But then the words she spoke hit me like a brick.
Javi went to prison? For what? Does that mean that the parole officer that showed up at the gym was for him? My gut warned me that could have been the case, but my head didn’t want to believe it.
If what the woman said is true, what did he do time for? How long was he in there?
A barrage of questions starts running through my mind, but just as I try to listen further, Selena returns with two dishes full of hair dye.
“Alright. You ready?”
“Uh huh,” I stutter before clearing my throat and slapping a smile on my face to hide the chaos those women just instigated in my mind.
“So, how long have you and my brother been friends, Sydney?” Selena eyes me in the mirror with a knowing grin on her face while securing sections of my hair off with clips.
Okay then, getting right to the point.
“Well, it took a while to wear him down. It might come as a surprise, but your brother wasn’t my biggest fan back in high school, or even after we ran into each other at The Jameson.”
Selena chuckles while beginning to paint my hair. “I believe you were the one that ran into him.”
“Ha. Yeah, I was slightly inebriated that night.”
“No shame in that. We all need to let loose every once in a while.”
“Well, we just kept running into each other, especially after I signed up for the self-defense class at the gym, although he was less than enthusiastic about seeing me. He was quite the ass if I’m being honest. But eventually, I don’t think he had the willpower to push me away anymore. I can be quite persuasive.” Asking him to fuck me so the sexual tension between us could finally be released was definitely the most persuasive thing I’ve ever done.
“It seems that’s true. So, how did you like the class?” Selena’s eyes meet mine in the mirror again, and her entire demeanor softens with that question.
“I loved it. At first, I hated your brother for how hard he was on me, but eventually I loved the way the exercise made me feel. And when we started practicing the moves, I felt … empowered.”
Her smile builds brightly as she nods. “I’m glad. Andre offers that class because of me.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. I begged him to give women an opportunity to learn how to protect themselves after I …” She trails off, her face growing sad for a moment before she reapplies the façade she seems to have perfected.
“You what?”
She shakes her head and then clears her throat. “Nothing.”
“I was attacked a few months ago. Held at gun point. That’s why I took the class.” I offer her my story so maybe she’d feel more comfortable to share hers, but it doesn’t work the way I wish.
She pauses in her movements and looks at me again. “I’m sorry that happened to you, but I’m glad you did something to make you feel more at ease.”
“Thanks.”
“My brother is a good guy, Sydney, but he has some demons he’s working through,” she says, moving the conversation back to Javi.
“I can tell. He was adamant about not letting me in or even bothering to get to know me for who I am now. But once I put him in his place and we started talking a bit more, he seemed to ease up on the animosity.”
Selena chuckles as she folds a piece of foil around my hair and continues the process. “My brother needs to be put in his place. His asshole vibe gets out of control sometimes.”
I huff out a laugh. “Don’t I know it.”
“He seems to be more relaxed since you two have been hanging out too.” Her eyes dart to mine again as she lifts a brow. Something tells me she’s aware of our little arrangement.
“Well, it goes both ways. We’ve definitely been enjoying each other’s company.”
“Be careful with him, Sydney,” she warns, sounding more like a protective sister now than just a woman I’m having a playful conversation with.
“I am.” I’m not sure who I’m trying to convince with that declaration—her or me.
“I’m not sure he’s ready to open himself up to more. But it’s more for you though, isn’t it?” She stands up tall and stares me down, tilting her head as she studies me.
But I can’t speak, because as I watch her watch me, the reality of her words hit me square in the chest. I’ve been trying to fight it, but I think I know it’s been more than just sex for a few weeks now. The conversations via text, the shared glances at the gym, the lunch we just shared yesterday, the way I can’t stop thinking about him throughout the day.
Ally was right. I’m not programmed to be the girl who just does casual sex. And even though I wanted our arrangement to be just about that, it didn’t take long before that line was blurred. The man hasn’t even kissed me yet, but I know that I don’t want our relationship to end, not when I feel like it’s getting better every time we’re together.
“That’s what I thought.” She snickers and then continues coloring my hair. “So what do you do for work now, Sydney?”
Her abrupt topic change throws me for a loop for a second, but I welcome it, bypassing her first question entirely and engaging in a lighthearted conversation that leaves me feeling like Selena and I could be friends if things ever progressed between Javi and me. We spend time trading information about our lives now as she continues to place foil pieces in my hair for highlights.
She tells me more about her business and why she decided to open up on this side of town, stating that it doesn’t come without its downfalls and frustrations. We revisit some memories of high school too. Selena is two years younger than
