Book Two: Adaptation

•6•

•Abel•

•a few weeks later•

"You look like a whole new man bro" Cash laughs as I get up from the barber chair. Turning to the mirror I run my fingers through my short hair kind of amazed. It's been a really long time since I've had short hair, I've grown so used to my free-form dreads even after they became somewhat if a trademark for me.

I'm actually kind of relieved they're gone now; I feel so much lighter.

"So, what are we doing with these? Throwing them away?" Brooklyn asks holding up my dreads.

I step away from the mirror, "No, I think Cash should hold on to them"

"And put them where?" Cash laughs.

"Put them in your safe. If we just throw them out, someone is bound to find them and sell them"

"Gross. Okay but put them in a bag at least" he agrees.

Paying Brooklyn, Cash, Freddy, and I leave slipping in my G-Wagon.

"What time is that shoot with V Man?" I ask Cash while I pull my phone out to text Nava. I can't wait for her to see my hair cut. I didn't tell her it's what I was doing today.

"Two tomorrow. And the shoot for WSJ. is next week" he lets me know while I mess with my hair in the rear view mirror.

"My fans are gonna flip over my hair. Let's save the reveal for WSJ. Tease it a little in VMan"

"Sounds good man" Cash pulls his phone out.

Making it home a little later, I give Freddy and Cash dap telling them to have a good day and that I'll see them tomorrow.

Walking up the steps, I pull my key out to unlock the door. Inside, I walk through the foyer towards the living room where I find the patio doors open. Looking outside I see Nava is laying on one of the couches that sit near the pool I assume reading a book while Thursday lays beside her passed out.

For the past week I've been staying at Nava's place like we talked about and it wasn't horrible. Wesley didn't start too much shit with me, she was actually very pleasant. Now Nava is going to be here for the next week and I'm so excited to have her to myself even though I'm going to be pretty busy. Still I can't wait to come home to her in our bed. Even though she's gone back to work, she hasn't had any club jobs yet so she'll be here every night.

Shrugging my jacket off to lay it on the arm of the couch, I head outside and across the lawn.

"Hey, I'm home" I come up behind the couch and I see she's actually sleep, something she's been doing a lot of lately.

A soft smile, I lean over to gently shake her awake. "Hi" I watch her eyes widen in surprise when she looks up at me.

"Hi- wha... what happened to your hair?!" She sits up as I come around to sit beside her.

"I cut it" I chuckle leaning in to kiss her cheek. "What do you think?" I wonder.

Leaning back she stares at it in total amazement before she reaches out to run her fingers through my curls. "Just when I thought you couldn't get any sexier"

That makes me laugh, "I'm going to take that as a compliment" I take her hand to kiss her fingers.

"I promise that's what it is" she giggles.

"Then thank you" I smirk. "You been sleep out here this whole time?"

"Sort of." she continues to play in my hair. "It's a nice day, didn't want to spend it inside"