"You can date. You just can't date his cousin, or any other member of his family."
"It's not like I did this on purpose. It just happened. And Nate's the one who kept pushing me to spend time with Brad. That whole first week he was here, Nate invited me out with them so I could get to know Brad."
"Get to know him, not date him."
"Yes, but the more time we spent together, the closer we got."
"That's just because he reminds you of Nate."
"He does, but only in the good ways. He reminds me of the Nate I used to know. The one who was fun and didn't constantly judge me and tell me what to do. Nate's changed. He's not the guy he was a few years ago. Honestly, sometimes I don't even want to be around him."
"So that's all this is. You miss the old Nate, so you're replacing him with Brad."
"No, that's not it at all. Brad isn't Nate. They have some similarities, but Brad is also really different. I'm not explaining it right. There's just something about Brad that makes me...I don't know...light up inside."
"Light up?" She laughs. "Like get all hot and bothered?"
"That's part of it, but not what I meant. It's like when he's around me, I feel like someone turned a light on. Like things aren't as dark anymore. I feel hopeful. Happy."
She stops cutting my hair and looks at me. "You really like this guy, don't you? Like REALLY like him."
"Yeah."
She sighs and continues snipping the layers of hair around my face. "So what are you going to do?"
"Not tell Nate."
"I mean after the summer. Brad's leaving, right?"
"Yeah, so I really shouldn't be getting involved with him. But then I thought I may never feel this way again, so what the hell? Why not be happy for a few months? What's the downside?"
"You fall in love. And then he leaves."
"I won't fall in love. He's only here for a few months."
"My parents fell in love in two weeks." She goes behind me to trim the back of my hair. "They've been married for thirty years."
"Two weeks? That's crazy," I say, and yet I wouldn't say it's impossible. Not after meeting Brad. I never thought I'd feel this strongly for a guy after only knowing him a few weeks.
"So how's Wayne?" I ask, switching topics.
"Married," she says, casually.
"What? Wayne is married? And he never told you?"
"He said he was divorced." Her voice cracks.
"April, I'm sorry." I get up and give her a hug. "When did you find out?"
"Yesterday." She grabs her purse from the table and pulls out a tissue. "His wife came into the salon."
"How'd you know it was her?"
"She showed Annie a photo. She said she was getting her hair done for their anniversary, which was last night."
Annie is the stylist that works next to April. She must've looked over and saw the photo.
"I'm so sorry."
She sniffles. "It's okay. It wasn't going that great anyway. You were right. He's really old. I don't know what I was thinking."
"Have you talked to him since you found out?"
"No, but he texted me this morning. I told him it's over. I haven't heard from him since."
"I'm really sorry."
"I'll find someone better. Maybe another hot, future doctor will show up in town."
I sit back in my chair as she picks up her scissors.
"At least one of us is happy," she says.
"You won't tell Nate, right?"
"Riley, you know I wouldn't do that. I just worry what'll happen when he leaves."
"Nate or Brad?"
"Brad. If you're this into him now, how will you feel in a few months?"
"I won't let it get that serious. And Brad won't either. He wasn't even going to date anyone this summer, knowing he won't be sticking around."
"Maybe you guys should just end this now. Just be friends. You'll save yourself from getting hurt and won't have to hide anything from Nate."
"I'm not ready to end it. I want something good in my life, even if it only lasts a few months."
There's a knock on the door. "Riley, it's me."
"That's Brad. I didn't think he'd be here this early."
"I'll get it." April races to the door and opens it.
"Hey," I hear Brad say. "April, right?"
"You remembered," she says, sounding impressed. "Come on in. I'm just finishing up with Riley."
"You're early," I say, getting up to give him a hug.
He glances at April.
"She knows," I say. "She promised not to tell."
"In that case..." He leans down and kisses me, a lingering kiss that makes April clear her throat.
I back away. "April just broke up with her boyfriend."
He looks over at her. "Sorry to hear that."
"He was a jerk. I just liked that he took me out." She returns to the table to get her scissors. "I didn't mean to interrupt you guys. Riley, we can do this later."
"You can't give me half a haircut." I laugh as I sit back in the chair. "Finish up."
Brad takes a seat next to me. He has on jeans and a tight gray polo that shows off his muscles. His dark hair is damp and he hasn't shaved.
"Hey! Over here," April says, moving my head straight. "I know he's hot, but stop looking at him."
Brad's swiping through his phone so didn't notice me staring.
"April!" I whisper.
"What? Like he doesn't know you're over here imagining him naked?"
I hear him chuckling. "Naked, huh? Is that what you do when you look at me? Imagine me naked?"
"No!" I insist, although I have imagined him naked a few times.
He's still staring at his phone, but smiling.
"I would," April says. "He has a great body."
"Thanks," Brad says to her.
"You're welcome." She smiles at him.
"Would you like me to leave you two alone?" I joke.
She laughs. "He's all yours. You two actually make a cute couple. You'd have darling kids."
I almost choke as I swallow. "Kids? We've been on one date."
She leans down to trim my ends. "You want kids, Brad?"
"April!" I scold.
"Not for a really long time," he says. "With med school and a residency, I won't have time for kids in my twenties. If I have them, it won't be until my thirties."
"Enough with the questions," I tell her.
She's smiling, knowing she's embarrassing me.
"Okay, you're all set." She stands back. "Want me to blow it out?"
"No, I'll do it." I stand up and blot my hair with the towel. "Thanks for coming over."
"Anytime." She walks to the door. "Good seeing you again, Brad."
"Yeah, you too."
Brad and I watch as she leaves. As soon as the door shuts, we race into each other's arms, our lips colliding. His hands roam over my body as we kiss while I melt into his arms, desperate to get closer.