April.

Two Days Later.

Pushing my glasses up on my face, I walked out the door and climbed into the front seat of my brothers Dodge Challenger.

He stared at me for a while before pulling off.

"Good morning to you too." He said.

"Good morning Chris."

"So where's your car?"

I took a deep breath. "The um...the shop."

"You got these marks from the shop too?" He pulled the collar down on my jacket, showing the marks on my neck.

"Chris."

"Just give me the fucking word April! Is that why you didn't come to work yesterday?!"

"Please don't do this right now. I'm trying to stay positive today. I don't feel like crying or being sad today I just want to work."

"This some fucking bullshit! Ima kill this nigga I swear I am."

"No you're not! You have a wife and a daughter, I'm not going to let you do anything crazy."

He took a deep breath and sat back in his seat. "Please tell me you're done with him, cause if you ain't, it's nothing you can say to me man."

"I am. I'm done."

"For real this time? Ain't no running back, move the fuck on April."

"It's over, I'm moving on. I'm tired of the disrespect."

"Maybe you need to get away from your house for a few days. You can come stay with me and Bri for a while."

"I'm good. I'm going to get a restraining order today, he can't come anywhere near me."

"Good. You deserve much better man."

"I know."

He rubbed my hair.

When we got to the shop everybody just stared. I felt like they were all saying I told you so in their heads. I'm sure Jazz ran and told.

I put my things away then walked to the back to my office. I had to take a few deep breaths because I felt myself slowly getting ready to crack. After sitting there for a while I went back to the front.

"Hey boo, did you still want me to do your hair?" Dion said.

"Yeah, whenever you're free."

"My first client doesn't come for another two hours. I got your wig ready."

"Okay." I got up and sat in his chair.

"You alright?" He asked low enough for just me to hear. I nodded.

"You deserve so much better April, you're too pretty and amazing to deal with his bullshit."

"Thank you Dion."

"No problem."

As soon as I got my hair finished my first client came. To be honest I started to feel better once my hair was done. And everybody was making me laugh.

The bell indicating somebody was walking in rung. Nique got up and walked to the front. I leaned up a little to see who it was. I could tell it was a guy but I couldn't see his face.

Eventually he came following behind Nique to the back. I couldn't help but stare. Not only was he fine but he looked familiar.

He glanced at me and his tongue ran along his bottom lip. I watched him until I couldn't see him anymore.

"Damm, take a picture it'll last longer." Brianna said while smiling.

I cleared my throat and went back to focusing on my client.

"Shit I was staring too! That man is a damn snack." Dion said.

I laughed while shaking my head.

"April, come here." Chris called.

"I'll be right back." I told my client then walked over to where he was.

"April this is Keith the new barber. Keith this is my sister April, she owns the shop."

Damn I should've put on a little make up today.

"Hi, congrats on the new job." I said while holding my hand out.

He grabbed it. "Thanks."

As soon as he spoke it clicked where I knew him from.

"The guy from the club." I said.

"What?" Chris asked confused.

"His rude ass bumped into me and then told me not to lose my wig."

"You the one that called me a rude ass bitch." Keith smirked. "And I apologized for bumping you."

"That was after you told me not to lose my damn wig."

"You really hold grudges huh?"

"Yup."

"Yeah with the wrong people." Chris said.

I looked at him and squinted my eyes.

"Anyway, I have a client to finish. Just make sure you keep him back here."I said.

"It was nice meeting you April and nice wig." He laughed.

"Fuck you." I walked back to the front.

"Damn what happened? You was just drooling over that nigga?" Erica asked while laughing.

"I met his rude ass at the club the other night. He bumped into me."

"So you're mad about somebody bumping into you, inside of a crowded club?" Nique said. "That's smart."

"He saw me, he did that on purpose."

"Girl, I give y'all a month. Y'all be fucking soon." Dion said.

I looked over at him talking to my brother.

I do not want him.

Ugh.

Keith.

The Next Day.

I was packing up my stuff after my last client. It's been a busy ass day for me and I'm ready to get in my damn bed. I don't even know how many heads I cut but I know this bankroll is pretty thick in my pocket.

Everybody was gone. Chris just told me to lock the door and let down the gate on my way out.

I was about to cut off the lights when I heard yelling. I went to the front and saw April sitting in the chair on the phone.

"You were supposed to be here an hour ago and now you're telling me you're not coming! I could've went with my fucking brother. I want my money back. Uber is the fucking worst." She hung up the phone and tossed it in her lap.

"You alright?"

She jumped at the sound of my voice. "Keith...hey."

"I didn't mean to scare you." I laughed. "But you good."

"No, I have no way home. I can't wait to pick up my car."

"I could give you a ride."

"I don't want you to go through the trouble. I'm fine."

"It's no problem. Where you stay?"

"Walton court."

"Really? I do too."

"I think you stay a few houses from me. I saw furniture being delivered."

"Well I'll most definitely be taking you home then so let me get my bag." 

She nodded and got up. When I came back she waiting by the door. I took this heavy looking back from her and we walked out. She locked up the building then we went to my truck. I opened the passenger door for her and helped her inside then put our bags in the back and got in the driver seat.

Then we made our way home.

The ride was quiet, she played on her phone and I focused on the road until a call came through my radio.

It was Brittany.

April looked at the screen then up at me.

I hit the lock button to silence the ringer.

"Why you ignoring Brittany with heart emoji calls?" She asked while smirking.

"I'll call her when I get home."

"Girlfriend?"

"Something like that."

"Mm. Cute."

"Look I want to apologize for bumping you and the whole wig thing."

She laughed. "It's cool, I was just over reacting. You did apologize the first time. I didn't have to call you a bitch, that was wrong."

"Yeah it was."

"I'm sorry."

"It's cool."

She smiled then looked back at her phone. "How was your first official day at Aprils Way?"

"Its was cool, made some good money. I don't know how Ima control myself with all those fat asses walking around though."

She gasped. "I'm telling your girlfriend."

I laughed. "I'm joking. I can control myself."

"Mmhm. I have no problem snitching on your ass."

"Aww don't be like that."

"Don't be looking at other chicks asses in my shopping."

"If its there, Ima look."

She rolled her eyes. "Men."

"Women look too so don't just put that shit on men."

"That's true, that's true."

"If the ass look good everybody gone look."

She giggled. "Okay enough ass talk. I'm glad you had a good first day. Hopefully that means we can keep you around."

"Looks like I'll be there for a while." I said as we pulled up in front of her house.

"Good." She smiled.

"Only a few houses down. I'm coming to bother you everyday now."

"Please don't."

"You know you want me to."

"Whatever." She pulled two twenties out her purse. "Here."

"April, no. I'm not taking that."

"Why?"

"It's too much and I'm not wasting gas. Put that up."

"Well at least let me buy you lunch tomorrow."

"That's cool."

"Alright."

"You need a ride in the morning?"

"Yes."

"I'll be here."

"You mind if I keep my bag in here? I really don't feel like carrying it."

"That's cool."

"Thank you." She opened the door. "Good night Keith. You're a life saver."

"No problem. Goodnight."

She shut the door and headed to her house. For her to be skinny her ass is fat and jiggled every time her leg moved.

I bit down on my lip thinking about what she looked like naked.

Too soon?

Once she got inside I made it down my house. I thought about calling Brittany back but I didn't want to be bothered.

I went straight upstairs and jumped in the shower. When I got out I climbed straight in my bed. Didn't cut on the tv didn't even get on my phone.

I was knocked the fuck out.