"Maybe you could talk him out of going to the club tomorrow."
"I could try, but he really wants to go, and he probably won't want you going with us if he's trying to find a date."
"Then I'll get April to go with me. We'll have a girls' night."
"Riley, I really do want to find a way to see you more. And I will. I just need to find someone to keep Nate busy. Hopefully tonight will go well and he'll want to see this girl again."
I go back in the salon. "My break is over. I gotta go. Have fun on your date."
"You know I won't. I'm only doing this for Nate. I'll call you when I get home tonight."
I put my phone away and go to the dryer to take out the towels. As I'm folding them, April bursts through the door.
"It's sold," she says, racing up to me.
"The salon? Already?"
"They still have to sign the paperwork, but the offer's been made and Renee accepted it."
"That sucks." I sigh. "Guess I better start looking for jobs."
"Maybe not. It's still going to be a salon. It'll just have a new owner."
"Someone who will bring in a whole new staff."
"I'm not going to worry about it until we know more."
"So you don't know who bought it?"
"No, and I don't know when they'll be taking it over."
I go back to folding towels. "Like I needed more bad news today."
"What do you mean? What else happened?"
I walk up to her and lower my voice. "Brad has a date tonight."
"He's cheating on you?" she yells.
"April, keep it down. I don't want anyone hearing us. And no, he's not cheating. He's doing it so Nate doesn't suspect anything. It's a double date. They met these girls last night and the girl Nate likes wouldn't go out with him unless her friend could go out with Brad."
"Riley, this is getting out of hand. Why don't you just tell Nate the truth?"
"And have him hate me? And hate Brad? No. Besides, who knows how long Brad and I will be a couple? It could end next week. Or tonight, if his date goes well."
"If he cheats on you, I'll kick his ass."
"Speaking of cheaters, have you heard from Wayne?"
"No, but I told him never to contact me again, so..." She rolls her eyes. "Why can't I find a decent guy?"
"Want to look for one tomorrow night?"
"Where?"
"At the club downtown. Nate wants Brad to go, and I thought we could go too. I don't want to spend another night at home."
"Maybe, but I don't have good luck at clubs."
"We could just go there to dance. Think about it and let me know."
"I will. I have to go check this lady's color."
She runs off and I get my phone out and text Brad. Salon was sold.
What about your job? he texts back.
Don't know yet.
You okay?
Yeah. I knew it would happen.
Try not to worry. Everything will work out. Always does.
He tells me that all the time. I don't believe him, but I like hearing it. It's better than Nate's response to bad news, which is always a lecture on what I should do.
I didn't even think to tell him about the salon. My mind immediately went to Brad instead of Nate.
"Did you hear the news?" my mom says as she storms through the door and over to me.
"April just told me."
"We're screwed." She throws her hands up. "Where the hell we gonna work now?"
"Mom, you don't know what's going to happen so just calm down."
She's been worried about this all week and drinking to calm her nerves. I haven't said anything to her about the drinking, because history has taught me that it'll just make her drink more.
"You know they're gonna fire us. That's what always happens when new owners come in. Why do you think Renee was crying at the meeting last week?" She rips her black salon apron off and tosses it on the floor. "I'm going home."
"Home? Mom, you just started your shift."
"What's the point of sticking around? Might as well go live it up with what little money we have left."
"Mom, no. Whatever money we have left has to pay bills. You're not spending it." I glance down and notice she's wearing short black boots I've never seen before. "Did you just buy those?"
"These?" She lifts her foot up and smiles. "Yeah, aren't they cute?"
"Mom! We have no money! Why are you buying new shoes?"
"Listen to me, little girl," she says, pointing her finger at me. "I am a grown woman and I will buy whatever I damn well please."
I'm so angry I can't even look at her. I turn my back to her. "I give up. I don't even care anymore."
I hear her new boots clicking on the floor as she leaves. Tears well up in my eyes and I run out the back door to get some fresh air, forcing myself not to cry.
I hear Brad's voice in my head. Everything will work out. Always does.
"When?" I shout at the sky. "When does it ever work out?"
My phone rings. I check it and see Brad's name on the screen.
"Hey," I answer, taking a deep breath.
"I know I'm not supposed to call you during work, but I was worried about you. You sure you're okay?"
"No." I swallow. "I'm not okay."
"Talk to me."
I drop down to the ground, holding the phone to my ear. "My mom left. Just walked out in the middle of her shift. And she bought new shoes. We're two months late on bills and she bought new fucking shoes!" I wipe my eyes. "I don't know what to do with her. Or my job. My life. It's all a mess."
"I know it seems bad now, but it's all gonna work out. I promise you. It always works out."
"Maybe for you, but not for me. It just keeps getting worse."
"Riley, I know you wanted to get extra hours today but I don't think you should be there right now. I'm gonna come pick you up." When I don't tell him no, he says, "Be there soon."
I go inside and tell Renee I'm not feeling well and have to leave. I should stay and work the extra hours, but I'm too upset to be here right now.
Brad arrives, pulling up in back so people won't see him. I get in his SUV and we take off.
"See? It's just like I said." He smiles. "Everything worked out."
I give him my 'you're crazy' face. "Nothing is worked out. It's a total disaster. My mom and I are going to lose our jobs. Our bills are overdue."
"And you're spending the afternoon with me. You kept saying we wouldn't get to be together this week. But here we are, just the two of us."
"Only because I left work."
"Just take it for what it is. You wanted something, and it happened. Forget about how or why."
I turn to him, a smile forming. "Are you sure you and Nate are related?"
"Yeah. Why?"
"He'd never do something like this. He'd tell me I should stay at work and then go home tonight and start applying for jobs. He'd even send me links to the jobs he thinks I should apply for."