need to let whatever happened go so you can figure out what you want for yourself.”

“You’re right,” she agrees and I lean up, giving her a hug, and then sit back to look at her in the mirror.

“Now, please tell me that you know something about tomorrow’s supposed family dinner.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she replies, and just like Ellie, I can tell she’s lying.

Dammit.

“Hey, do you want to get a drink after we’re done here?” Ellie asks, and I pull my eyes from the mirror, where I have been watching Kim curl my hair, and look at Cara, who is sitting in front of the nail dryer.

“Do you want to go?” I ask, when her eyes meet mine.

“I’m always down for a drink.” She grins, and I smile back then look at Ellie.

“We’re down. I just need to send Dillon a text to let him know what’s going on.”

“I’ll send Jax a text too and let him know to come pick up Hope.”

“You’re coming, right?” I ask, looking at Kim, and she shrugs.

“Sure, sounds good to me.”

“Awesome,” I mutter, pulling out my cell phone so I can send a quick text to Dillon and let him know what the plan is. Getting his reply text, less than a minute later, I smile.

No doing anything you wouldn’t do with me watching!!! Call when you get there, and then when you need to be picked up. Jax has someone keeping an eye on you guys, and he’ll follow you to the bar.

“Who does Jax have watching us?” I ask Ellie, and she shrugs.

“I have no idea. He never mentioned it to me. Did Dillon say someone is watching us?”

“Yes.”

“Hmm, no clue,” she mutters, putting on lip-gloss.

“Why do we need someone watching us?” Cara questions, and I inwardly groan. I don’t want her to think she has anything to worry about or that I’m crazy.

“My brother is overprotective of Ellie and Hope, and you know Dillon’s crazy,” I answer, and she nods like ‘Oh yeah, I totally get it my mans the same way,’ then pulls her hands out from under the nail dryer and dangles them before Hope, who smiles brightly.

“What do you think?”

“They’re beautiful, and now we match.” Hope claps, holding her hands out next to Cara’s, giggling, and I grin at them.

“Go get your bag from the back, baby girl. Daddy will be here to get you in a few minutes,” Ellie says, and Hope pouts.

“Can’t I come with you?”

“Sorry, no, but I bet Daddy will take you out for ice cream if you ask him.”

“Yay! Ice cream!” she yells happily before skipping to the back of the salon, then coming out a few minutes later with a bright pink glitter backpack.

“You’re done,” Kim says, and I turn my head to look at myself in the mirror and smile.

“Like always, it’s perfect. I wish you could be with me everyday when I get ready for work.”

“Oh please, you always look perfect.” She waves me off while putting away her curlers and things. “I didn’t spray it, since you have the stitches, but with the serum the curls should hold through tomorrow, and before you know it, your hair they had to shave off will grow back. But for now, I blended it in so it will grow a little better.”