Page 98 of Hollywood

“Go?” Joyride prompted as I fell silent. “No way, man. He’s not really here for Ruby.”

“What? Of course he is. That’swhy?—”

“He’s here because you needed him. But it’s about you. It’s always been about you.”

I picked up the clippers and turned them on. I wished I was as sure as Joyride seemed to be. But Tex could have returned anytime during that three-month hiatus. He didn’t come back until he saw how overwhelmed I was with Ruby.

I trimmed around Joy’s ears and the nape of his neck, my thoughts running wild and aimless.

“Okay, I think we’re done.”

I grabbed a brush to knock any loose hair from the back of Joy’s neck, then gave him a hand mirror so he could see the back of his head in the larger mirror behind him. “Happy?”

“Yeah, that’s great.” He handed the mirror back. “Thanks.”

“I should be thanking you for keeping me busy. I hate when it’s slow like this. I get antsy.”

Joyride nodded. “Why do you think I’m avoiding home?”

“A good reason to get a job and keep it.”

He rolled his eyes. “Seriously? You’re gonna give me a hard time when I let you angst over a man who’s totally in love with you? That’s not right.”

My heart jolted. “In love—” I shook my head. “No. It’s too soon for that. Way too soon.”

I unfastened the cape and Joyride got out of the chair and turned to face me. “So you’re saying you don’t love him?”

“What? No, I…” I huffed a breath. “You’re annoying.”

He grinned. “I know. But hey, you’re the one who wanted to cast me as a little brother. I’m just playing the part.”

“Funny.”

I fetched the broom and started sweeping up hair. I was maybe a little too emphatic, because a tuft of it flew too far across the shop floor. I had to run over and herd it back like a wayward sheep.

“For what it’s worth, he seems really happy with you, Holly. I don’t think you have anything to worry about.”

“Yeah?”

“But maybe you guys should talk about it.”

“That can be tricky with him,” I said. “He internalizes his feelings a lot. He’s only recently come to terms with being with a man. I don’t want to push too hard.”

“Yeah, there’s a careful line you have to walk. I get it.”

The door chimed, and Clint entered the shop. His eyes lit up when he saw Joyride. “A new customer? Nice work.”

Joyride turned. “I was just leaving. What do I owe you?”

“Twenty should cover it.”

He fished in his pocket, withdrew a twenty, and handed it to me. “Catch you later. Thanks for the talk.”

He hurried from the shop. I found his quick exit to be surprising. Then I caught sight of Clint’s perplexed expression.

“Do I know that young man from somewhere?”

“I don’t know. He grew up in town, so maybe. His name’s Joey Whittaker.”