Authors: Marie Astor
“Likewise.” Annabel smiled. Despite her previous misgivings, she felt instantly at ease with Terry.
“Come with me, both of you.” Terry led the way to his chair. “Lilly, my assistant will wash your hair while Annabel tells me what she wants done.”
“Terry! I didn’t mean to impose on you like this! The receptionist said there is an hour wait to see you!”
“She says that about every stylist in here, and yes, there is, but not for my special clients
.
I am the
owner of the salon, remember? Come along now
. T
hat is
,
unless you want to wait another month to see me
.
I’m going to
London
next week.”
“You are an angel!” Lilly exclaimed as she was whisked away by Terry’s assistant.
“So, Anna with a bell, what can I do for you?” asked Terry after Annabel took a se
a
t in his chair.
“Well, I’m not really sure
. T
o be honest
,
I didn’t even know I’d be getting a haircut today
.
Lilly surprised me,” Annabel halted in mid-sentence as her eyes met the gaze of Terry’s hazel-gray eyes. “But I do know that I want a change,” she added, sensing an invisible boundary inside her give way. “I’ve worn my hair this length for as long as I can remember
,
and it’s definitely time for something different. Maybe a pixie cut?” she ventured bravely, despite being inwardly terrified by the thought of getting her hair cut that short.
“Yes, a pixie cut would look great on you
. Y
ou definitely have the face for it,” Terry agreed as he quickly ran his hands through Annabel’s hair. “But do you really want to have such a d
rastic change? In my experience,
most clients tend to want to ease into it more gradually. How about a layered bob? That will give your hair bounce and volume
,
and it’s a style that is easy to manage. I’m thinking we’ll add some auburn highlights to complete the look. What do you think?”
“That sounds great,” Annabel agreed with relief
. I
t was still a change, but a change she could handle without being overwhelmed.
“Wonderful! I’m glad you approve. So, first we’ll do the highlights and then the cut. Janelle, my colorist, will get you started on the highlights.” Terry proceeded to give the color mixing instructions to Janelle
,
who had somehow instantly appeared by Terry’s chair.
A few minutes later, Lilly returned
, her hair wrapped in a towel. “So what’s the verdict?”
“You’ll find out once it’s done, Miss Nosy.” Terry seated Lilly in his other chair. “Don’t tell her a word, Annabel.” Terry winked.
“Mum is the word,” Annabel joked.
“Fine, have it your way.” Lilly beamed, visibly proud of having managed to distract her friend enough for some levity, no matter how brief.
When Annabel looked into her reflection an hour and a half later, she could scarcely believe her eyes.
“Is that really me?” she asked as Terry proudly stood by.
“Of course
,
it’s you. I’ve got to say, your hair texture is perfect for this cut
. I
t will look great even without a blowout
. T
ake my word for it.”
Annabel gingerly ran her hand through her hair, as though fearing that it would revert back to her old, dowdy style. Her new hairstyle framed her face in the most flattering way, bringing out her high cheekbones
. T
he auburn highlights perfectly accented the green in her eyes.
“Wow! Terry, this is amazing! I don’t know how to thank you!” she exclaimed.
“Just promise me that you’ll be back in two months for a trim. I would hate to think that you weren’t upkeeping the style.”
“I certainly will. Thank you so much!” No doubt it would cost a fortune, but Annabel was ready to eat yogurt for lunch every day, if necessary, in order to save up for it.
“Great
.
I’ll see you then. Lilly’s waiting for you up front
. S
he was dying to watch me cut your hair, but that’s against my policy
. N
o exceptions, even for Lilly.” Terry chuckled. “She’ll be blown away once she sees you.”
“Thanks
,
Terry!”
“You’re most welcome.” Terry kissed her goodbye on the cheek.
As Annabel walked out into the reception area, she could see Lilly leafing through a fashion magazine, glancing up now and then. Lilly’s honey-blond locks had been newly trimmed in a carelessly tousled pixie cut – a look that appeared effortless, but required meticulous and precise styling.
Annabel waved, but Lilly looked
right past her, and it was not until she stood right in front of her friend that Lilly finally recognized her.
“Annabel! You look amazing!” Lilly rose from her seat in disbelief. “You look so different
.
I thought you were someone else! To think of all the time
s I’ve tried to get you in here
!
F
inally
,
mission accomplished.
Please, tell me you like it.” Lilly folded her arms across her chest.
“I love it! Thank you.” Annabel hugged her friend. “Thank you for calling me when I didn’t return your messages, thank you for dragging me out here, thank you for being a true friend.”
“Hey, what are friends for? Come on
. N
ow, I really do want to get something to eat
.
I’m starving.”
“Same here.” Annabel nodded, and they headed for the door.
“Lilly, you’ve got to tell me how much this cost,” Annabel said once they were outside. “I can’t let you spend a fortune on me.”
“It wasn’t as much as you think, and no, I won’t let you pay for it
.
I said it would be my treat
,
and that’s what it’s going to be. But I will tell you that I have a forty percent
‘
friends and family
’
discount, and Terry said that now you have it too.”
“No kidding?” Annabel asked in disbelief.
“Terry is a really good friend of mine. Several years ago, when he was just starting his own salon, he was doing a fashion show
,
and I provided all the clothes free of charge. We’ve been friends since then. It’s too bad he’s married.”
“He’s married? I kind of assumed he was gay.”
“Yeah, I know
. M
ost of the men in the business are, but Terry is not. He’s perfectly coiffed and perfectly straight – a dream come true.”
“I thought the name of your latest dream was Simon, or am I mistaken?” Annabel teased her friend
. S
he would much rather talk about Lilly’s love life than her own.
“Yes, but I can look, can’t I?” Lilly joked back. “But seriously, I think you might be right, as frightening as it sounds. Do you know that we spent the last two days together in bed, only getting up to order take out?”
“I think I get the picture.” Annabel could not remember the last time she had ever stayed in bed with a man for two days or even a day, for that matter. Even when she and Jeremy first started dating
,
their sex life had never been that extravagant.
“And no, we didn’t just screw the whole time
, a
lthough we did plenty of that too, and let me tell you, it was fantastic! But we also talked
.
I mean we talked about every imaginable subject. I don’t think I’ve ever opened up to a guy like that. We’ve only just met, but I feel like I’ve known Simon for years
.
I never felt so comfortable with anyone.”
“Well, maybe it’s meant to be.”
“I don’t know about that
.
Simon only has three more weeks and four days left in
New York
,
and that doesn’t exactly give me much time to find out if he is the one. Look at me
.
I’m counting
the
days now. Next thing you know, I’ll be counting
the
hours
.
I’ve become officially pathetic!” Lilly flung her arms in the air in a gesture of exasperation. “That’s just my luck
,
to fall for a guy who lives half
way
across the world,” she muttered.
“If you really like each other
,
it will work out.”
“I don’t know…
I’d be putting a lot on the line, and I’m not sure I want to.” Lilly frowned. “So, where do you want to go to dinner?” Lilly switched gears, making it clear that the subject of Simon was closed for now.
“You pick, but dinner is my treat
. N
o arguing.”
“I’m too hungry to argue.” Lilly grinned. “Well, since we both just had our hair done, why don’t we show off our good looks somewhere where they would be appreciated? What about Café Cha Cha?”
“Um, okay
, sounds good.” Café Cha Cha was a new lounge that
had
opened downtown a few months ago
,
where they served portions that could only satisfy Thumbelina
,
along with fancy drinks like passion fruit and cucumber martinis. The crowd there was trendy and pretentious
. I
n a word, Annabel shied away from places like these, but after the huge favor that Lilly
had done
for her, she was not about to object to her friend. Besides, Annabel had to admit that part of her was curious to check out the place
. T
he new haircut seemed to have done more than just enhance her looks
, opening her mind to new possibilities.
“Ann, don’t look now, but there’s a really hot guy checking you out at ten o’clock,” Lilly whispered conspiratorially as they waited for their table
at the C
afe Cha Cha.
“Your ten o’clock or mine?” Annabel whispered back. Lilly was forever using expressions like ‘ten o’clock’ or ‘two o’clock’, but she always failed to indicate whose ten o’clock it was, making it impossible to tell the direction she was referring to.
“Mine
,
of course! Why would it be yours?”
“Because, usually when people say
‘
ten o’clock
,
’
it’s the ten o’clock of the person they are talking to.”
“Whatever
. T
here’s no rule about it, is there?”
“Actually
,
there is,” Annabel said
,
more to tease Lilly than to argue.
“Ok
ay
, fine.” Lilly shrugged. “Check him out now
. H
e’s not looking.”
Annabel followed the direction of Lilly’s gaze with her eyes
,
not because she was interested to see who the guy was
(
she was far from being ready to engage in even a light flirtation
)
but because she wanted to see if Lilly was just making the whole thing up to cheer her up or if she still had what it took to attract wistful looks from guys. As she pretended to skim the bar crowd, Annabel’s gaze intercepted with that of the handsome stranger her friend was gushing about. Tall and lean, with wavy blond hair that was carelessly slicked back
,
and blue-gray eyes, he was indeed a stunner, and he was definitely checking her out
. A
s their eyes met, his lips curved in a glimmer of a smile that made the corners of his eyes wrinkle.
Well, what do you know?
Annabel thought, as she lowered her eyelashes, taking another sip of her drink
.
I
’ve
still got it after all
. She was about to flash the handsome stranger another look when Lilly drew her attention.
“Annabel, let’s go check on our table
.
I think it should be about ready now.”
“Hold on,” Annabel whispered, half-turning toward her friend. “You were right about that guy
. H
e is kind of cute.”
“He’s
okay. T
here are plenty of fish in the sea, you know. Let’s go check about that table.” Lilly pulled on her arm.
Just then Annabel looked up and saw a model-thin brunette in a skimpy dress slide onto the barstool next to the handsome stranger. He was not alone: he had been merely passing the time while waiting for his date
. G
uys like that were never alone. He placed his arm around the brunette’s tiny waist, and as she leaned into him for a kiss, her coal-dark mane spilled all over his chest.