Arielle Stevenson, a determined hairstylist with dreams of owning her own salon, finds her past colliding with her present when NBA player Jordan Poole walks into her salon for a hair appointment. Despite Arielle's attempts to keep her distance, Jor...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
✩ 𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐨𝐧 ✩ The Curl Lounge Salon
"So, KJ was with Adrianna, but then it comes out he's also got something going on with Eboni—who, by the way, lives right upstairs. Can you believe it? He was literally hopping between their apartments the entire time!" I shook my head, amused and bewildered at the same time, as I shared the latest drama at The Curl Lounge Salon.
I've been here for over two years since moving to Washington, D.C., and let me tell you, this place isn't just where you get your hair done; it's the epicenter for the city's juiciest stories.Today was one of those rare slow days, giving us the perfect chance to dive deep into conversation without the usual interruptions.
"But wasn't KJ seeing someone from Waldorf? What's her name?" Stephanie asked, looking genuinely confused.
Halo, mid-braid, didn't miss a beat. "Yeah, he was. But come on, you really think a D.C. guy is going to seriously date someone from Waldorf? It's like they're from two different worlds!"
Raya, working on a manicure, chimed in with a gasp, "Wait, so he was cheating on her with two other girls, in the same building?"
I couldn't help but grin at the absurdity. "Classic KJ behavior," I remarked.
Moving to D.C. with Stephanie and Halo right after we all graduated from UMICH turned out to be one of the best choices we ever made. We were doing pretty well for ourselves, sharing a townhouse to cut down on expenses. For my roommates, working at the salon was just a side hustle. They had other jobs more aligned with their career paths. But for me?
This was my dream.
I've always wanted to work with hair and nails, harboring ambitions to open my boutique one day. However, between the rent, household necessities, and other bills, saving up enough to even think about starting my own business seemed like a distant dream.
Am I happy? Honestly, no, not really. But am I doing what needs to be done? Absolutely, yes.
I paused, considering Raya's revelation. "Wait, Raya, didn't KJ try to mess with you?"
Raya nodded, a smirk playing on her lips. "Oh, he tried alright. But I dodged that bullet. Besides, he's too short for my liking. You know I like to climb trees. How am I supposed to climb a guy who's the same height as me? Let's keep it real."
The salon erupted into laughter at Raya's candid remark. It was classic Raya, unapologetically picky when it came to her romantic interests, even if it meant being single more often than not.
I first met Raya when I started at the salon, and soon discovered she lived in the townhouse next to ours. As our friendship grew, Raya practically became an honorary member of our household, spending more time at our place than her own.
Stephanie couldn't resist teasing, "Raya, what if your soulmate ends up being shorter than you?"
Raya shook her head emphatically. "Oh, honey, not happening. The Lord knows my heart, and it's set on a man of a certain stature."
