FIRE | H.S.

Chapter 26

   Since summer break has started, the spas have been completely booked every week so I've had so much work. Everyone is going out of town to the beach or traveling to other countries and of course, they want to look their best. Evan has been asking when I'm free to go on a date with him and to a weekend getaway but I just don't have the time. I have to divide myself between the two spas and make sure the shipments I get are the correct products I ordered.

   Not only that, but I'm still taking care of Leilani for the day while Harry works since she's now on break. I asked Harry if it was okay to bring her to work with me. He argued he could leave her with his aunt but Leilani said she gets bored there and begged him to let her stay with me. I don't have to worry much about her since I let her borrow some of the mannequin heads and she spends her time brushing their hair and doing crazy updos. She enjoys playing with those and spends the whole time focused on her hair art. I've sent Harry videos and pictures of her playing with the mannequins, and he calls to compliment her on her styling skills.

   Of course, this doesn't sit very well with Evan. He complains about it at least three times a week, and no matter how much I talk about it with him he doesn't stop, so I just tune him out now. It's easier that way.

  "How many more appointments do you have left for today?" Charles asks while sweeping his station.

   I'm finishing up a client's layers as I say, "three. A balayage, a Brazilian blowout, and a dry haircut." I am not really looking forward to the balayage. The process takes forever and this whole week it's all I've been doing.

   "Ava," Leilani comes up and gently taps my side.

   "Yes, sweetie?"

   "I'm hungry," she says. I look at the clock and see it's lunchtime.

   "What would you like to eat? I'll order it on DoorDash okay? I'm sorry I can't take you out today, honey, I have so much work." The past few days I was able to sneak out of the spa for about an hour and a half to take her out for lunch but today my appointments are back to back.

   She waves her little hand and shakes her head. "It's okay. I know balalages take sooooo loooong!" I hold my giggle at her pronunciation of balayages. It's not bad for a four-year-old. "Can we get chicken nuggets from McDonald's?"

   "Of course, let me just finish here and I'll order it, okay? Give me five minutes." She nods and skips back to her mannequin section. She's been talking to the mannequins the way we do to our clients and I must say she knows how to make conversation. This girl has not stopped talking to the mannequins all day. I should get some tips from her.

   Once I finish with Mila, I thank her and tell her she can pay at the front. I show Leilani the menu and we order food for us and Charles. I quickly clean up my area and call my balayage client.

   Twenty minutes later the food gets here and Charles gets it. He gives Leilani her food and sits with her to eat. I turn to look at them and they're both dipping their nuggets in ketchup and Leilani is telling him what seems to be a very entertaining story because Charles is barely blinking and looks quite entertained.

   I love how much Charles and Aurora enjoy spending time with Leilani and how they go play with her when they have breaks. They also teach her how to do new styles and when they are cutting hair they explain to her how to do it. Leilani, being the curious child that she is, asks tons of questions and they answer every single one. It's cute to watch. If she's not playing with the mannequins, she'll go around with the other stylist and ask what they're doing. She's a social butterfly. Everyone in both spas has been drawn to her energy.

   After two and a half hours, I finish with my balayage client and send her to the front to pay. I have five minutes before my Brazilian blowout client and I take advantage of that time to join Charles and Leilani to eat my nuggets. They've finished their food and mine is pretty cold by now but I'm starving and don't even care about heating it up. Since Charles only has one more appointment in about an hour, he's been teaching Leilani how to do braided styles. I watch them as I eat and I'm impressed at how fast Leilani learns. She really seems to enjoy styling hair.