Breakthrough

Not Your Typical Tuesday

It was Tuesday. Tuesdays were for gel manicures at four and trips to Target at approximately seven followed by a dinner at my parents for a weekly check in. I was on the verge of twenty four, still single, and living in my grandmother's old house.
I was on the way to the nail salon my mother called me asked me whether I owned a pair of nude flats and when I told her no she gasped as if I had just gave away her favorite pair of pearl earrings. She then continued to tell me that every woman my age should have a pair of nude flats, in fact I should have purchased a pair six months ago. And of course she went on to tell me that not owning a pair of new flats was the reason I was still single, and my favorite past times included going to Nordstrom and Sunday brunch by myself. As I arrived at the salon I found that my usual parking space was taken up by some rather large SUV. It was a car that I'd never seen as the salon and it was in MY parking space. It was quite obvious whoever this woman was she did not know her place. As I walked in hearing the door chime I quickly noticed Michelle wasn't there. Michelle has been my manicurist for the past three years now and we have become great friends. As she clips at my cuticles and lacquers on layers of yellows, pinks, and glitters we talk about the latest issue of Cosmo and who is going to be on the front of Vogue next month. I guess you could say we are friends. And let's face it she's probably the only one there that can hold a steady, relatively enjoyable conversation in that entire salon. Walking up to the front desk I was greeted by Pauline, the receptionist.
"Hello Miss Sophie!"
"Hi, Pauline, ummm where is Michelle?"
"Oh, Ms. Michelle is with another customer right now. But you can go and sit in your regular chair. She is back there!"
"Pauline. You know I get gel mani and eyebrows on Tuesdays at four. It's now ten after four and she isn't done? You know. Michelle knows. Everyone knows!"
"I'm sorry Miss Sophie, but I can have Roger do your gel today." She sighed as I looked down at my watch noticing the time again.
"No, no Pauline it's fine. I will just go and wait for Michelle and be late for dinner"
"Yes Miss Sophie! You go head and pick your color!" She said excitedly as she directed me toward the wall lined with an array of colors and tones. It was mid-January and I decided to go with an eggplant color. It was a tad dark and rich. The same way I like my coffee and my men. And now, I guess you could say my nail polish. After picking out my color, Pauline directed me to a station in the back where I saw Michelle laughing at the woman's jokes. How dare she laugh at her! I could only imagine the woman. That bitch. She was probably a mom whose children were enrolled in some prestigious Catholic school, her husband some business man, rich, very very rich. And she was a woman who drove that SUV parked in my spot who helped out with Cotillion, had a personal trainer named Enrique. Oh, and her personality was probably as bland as nursing home roast chicken sprinkled with a hint of pretentious bitch. That sounds about right. But as I came in front of the chair where the woman sat with her feet propped up, she was not a she. She was a man. He was a man. A man had taken my parking space and my manicure time.
He sat there preoccupied with something on his phone not even bothering to look up at me. The man had a toasted complexion that was sprinkled with a light layer of freckles. He wore a pair of dark gray mesh shorts and a loose fitting gray tshirt. Gray on gray. Who does that anymore? It's not 2007!
"Miss Sophie! How are you? You picked your color? Mr. G will be done in just a moment." He looked up at me, finally acknowledging my presence and reached his hand out toward me. I looked at his hand that was in need of hand crème and clippings around his cuticles with disgust.
"I guess you don't do handshakes?" he questioned
"Not particularly with strangers. Especially with those who take my parking spaces."
"Well, I'm just about done and then you can-"
"No, no, you are fine. I just thought that you would be a little more considerate of a girl's Tuesday routine!"
"Well, I'll just make sure to think about that the next time now won't I?"
"You know what, it's fine. Michelle! I'm going to have to come back some other time when people learn to shut their mouths!" I said giving her the nail polish and storming out of the salon to my car. I had never gotten so angry like that in front of Ms. Michelle of Pauline like that before. I was a mess. My nails were atrocious, the Florida humidity was getting to my hair, and I was in need of something pretty and alcoholic. If my mother saw me like this she would cut me off in a split second. Digging in my bottomless purse I found my cell phone and decided to call my mother and tell her I was feeling a bit under the weather as I drove to the Bungalow that was nestled between a Vespa shop and a coffee bar. It was a Tuesday and the parking lot was pretty vacant as it should be. I mean it was Tuesday for goodness sakes. As I hopped out of my car and took a seat I put my head on the stained wooden bar. I didn't even care that I had set my $2500 Louis on water rings left from the people before me. Today was shitty. As I kept my head down I began to feel my phone vibrate.
"Ma'am? Are you gonna get that?" I heard a woman's voice ask me.
"Honestly, if it's that important they'll call back" I said picking up my head.
"Well, why you wait can I get you anything to drink?"
"Actually, that would be great. And let's make that drinks. I like go all out. If I'm going to regret one in the morning might as well regret four." The woman began to chuckle under her breath as she nodded her head in agreement.
"So what can I get you?"
"I want the prettiest pink drink you have on the menu."
"I think that would be the Barbie? Right Becs?" A familiar male voice says behind me.
"I'll have to agree with you on that Mr. G." the woman said smiling at him. I turn around to see just who I got away from. Gray on gray. Parking spot, mani stealing, Mr. freaking G. He took a seat in the barstool next to me and propped his head up on his hand looking at me.
"You know I came here to get away from people. And those people included you." I barked.
"Have you ever had the Barbie?"
"Quit trying to change the subject. I'm still mad at you."
"You don't even know me. Becs, we'll have two Barbies. Can you make mine with extra lime?" The woman nodded at him and scurried off before I had a chance to open my mouth and object.
"How do you know I'll even like it?" I glared at him.
"You wanted something pretty and pink. Well guess what the Barbie is just that. It's got rum, vodka, pineapple juice, Sprite, and cranberry juice to give it that signature Barbie pink." He said shooting a quick wink and a snap toward me.
"Was that supposed to sell me?" I laughed
"I mean I thought it would've like halfway through my spiel but when I saw that wasn't working I knew the wink would be the true seller."
"Did you major in marketing and pain in the ass?"
"No, unfortunately I didn't. I actually majored in physical therapy." He said while grabbing his drink that Becs placed on the counter.
"Same! Well, it's my last year" I said while stirring my drink with the thin black straw.
"No. Little Miss Gucci? You? But what about nails on Tuesdays?"
"I manage my time Mr. G. You wonder why I got so mad when your pedicure was cutting into my mani."
"Well, Miss Gucci I will definitely remember for next time. Maybe I can give you my number so you can remind me of such things."
"Haha, you think your slick don't you?"
"I try my best" he said smirking and finishing off his drink.
"Well Mr. G why don't you keep enlightening me on this fine Tuesday as I should be paying a visit to my mother but instead I'm stuck here with you."
"Please don't act like I am keeping you here Miss Gucci, if you have to go please. You are in my neck of the woods."
"The last time I checked this was a public place Mr. G."
"And so is the nail salon. Just sayin'." I could feel my eyes beginning to roll into another galaxy when I decided to take a deep breath and just breathe. Just for a moment.
"You know what, since it seems like I'm going to need to down a few more of these fruity pink things before going home and you're not going anywhere any time soon let's start over. I'm Sophie." I said holding out my right hand.
"Jackson. But I thought you didn't like handshakes?" he said with confusion.
"Let's just say this time Jackson, I'll make an exception." I said as he put out his hand grabbing mine nodding his head.
"I'm glad to be the exception."