TORN

NEW BOOK ALERT: Here's the first chapter Enjoy!

Zoraya

As I approached the shop I heard loud music coming from this new store next door. I rolled my eyes and continued on in my shop.

"I'm on it right now Yaya I already know what you about to say!" Taylor said laughing walking past me out the door.

"I'm glad she knows, that loud ass music is not going to work!" I said shaking my head walking over to my chair.

I hate having this hair salon in the hood because it's always some bullshit! Always! One week is ratchet ass bitches that don't wanna pay for their style because "something" is wrong with it! Or thug ass nigga attempting to run me out my own shop! I don't think so! This has been my dream since I was in high school to own my own shop! Now that I got it nobody is going to take this away from me! I'm 24 now! I want to open at least one more location because I venture off to doing celebrity hair!

Okay, maybe I should introduce myself. My name is Zoraya Moore. I'm from Atlanta, Georgia. I'm half Cuban and African American, and after graduating from Clark Atlanta University I decided to venture off on my own as a hairstylist. I've always had a passion for making other people feel beautiful! The toughest part about having your own shop is having people that you trust! That's why I'm so thankful for my bestfriends Taylor and Jayla. No matter what they always have my back! I'm so thankful for them.

"Uh Yaya, the store owner wanna meet you and apologize. He about to come over here in a second. And girl let me tell you! He is FINE. Sexiest piece of chocolate." Taylor said biting her lip grinding some.

"Pull yourself together trick. That's nasty!" I said shaking my head pulling my flatirons and pressing combs out my bag. As I set them up in order of size I heard the door chime ring letting me know someone had walked in. I turned around and smiled. Yeah he's handsome as hell.

"Hi, are you Zoraya?" He spoke in a deep tone.

I looked at Taylor and shook my head before turning my attention back to him.

"Yes I am, you must be my new neighbor." I said raising my eyebrow.

He chuckled some showing his beautiful smile and nodded his head.

"Yeah, I'm really sorry about that. I was just testing out our speakers. I just opened up at café we are going to have underground artist come and perform on certain days" He explained.

"Ah okay, that sounds cool." I said looking at him then looking over at Deja and Taylor who were in our mouths.

"How about you come to my office, I'll let you in on a couple of secrets of this neighborhood" I said smiling some.

"Sure, I'd like that" He said following me into the back where my office was.

"So, Zoraya you own this place?" He asked once we both sat down.

"Yeah, I've been here almost two years" I said to him.

"You seem pretty young to have your own business. How old are you if you don't mind me asking?"

"I'm only 24. I feel old as hell tho" I chuckled.

"I feel that! I'm turning 24 in a couple weeks" He said licking his lips laughing.

"Okay old man!" I joked.

"Yeah, feels like I'm turning 30" He said shaking his head before looking up at me.

We both looked into each other's eyes for a second before I broke the silence.

"So what's your name Mr. Café owner?" I ask raising my eyebrow.

"Oh shit, I'm so rude! My name is Bryson!" He said extending his hand towards mine.

"Bryson, that's a nice name" I said smiling softly.

"And Zoraya is unique and beautiful just like you" He said smirking.

"Why thank you" I said blushing.

"But about this neighborhood. Don't let these niggas get one over on you okay?? My Big Brother stops by often now since my shop got broken into last year, I'll tell him to keep an eye out for your café as well" I assured him.

He smiled widely and nodded his head.

"Thank you! I really appreciate it! I'm usually always gonna be in the café pretty early because of food prep so I'll make sure ain't nobody on none of that bs early in the morning" He said chuckling.

"I truly appreciate that sir" I said.

"It's no problem! But I'm actually gonna head back over there and make sure my little brother didn't burn the place down with all those wires! You and your friends should stop by for lunch for something later on. I'm a good ass cook" He admitted standing up. I stood up and smiled.

"Sure, I don't know how many clients they have today but I'll make sure I stop by later for lunch" I smiled.

"Sounds like a plan Neighbor" He said smiling.

We both headed out towards the front, he said goodbye to Dej and Tay and left out.

Once he was gone they looked over at me with these smirks.

"That was a quickie" Dej said before sticking her tongue out.

"Bitch! What? No we just talked! I got a nigga anyway" I said rolling my eyes at them walking back to my chair. I sat down and heard Taylor smack her lips.

"Weak ass Vaughn? I'm screaming!" Taylor yelped before cracking up.

"I hate y'all hoes. Y'all know that's Bae" I said sitting down in my chair opening my appointment book.

"Sure, Vaughn is a dog and you know it Yaya! Stop being so damn naïve!" Dej said shaking her head.

"Okay he and I have had our ups and downs, but he's still here! If he wanted to leave he would have done that!" I admitted looking up at them.

"Girl, once a dog always a dog. You need something new and not light skin. Those light skins are the devil I swear!" Taylor said laughing walking towards the back.

"No but seriously Yaya, I'm tired of you crying over this man. He should have been married your ass, but he still thinks he's 19 and shit. Childish ass. You need to leave his dusty ass alone." Dej said walking over to me sighing.

"I know y'all tired of our love story, but that's been all I've known for YEARS! Trying something new is going to be hard for me!" I admitted biting the inside of my lip.

"Your perfect guy is gonna come along Yaya we all know you deserve that. Just wait" Dej assured me hugging me.

"Thank you Bestfriend" I mumbled against her shoulder.

She's right. It is time I leave Vaughn ass alone, but am I really ready to start the whole dating thing again?

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Hey y'alllllllllllllllllllllllll. This idea came to me in my sleep lmao. I absolutely adore Bryson Tiller and I'm excited for this book! My goal is to capture Trapsoul and do it justice. Trapsoul is a CLASSIC. I'm always gonna use some of Tiller's old songs from back in the day as well. So yeah, I'm excited.

Please tell your friends about this, add it to your reading lists!

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- Lou