Five years after a betrayal that tore their world apart, Dime and Trevon's paths cross in unexpected ways. As attraction blooms in the shadows of their complicated past, they must face secrets that could change everything. In a world where trust is...
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5 YEARS LATER LETOYA DIME CELESTE
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Dime swept the last strands of hair off her client's shoulders, giving a satisfied nod as she admired her work. Her client grinned back, thanking Dime for the hundredth time, "Yo hands really gifted Dime, I can't wait till yo ass open up ya own shop"
"Girl, you and me both," Dime replied, chuckling as she helped her client out of the chair. "One day soon, watch. It's gon' be the spot all tha bad bitches come to. Tae aint gon have shit on me" She chuckled while handing her client a mirror, watching with pride as the woman admired her hairstyle.
The client smiled, tilting her head to get a better look. "I believe it, girl! Soon as you open up, I'm bringing everybody I know." She grinned, then grabbed her purse. "My old sneaky link coming over tonight, fresh outta prison, I hope he don't fuck up my hair"
"Jayda..... whattttt?"
Her client laughed, tossing a playful glance at Dime. "He did a 5 year bid, I know that dick finna go crazyy, girl. Five years locked up? He gon' be ready to tear me up," she said, laughing as she ran a hand over her freshly styled hair.
Dime raised an eyebrow, shaking her head in mock disapproval. "Girl, you better watch yourself. Don't let him mess up all my hard work na." , "Do I know this gentleman?" She continued, smirking as she wondered what Detroit nigga her client was fucking on now.
Jayda's smile grew wider, clearly enjoying the little intrigue. She leaned in closer, as if she was about to share a secret. "Oh, you might, girl. I think he used to roll with ya brother before that big ass robbery happened"
Dime's heart skipped a beat. Her hands, which had been tidying up her station, froze for a moment. She forced a smile, trying to keep her voice casual. "Wait... you mean Trevon?"
Jayda nodded, a sly grin spreading across her face. "Mmhmm. Trevon, girl. He out now, I remember him and yo brother Trey used to be real close, where yo brother at now? Aint see boy in a minuteee"
Dime's heart pounded as Jayda's words settled in, stirring up feelings she thought she'd managed to bury. Trevon was out. The same Trevon who had been as close as a brother to Trey. The same Trevon who'd been locked up right around the time Trey disappeared from their lives without a trace, leaving only vague warnings not to look for him.
She forced herself to keep her tone light, though her voice betrayed a slight tremor. "Yeah... Trey. He... he moved with his dad a while back. We don't hear from him much these days." She hated how fake her voice sounded, but she couldn't reveal the truth-not when she didn't even know what that truth was herself.
Jayda, unaware of Dime's unease, grinned as she flipped her hair over her shoulder. "Girl, well, if he ever comes back to town, tell him I said 'Hey,'" she teased, tossing a wink before heading out of the shop.
As soon as Jayda left, Dime locked the door, her hands shaking slightly. She hadn't allowed herself to really think about Trey in years. Mama kept praying, clinging to hope that he was safe somewhere, maybe even just lying low. But Dime had never bought into that idea; she had mourned him in her own quiet way, grieving the brother who had left without a word. She had always feared that whatever trouble he was in had swallowed him whole.
And yet, as much as she missed him, it was hard to summon pure sympathy. Trey hadn't just disappeared from her life and Mama's; he'd walked away from his own son, too. Kaden was four now, with his daddy's same curious brown eyes and the same sharp smile. It was Dime who'd been there for every scraped knee, every sleepless night when he had fevers, and every question he asked about why he didn't have a daddy like the other kids. She'd never been able to give him an answer.
The sadness she carried for Trey was complicated by the anger she felt for Kaden, who deserved a father who was present. Trey wasn't just her brother anymore-he was someone who'd chosen to leave his family behind, even his own pregnant girlfriend at the time, and hadn't looked back.
Dime swept the last stray hairs into a neat little pile, glancing around the shop one final time. It wasn't hers-not yet, anyway-but her rented booth felt like her little corner of the world, her piece of control in a life that often felt unpredictable. She flicked off the lights at her station, slipping her supplies back into her bag as the soft hum of the city filtered in from outside.
The news of Trevon's release kept circling in her mind. She'd always thought he was a little cute back in the day, with that little smirk and the way he'd lean against her bedroom door, bothering her for no good reason anytime he came over. But he'd always been trouble, and more importantly, he'd always been tied to Trey, who had vanished without a word, leaving her family full of questions and emptiness.
Dime had stopped letting herself wonder too much about Trey; wondering got you nowhere when there were no answers. But maybe Trevon... maybe he'd know something. Maybe he'd be able to fill in the blanks, tell her why her brother had left, or if he even knew what happened to him.
With a final look at her booth, Dime grabbed her bag and headed for the door, the darkened shop silent behind her. Locking up, she stepped out into the cool Detroit night, wondering how she would be able to reach Trevon and question him about Trey's whereabouts.
