Page 5 of Hollywood

It was the only time he brought up my status as an ex-con. He’d treated me as an equal ever since. I’d stay at River Town Barbershop until the day Clint kicked me out.

My graduation from the Redemption Road program would come in a few months. Clint might decide he couldn’t keep me on. But I’d cross that bridge when I came to it.

For now, I counted myself lucky.

A hell of a lot luckier than some of the ex-cons in the program. Joyride was going through jobs like they were soda pop. And Tex never could find a good employer. The last one, Sauced Pizza Parlor, had fired him because a customer didn’t like a felon working there. Maybe if they hadn’t, he’d have stayed in Riverton.

But no, there was no point going there. He’d left, just as he’d said he would.

Run away from me.

His sister needed him. He went to help her.

That was the story he’d given the other guys in Redemption Road, anyway. Knight, Ghost, and Joyride had gone over to see him in Hayworth, a college town about an hour’s drive from here. They’d said his sister’s ex was giving her trouble and Tex had gone to handle it.

I didn’t know what to believe.

That night behind his apartment, with the heat of his mouth lingering on mine, I’d been certain he was runningfrom me—not toward something else. Could I really have been so self-centered to have missed the truth, or was helping his sister just a convenient excuse to get the hell away from me?

I’d probably never know. I’d seen Tex a couple of times since then—only as part of a larger group—and we hadn’t talked. Mostly, I’d glared while he did his best to avoid my gaze.

He’d been gone three months. He was clearly never moving back, so there was no point dwelling on it.

I drew a breath and returned my focus to Ed, who was standing up and rubbing a hand over the jaw I’d shaved for him.

“Well, now, you did a real nice job, Hendrix,” he said. “Best shave I’ve had in a while. I feel like a new man.”

I smiled. “Good. Maybe you won’t keep me waiting so long for your awesome company next time, huh?”

He ducked his head. “I’ll try to get back in sooner.”

“Good man.”

I retrieved the broom while he settled up with Clint. The man shouldn’t even be here today, but he could never stay away. He worked Saturdays, and I covered the shop Mondays—but he always showed up eventually and hung around shooting the shit with customers.

“Here.” Ed slapped a five into my hand. “A tip for all the extra cleanup you had to do.”

“Thanks, Ed.”

I pocketed the tip and swept up the loose hair on the floor. It was near closing time. The sooner I got the station cleaned up, the sooner I could head over to the Clover Leaf Mobile Home Park to meet the guys for a beer.

“Good work today,” Clint said as the door closed behind Ed. “You handled a lot of walk-in business.”

“That’s why I’m here.”

“Yeah, about that…”

My stomach tightened with dread, and I looked up.

“Well hell, son, don’t look so worried. This is good news. I’m trying to give you a compliment. I’m real glad you’re here.”

I expelled a breath. “Me too. I really like this job.”

“You’re a natural.” He took a seat in the second barber chair, grunting as he lowered himself. He was well into his seventies. “I know you went through barber schooling, but there’s more to it than knowing how to use scissors and clippers. It’s about listening to folks. Giving them a sympathetic ear. Not so different from a bartender.”

“Guess not,” I agreed.

We were a captive audience, and some people didn’t have anyone else to talk to about their promotion at work, their kid’s art project, or the shitty deal they were handed when their company downsized.