Dangerously In Love

Chapter Four

9:50 a.m. — The Experience Salon
Downtown Miami, Florida

Lani walks into Experience Salon early Saturday morning with her mom and younger brothers, Korbin and Kaiden. Like her mom told her, she had to be at the shop all day since she stayed home Thursday.

Lani covers her mouth as a yawn suddenly takes over her mouth. She's tired from staying up late the night before on the phone with Romaine and London. She would rather be at home, still in her bed but when her mom says something, it's usually set in stone.

"Go walk to the corner store with your brothers and get y'all somethin' to snack on until Daddy comes to get them," Brie says, flicking on the lights in the salon. She starts walking around the salon, turning on the speakers that are set up and making sure that everyone's station is presentable for the day. Everyone is supposed to clean their station before they leave, but sometimes they might forget something and Brie likes to make sure everything is perfect before opening. This business is her pride and joy and she wants it to be the best, which means she expects a lot from not only herself but also her employees.

There are four other stylists that Brie hired to work with her. Rania and Ericka, who also do weaves and frontals along with Brie; Deilynn who specialized in braiding and natural hair; and Kelsi who washes and colors. Lani's role in the shop is mostly the same as Kelsi; she washes hair but also braids people's hair for their weaves. She also plays the role of a receptionist- she books people's appointments and set reminders for the stylists.

Nodding her head, Lani turns back around towards the door to make her way to the store. She really doesn't want to walk with her brothers because they always wild out when they're alone with her but she knows her mom isn't about to let her walk alone, even though it's only ten o'clock in the morning and hardly anyone is out.

Before leaving Lani grabs Korbin's hand and opens the door, hearing the bells chime. Even though it's still early the sun is out shining hard as hell. Lani pushes her Fendi circle glasses over her eyes and sighs as the heat spreads over her body.

She's been outside for less than a minute and she is ready to back inside to the air conditioning already. Although the corner store is only two blocks away from the shop, the Florida sun makes walking outside feel almost unbearable.

"Can we go to Dunkin Donuts Lani?" Korbin asks, tugging at her grey biker shorts.

"Are you stupid? How are we going to get there dumby?" Kaiden questions, smacking Korbin on the back of his head. Since Kaiden slapped him hard, tears well up in Korbin's eyes and he stops walking.

Lani glares at Kaiden, sucking her teeth at him, a habit that she's picked up since moving. Everywhere she turns someone is sucking their teeth so she quickly picked up the habit of doing it too.