SHORT STORY: If Only You Knew - PART 3

Part 3

Shon

I know I wasn’t crazy. If I didn’t know any better, I would say that the voice that called my man’s name sounded like my best friend Laila. I know better though. She would never do no dog shit like that. It’s all in my head. I can’t believe my boo is burning the midnight oil at work. I sure hope he gets that promotion because I’m about to eat them pockets up on this wedding. I felt like a weight had been lifted off of my shoulders after I spoke with James. I was tripping with myself thinking that my man had stepped out on me. I mean, look at me. I have it going on and I know how to put it down in the bedroom. I keep his stomach full, his dick empty, and his heart smiling. What more could a man want, right? After giving myself a little pep talk, I checked on the kids and headed back to bed. It was way past my bedtime and I couldn’t be rolling into work tomorrow with bags under my eyes. The females in my salon are messy as hell and would come up with their own stories as to why my eyes were hanging low.

My alarm went off at 6am. It felt like I had just laid my head on the pillow, but no rest for the weary. After getting the kids dressed and off to school and day care, I headed for the beauty shop. My first client wasn’t supposed to come in until 8am so I had time to do a touch up on my hair before then. Since James was coming over tonight, I wanted to look extra cute, especially after damn near accusing him of cheating. I can’t have my man out here thinking that I don’t trust him. As soon as I was started washing my hair, I heard the sounds of flip flops clonk on the floor.

“Hey Meeka.” I yelled from the shampoo bowl.

“How did you know it was me?” Meeka laughed as she went straight to her station and unloaded everything that was in her hands.

“Bitch, you the only one that come in her clonking with them beauty store flip flops on.” I joked.

We burst out laughing simultaneously. Once I finished washing my hair, I sat at my station combing out my hair while I got caught up on the tea. That’s what I loved so much about the shop is that I was able to stay updated on what’s happening in the streets then go home thanking God that I had the life that I did. I wasn’t one of these hoes out here sleeping around or sharing my man. I didn’t have baby daddy drama because my children’s father was super cool. Don and I realized that we were not fit to be a couple and were better off as friends. We co-parent well and he supports my and James’s engagement.

“Who you got coming in first?” Meeka asked me as she checked her own schedule.

“Quanisha.” I rolled my eyes.

“Oooh bitch. She is messy as hell. I dunno why you still do her hair after she tried to flirt with Don on the low low.” Meeka instigated.

“Girl, I’m not worried about Quanisha or Don. Money is money and Don isn’t my man. As long as she don’t go sniffing around James, I’m cool.” I said in my fight the power voice.

I caught the side eye that Meeka threw my way, but I let it slide. I turned my curlers on just as Quanisha walked through the door.

“Damn! Speak of the devil and he shall appear!” Meeka shouted then walked away laughing.

“Whateva hoe. Shon, you need better co-workers.” Quanisha made the mistake of saying.

“And you need a better everything. A better car. A better job. A better sense of style. Hell, a better weave. You just need a better life. Bitch, don’t come fa me cause I will be more than happy to answer the call.” Meeka snapped back and continue walking to the back to get her supplies.

“Girl, sit down so I can do your hair. I don’t have time for ya’ll right now.” I said laughing.

I started taking down Quanisha’s tracks so that I could wash her hair. It was time for her sew in to be re-done. After I washed her hair and stuck her under the dryer, I went to the lobby to get my next customer. By this time all of the workers were there and the shop was packed. My next client Serena loved to play in the dirt but didn’t want her hands to get dirty. She would spill all the damn tea then turn her nose up is disbelief. She reminded me of the ladies on Married to Medicine. Before I could get back to my station, Meeka leaned against me and said “Bitch keep your eyes on Quanisha. That hoe ain’t to be trusted.” I wonder why Meeka keeps saying that shit. I wish she would knock it the hell off.

“What are you getting done today, love?” I asked.

“A blow out.” Lisa said as she kept her eyes on her cell phone.

Noticing how angry Lisa was getting, I had to pry so I asked her what was wrong. Lisa enlightened me that her husband said that he was going in to work early today, but the tracking device is showing his car in a neighborhood off West Orem. When she saw the look in my eyes, she explained that her husband, Bobby, had been caught cheating with one of his ex’s. Like any other n***a, he promised to be faithful from that day forward. Lisa forgave him, but knew it would be awhile before she could trust him fully again so she put a tracking device on his car. Up until now, things had been going good. She was just blown away that he had to perform an open heart surgery this morning, but his car was shown to be 30 miles away from his job.

“Damn girl. I hope it’s just a big miss understanding.” I sympathized with her.

“For his sake, he better hope so too.” Lisa huffed then sat back in the chair so I could get started on her hair.

So far, things were going well in the shop and I was right on schedule. In between shampoos and putting clients under the hair dryer, I was able to finish my hair. Naturally, my hair is jet black and kept in a bob cut; however, I changed that all up. I was temporarily a blonde with 22 inches of curly hair. I was looking hot as hell. I was putting the finishing touches on Quanisha’s sew in when I felt someone grab me from behind and say “hello beautiful”. The smell of Versace Eros lingered in the air so I knew exactly who it was.

“Hey baby. To what do I owe this surprise?” I asked batting my eye.

“I feel bad for having you worked up yesterday so I wanted to make it up to you.” James replied while scooping me up in a bear hug.

“Let me take you to lunch.” James continued.

“That sounds good. Let me finish up with my client and I’ll be right out.” I responded with a Mickey Mouse smile on my face.

James went out and waiting in the car as I finished up with Quanisha. Her hair took the most work, but the money was worth it. After I sprayed her down with oil sheen, she checked herself in the mirror then gave me my coins. I saw her heading towards the bathroom as I swept up my area, but didn’t pay it any mind. My attention was too focused on my man. As I hurried to get up out the shop, I put away the last of my products on the shelf when I heard whispering coming from the bathroom. Naturally, I stood there for a minute because the only person I saw go in there was Quanisha.

“Bitch, you will never guess who I just saw! James!” Quanisha screamed. The person on the other end must have asked her which James. She replied by saying, “Bitch, your James”!