Juked by M.E. Carter Page A

need to swing back through the baby aisle?”
    “We already have everything,” she says as she stands up. “When you found us, we were browsing. You never know when you’ll need to know where the gripe water is.”
    “Good point.”
    As we make our way to the checkout lanes, all I can think is this was the most enjoyable conversation I’ve had in a long time. Most beautiful women I spend this much time talking to are soccer fans so the conversation revolves around my job. But with Quincy, things are more free. It’s refreshing.
    We find a lane with a short line, and Quincy gets into it. “Thanks again for all your help, Daniel,” she says. “It’s been a lot of fun.”
    “Quincy, wait,” I say as she turns away. She looks back at me. “Think you’d be interested in going to dinner with me sometime?”
    Her face breaks out in a grin. “I think I could do that.”
    “Great,” I say, smiling back.
    We exchange numbers and go our separate ways. I thank my lucky stars I remembered to write a list of what I need to buy, because I can’t focus on anything beyond a beautiful blonde and her killer smile.
    Maybe shopping overnight has its perks after all.

 
     

     
    “I ’m thinking we need to go bolder. Let’s do purple streaks this time.”
    I wrap the cape around her neck and snap it in place. “I don’t think that’s such a good idea, Sue. Remember what happened when you decided to do blue streaks? You were calling me the next day to get what you called ‘that damn Easter egg color’ out of your hair.”
    “I don’t know,” she says as she looks in the mirror, fluffing out her hair. “I don’t think I took enough time to get used to it. I think I jumped the gun on that.”
    I look over at Geni, who is doing an all-over color on one of her regular customers. She winks at me. This is a conversation she has overhead between Sue and me numerous times.
    “You will look like you are trying to chase your youth if you go with pastel colors,” I say and brush her hair. “If you really want bolder color, we can do some really dramatic auburn lowlights and offset it with blonde highlights.”
    If it was any customer other than Sue, I wouldn’t be so open with my assessment. But Sue was my very first customer over five years ago. We know each other very, very well. In her late fifties, she is spunky and fun. I want to be her when I grow up.
    “I think Quincy’s right,” Geni says, winking at me. She always backs me up when it comes to Sue’s disastrous ideas. “Highlights and lowlights are the way to go. They’ll be beautiful on you.”
    Sue eyes herself critically in the mirror. “I guess you’re right. I do want to look nice for my date.”
    “Who are you going out with this time?” I put down the brush and roll my tray over.
    “His name is Frank. We’re on the same planning committee at church. He finally pulled his head out of his ass and asked me out.”
    I laugh. “Do you think you should be cussing when you’re talking about a guy you met at church?”
    “Honey, Jesus rode into town on an ass. It says so, right there in my Bible. Besides,” she says with a snigger, “I’m pretty sure God gave up on my potty mouth years ago.”
    I pat her on the shoulder. “I’ll be right back.”
    Geni and her customer follow me to the hair dryers, where Geni gets her situated under the dryer while her hair color processes. I continue to the back to mix Sue’s color.
    Yawning, I take a minute to stretch my arms and back. This weird sleep schedule Chance has decided on is killing me. I am dog tired but from everything I’ve read, he’ll get on a more normal schedule eventually. In the meantime, I’ll have to settle for stretching my limbs in the back room several times a day. And midnight shopping trips.
    Okay, so those trips aren’t all bad. Especially if I keep meeting guys like Daniel.
    Thinking of him brings a smile to my face. With his dark, spiky hair, dark eyes, dark skin, he really is