I lie a little. I don’t know how Sal treats me because my brain malfunctions when he says ‘Bunny’. He buys me pretty things, pays the rent when I can’t. He takes me to nice places and likes to have dirty, kinky sex. There isn’t anything bad about Sal on the surface, but I’m afraid if I dig I won’t like what I find beneath that white smile and sexy body.
“Are you happy to just be the girlfriend?”
Of course she’s going to ask the hard questions. I don’t know.
“I never thought past that, to be honest, and he was upfront about it. This is as good as it will get. And I think for now I am happy like this.”
No, I’m not, but I need his money because my life is a shit-fest that never seems to end. Until Shaine can earn a wage I need to keep Sal around, or replace him, but I’m afraid of what I’d end up with if I tried.
“Just do what makes you happy, Chelsey. You never follow the rules, why would you start now?”
She has a point, but this feels wrong. I feel so dirty about it. Last night made me want to scrub myself with bleach. I slept in his house, where his wife lives. His son was there somewhere lurking around, God knows if he saw us.
Ailee lights another smoke and we stand outside while she finishes, and I take the opportunity to talk to her about her new life. The one that appeared overnight, all brooding and sexy with a beard and buns of steel. I can tell that she isn’t sure how she feels, or how to deal with it all happening so fast, but I have a gut instinct that she will be happy with him. They match somehow.
“Want to have dinner with us tonight? You can get to know him a little?” she asks, like she’s afraid I might hate him.
“Sure, but I’m coming in my car. That driver guy was just creepy.”
She laughs at me and we go inside. I start tidying up my station before my first customer comes in.
I text Shaine that she needs to take care of dinner.
Mom came home. She cooked and she’s sober - dead.
What?
It’s weird. Are you coming home tonight?
Yeah, I’m having dinner with Ailee first though.
By the time I have set and styled the over the top hairdo my last client wanted – she came armed with pictures, so I couldn’t argue – I am exhausted again. My eyelids want to droop closed right where I am standing chugging down an energy drink I stole from the shared fridge.
I pray I can stay awake through dinner at this point. I wait with Ailee while she locks up after everyone has left. She seems unafraid of cashing up and closing in this unsavory neighborhood. Myself, I feel as if there are a thousand eyes watching, just waiting to jump us or mug us.
When we get to the parking lot at the back, there is the creepy driver waiting for her. I wonder where her car is, if he drives her every day? It’s weird.
“I’ll follow you guys.” I go climb into the small compact car that Sal bought me.
Ailee didn’t even notice I got a car while in her magical love story with Trent. I told her, but I don’t think she was listening that day. It’s the first time in years I have had a car of my own, having sold the last one to pay rent and medical bills. I’m sure this one will go the same way at some point.
Sal likes buying me things. Often I want to yell and beg him to rather just give me the money, and at other times it just feels so good to be spoiled.
Ailee orders in something for dinner. I didn’t think she would embrace the wifey duties – the girl can’t cook for shit and hates cleaning.
The conversation is easy, because we talk about the changes she wants to make to the salon, all the ideas we have stored up in our heads coming out at once.
Rain is surprisingly interested for a man. He listens to her. I mean really listens, and he hears what she says. He makes suggestions and smiles like he is proud of her, and I’d be lying if I say I’m not jealous. The strange, dark man, seems so soft with Ailee, nothing like I’d expect a mafia boss to be. Sal is more the type than Rain; this guy seems nice, quiet but nice.
My phone buzzes in my pocket and I wiggle so I can pull it out.
Where are you?
Dinner at Ailee's.
Don’t lie, I went past her house and your car isn’t there. Where are you Bunny?
She moved! Remember I told you she has a husband, she moved. It was crazy. Were you even listening?
Careful Bunny. What time will you be home? I want to fetch you for the night.
I can’t, my mother is home.
You can. What time?
I’m being rude. I look up at Ailee and say, “Sorry, Sal wants to meet up. I’ll be done in a sec.”
She keeps chattering away to Rain, who gives me a quick look before I reply.
10:30. I need to see my sisters and my mother, Sal.
Fine, come to my house when you are done at home. Park on the street.
Wow, all right then. He has never not fetched me. Not sure what to respond, I put my phone away and join in the conversation.
“What about the empty space upstairs? The dentist office I think it used to be. We could rent that and expand. Add nail technicians and other services.” The creepy upstairs will give us room and there’s no one in there so we can get it cheaply.
Rain nods at my suggestion. “That’s not a bad idea, Chelsey.” He says it like he actually heard me and considered what I said. “What do you think, Ailee?”
“I’d love to, if we can. I mean, full service salons are better these days. The one at the mall is stealing our customers and their stylists have everything under one roof.”
It’s true, we all know it; our place of work is outdated.
“But I think we need to reno the existing salon first,” Ailee adds.
“No, I think if we get the upstairs space and set it up, you can do all the work without interrupting business. You can move upstairs while we fix downstairs,” I say.
Again Rain nods. “Ailee, you should listen to your friend.”
No, she probably shouldn’t. I am not the voice of reason, I am an idiot.
“I always listen to her,” Ailee says, and we both laugh because neither of us ever listens to anyone, and that’s why we end up in ridiculous situations.
“I’m going to be rude and go. My mom is home.” I say it to Ailee. She knows what that means and understands the situation at home, without me having to embarrass myself in front of her husband.
“Oh, sure. Okay. Is everything alright?”
I nod to her, I don’t want to talk about it.
“Thank you for dinner, Rain. It’s nice to get to know the man who stole my best friend away.” Literally you stole her. I smile sweetly.
“It’s a pleasure. Ailee will walk you out. I need to make a call.”
Standing in the entrance hall I can hear his raised voice, and Ailee just looks at me like it's not an issue that her husband is yelling like a crazy person.
“What’s that about?” I ask her as the words ‘are you fucking with me?’ filter through the walls.
“Work. Don’t ask, Chels, because I probably don’t know and if I do I can’t tell.”
I can’t believe this is her life – she’s a gangster’s wife. She is a gangster – fuck. I shake my head and pull on my coat.