CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

   Chloe

   My eyes fluttered open when I felt his lips on my back, moving lower and lower. I turned quickly. “What are you doing, boyfriend?”

   He made his way back up, kissing each of my breasts on the way. We’d fallen asleep naked after making love for the third time. No. Fourth.

   He smiled into my neck, bringing my body flush against his. I reached up to stroke his back. “No run this morning?”

   He pulled back so I could see his face. His beautiful face and the beautiful smile that graced it. “No. Just wanted to lie here and hold the girl I love. I couldn’t leave you, even if I tried.” He shook his head, trying to move the hair away from his eyes. “Mom was right, I need a haircut.”

   Laughing, I moved in to kiss his chest, skimming my lips along his collarbone. He let out a frustrated groan and pushed gently on my shoulders, making me look up at him. “We need to get out of this bed,” he said and then looked around the room. “Actually, we need to get out of this room.” He pulled away, and got up. “I’m gonna get rid of this gigolo hair before you get any ideas,” he stated, before covering his hard-on with his hands and making his way to the shower. “You’re gonna be the end of me.”

   Heads turned when we walked into the salon. One hairdresser even froze mid-blow-dry. Her client yelped before she realized what she’d done. As always, Blake didn’t even notice.

   “Can I help you?” the girl behind the desk said. She didn’t actually say it—more like purred it. And the eighteen-year-old insecure girl in me wanted to wipe the flirtatious smile off her Barbie-blonde head. He must’ve known, sensed it somehow, because he threw his arm over my shoulders, pulled me into him, and kissed my temple before answering her, “My girlfriend likes to tug on my hair when we . . . you know? I’m thinking it needs to be cut back a lot. She’s startin’ to hurt me.”

   A few giggles were heard.

   I blushed and covered my face in his chest. And then I stomped on his foot. Hard.

   He released a pained cry before laughing. “See? She likes it rough.”

   An older woman came over and shooed blonde Barbie away. She winked at me before looking up, up, up to Blake. “Your girlfriend’s beautiful. You shouldn’t embarrass her like that.” Then to me, “You want anything done today, sweetheart?”

   I started to shake my head, but then an idea came to mind. “Would you have time to dye my hair?”

   She eyed my hair quickly. “Just a touch-up on the roots?”

   “Um. No, ma’am. I was thinking maybe go back to my natural color. I feel like being phenomenal today.”

   Blake chuckled and placed an open-mouth kiss on my cheek, sucking hard.

   “Gross.” I pushed him away and wiped my face. He laughed harder.

   The woman behind the desk giggled. “I’ll wait until we have two free stations next to each other. I have a feeling he won’t like being far away from you for too long.”

   He raised his chin. “Your feelings are correct, ma’am.”

   He sat next to me, bouncing in his seat, his new haircut revealing more of his perfect face. “How much longer?”

   I rolled my eyes and reached down into my bag and pulled out a lollipop for him. He took it, no questions asked. “Seriously, though,” he mumbled around the candy, “how much longer?”

   “I don’t know, but look.” I showed him a flyer displaying a drive-in theatre nearby. They were showing Hoosiers, his favorite film. “Perfect,” he whispered. “You think you’ll be done in an hour?”

   I nodded.

   He jumped up. “Good. I’ll come back.” He started to leave but turned halfway, took the steps to cover the distance between us, and kissed me. “Don’t go anywhere. I love you.” And then he was gone, out the doors and into the sunlight. I’m sure I wasn’t the only one who watched him leave.

   “He a baller?” a man sitting in the waiting area yelled out.

   My hair covered in plastic wrap, I looked around the salon, making sure he was talking to me.

   “Yes, you!” he said.

   I reared back, a little afraid of his tone.

   “That’s Dennis,” the woman from earlier whispered. “He’s a little crazy but means well. He’s the town’s basketball historian. You best answer him before he loses his mind.”

   “Yes, sir. He’s a basketball player.”

   “Duke?” he bellowed, arms crossed over his fat gut.

   “Not sure, sir.”

   “Whaddaya mean you’re not sure, girl? He is or he ain’t!”

   “Dennis!” the woman reprimanded. “Be nice to my clients or I’ll kick your fat ass out of my salon.”

   His eyes went wide. “Sorry, Missy,” he drawled.

   “He signed with Duke, sir,” I answered. “But he’s still deciding whether to enlist in the army or to play ball.”

   He stood and strolled over to me, taking the seat Blake had just vacated. “Hmm,” he mused, “that’s a tough choice.” He kept nodding, as if he was the one to make the decision. “He a good man?” he asked.

   “Yes, sir. Blake’s the best man I know.”

   “Blake?” He eyed the ceiling, deep in thought. “Hunter?”

   I smiled. “Yes, that’s him.”

   “And you love him?”

   “Yes, sir. I love him,” I assured him.

   “Well, then, you decide for him. A man is only as good as the woman behind him. Or under him! Or on top of him!” He winked while his body shook with laughter.

   I paled, eyes wide.

   “I’m just messin’, girl. But not really. What do you want for him?”

   Forever, I thought. I want him forever. “It’s not my choice. It’s his. It’s important for him to make his own decision.”

   “He told you that?”

   “Yes.”

   “Before or after he fell stupidly in love with you?”

   I laughed softly. “Before.”

   “Well, things change, girl. Maybe now he wants you to tell him what to do. Maybe he’s given you the cards, and now you have to deal them.”

   Blake’s eyes widened when he stepped into the salon and saw my hair. It was the most natural it’d been since I’d started dying it. We paid and left, but he wouldn’t look at me. I didn’t think it was that bad. His strides were long and quick. I had a hard time keeping up with him.