A Broken Forever Page 3

  Unfortunately, it didn’t matter what you looked like or how much effort you put into coming off a certain way—you couldn’t fool your best friends. When I glanced back at the mirror again I saw what made them jump. Not only were there massive bags under my eyes, but the smile on my face looked almost awkward and out of place. And my eyes themselves were bloodshot, on the verge of letting out a waterfall of tears. The strange thing was, I didn’t feel as if I was about to cry. Maybe the half dozen cappuccinos I downed this morning deserved the credit for at least being the band aid that held me together.

  “Oh, well…” That was the big excuse I mustered up. Oh yeah, that will throw them off the track.

  “I’m sorry to interrupt, but Grey, your first client is here.” I whipped around to the soft voice behind me. Our sweet and fabulous new receptionist Eloise said with a smile.

  I could kiss the girl for being the needed distraction from the interrogation that was about to occur between these two. Maybe a station between my best friends wasn’t the best idea after all.

  “Thanks, Eloise, I’ll be up in a second.”

  I tried to ignore their piercing stares as I shoved my purse into the bottom drawer and plugged the straightener and blow dryer into the socket under the counter. Kari didn’t have a client sitting in her chair, so she didn’t have anything to distract her from glaring a hole through me. Not that having someone in her chair would have mattered all that much, since Kacie was applying color to a woman’s hair and still managed to make me feel good and uncomfortable.

  My eyes shifted between the two and I felt my fake smile expanding. “I’m fine,” I assured them. Although it probably would have seemed more believable had I not whipped around and ran into Tyler, Bella Donna’s only male stylist. We almost stumbled to the ground had Tyler not have reacted quickly.

  “Oh, honey, are you okay?” Tyler asked.

  I nodded vigorously and smoothed down the front of my shirt. Casting a glance from him to the girls I smiled again. “Just fine.”

  Five minutes into work and I already regretted coming in.

  The bulk of our day passed with only a few casualties. I slipped on a pile of hair on the floor that I had just swept up; got tangled in the straightener cord—still not sure how I did that. Then, to top it all off, I spilt a bowl of red hair dye all over Kacie’s leg. Thankfully nothing happened to mine or anyone else’s client, but there were still a few hours of work to go. It was a little after four in the afternoon and things were starting to slow down, but now I was completely starving. Usually I had a bag of chips shoved in my purse, but I had forgotten to bring some today.

  “You should come and get some food with me and Devin,” Kari said excitedly.

  Kari’s shift was almost over, and every day her rocker boyfriend Devin always picked her up. The two of them had been on a complete rollercoaster ride this past year, and it was good to see the waves had settled.

  “Oh, I don’t know. I’d hate to intrude, plus I shouldn’t leave your sister alone to run things,” I said, picturing all the ways I could embarrass myself in front of Kari and Devin. Right now I was a walking hazard and needed to stay here.

  Kacie laughed as she styled her client’s hair. “Trust me, Grey, I can take care of things for an hour while you go. Not to mention it might be nice to have a break from being on edge with you here.”

  My mouth dropped open and my eyebrows shot up. “What are you trying to say?” I asked, trying my best to pretend I was hurt by her accusation.

  “I’m not trying to say anything. I’m telling you that you’re a bit of a disaster today, and it might be nice to not have to keep an eye on which way the tornado’s coming. Get what I’m saying?” Kari and Kacie’s client laughed, but I just rolled my eyes and turned up my nose.

  “I am not a disaster.”

  “Uh huh,” Kacie added.

  I turned my back to her and gave my full attention to Kari.

  “I’d love to get something to eat with you and Rock God.” This was the name we lovingly gave to Devin, just like how Richard was Silver Fox. Apparently the three of us were unable to call guys by their given names.

  “Yay!” Kari plopped down in her chair and opened the tabloid magazine her client left behind and began leafing through the pages.

  “Anything good happening in the world of the rich and beautiful today?” I asked after a few minutes.

  Kari let out an adoring sigh. “There are just so many delicious men in here.”

  I laughed and nodded my head. “Always,” I said, grabbing my phone from my purse.

  There was a message waiting for me from Richard, and a sudden spike of guilt took over my heart. It didn’t make sense. I had nothing to be guilty of…right? I mean, sure, I had spent the night crying over my ex, but it wasn’t because I wanted him back. It was only because my dream mind was apparently incredibly sadistic and liked torturing me. Nothing I personally should be worried about.

  I shook off the feeling and went back to my message.

  RM: Hello Beautiful, I hope your day is going well. I’ll give you a call later this evening once you’re off work to check in. Miss you darling.

  My teeth bit down on my bottom lip to hold back the little quiver that almost escaped. What the hell was my problem??

  “Oh, here’s your boy with yet another woman,” I heard Kari say as I finally tuned my own depressing thoughts out.

  Kacie was just walking back to her station after taking her client to the front to ring her out.

  “Oh yeah, anyone good?” Kari flipped the magazine around and my cell phone dropped to the ground. I didn’t even move to get it as I was stopped dead, looking back at the same blue eyes that had haunted my dreams. There was a reason I refused to pick up and read any tabloid magazines that filled our waiting area. I didn’t want to see…him.

  Because there he was, plain as day in colored ink just a couple feet away, was the man my heart wouldn’t forget. He was dressed in a black on black tux, a slight stubble—that I knew he loved—which covered his prominent jaw and surrounded his luscious full lips. The smirk behind those impeccable, dazzling blue eyes said he loved every minute of what was happening. Once I finally was able to see past the man in front of me, I noticed the rest of his surroundings.

  It looked to be another charity fundraiser that I knew his multi-billion dollar company frequented. A mass of people surrounded him, cameras flashed from every angle, and holding onto his arm was another vixen. Skin tight dress, big boobs, little waist and a look that said ‘we had sex on the way over’ was plastered across her big red lips. My insides twisted with a strange yet unmistakable twinge of jealousy.

  “It’s just not your day is it, honey?” Tyler asked, handing me my phone and taking me out of the daze I was lost in.

  I hadn’t even seen him show up, but I was quite thankful to have an excuse to look away from the image in front of me.

  “Guess not,” I said pathetically.

  “That woman is a lucky bitch,” Kacie replied to her sister as she sat down on her chair.

  “You can say that again,” Kari added.

  “I’d have to say Stefan Harrison would be my first choice of all the celebrities to sleep with.”

  “That man is seriously walking sex,” Tyler added as he took the magazine from Kari’s hands to inspect. Tyler was an amazing friend, a talented hairdresser, and loved guys just as much as we did. Sometimes it was Ty’s word that could make or break our opinion on a potential date.

  “Hell yeah he is, but you know what?” Kacie asked, taking the magazine for her chance to ogle the man that I once called mine.

  “What?” Kari asked.

  “I’ll bet that even though he has slept with just about every gorgeous woman in the country, that he still makes time for his mother,” Kacie said in a matter-of-fact tone. Tyler and Kari let out an ‘awe’ of agreement as a very unladylike snort made its way from me.

  I didn’t mean to pitch in a single thought to this conver
sation, while I secretly begged that Devin would walk in so we could leave. The reaction just slipped out.

  “What?” The three snapped back in sync.

  “Nothing,” I quickly added before diverting all my attention down to my phone. It did nothing to distract me since not only was my phone off completely after the battery popped out when I dropped it—but they weren’t letting it go that easily.

  Kacie was the first to step in with an argument. “Oh, what would you know, Grey?!”

  More than you think.

  “You hate Stefan Harrison and have made that clear by throwing away every catalog we have with an article about him in it.” Shit. I hadn’t realized anyone noticed. At least they didn’t know the real reason why I didn’t want to hear, see or read about him.

  “And what’s your point?” I deadpanned, trying my hardest to show no interest in anything concerning Stefan.

  “I’m sure it would kill someone who hates him to think about him being not just a playboy but a mama’s boy too,” she challenged. The three crossed their arms over their chest to stand behind Kacie’s argument.

  “Ha!” I burst out. “Stefan Harrison is so not a mama’s boy. He avoided his mother every chance he had. She even had to go through me to get a hold of him. Not to mention their relationship went down the drain after they didn’t support us. Unless they somehow repaired their shithole of a relationship—then I say no—Stef isn’t a mama’s boy.”

  I turned my back to them, feeling rather victorious as I threw my phone into my purse. It wasn’t until I spun back around and saw their expressions that I knew I made a mistake. Their eyes were bugged out and their mouths hung open. Kari even had a hand thrown over her mouth for an added effect. My eyes shut and a sigh heaved from my chest. Not that this helped any to take back all the information I had so willingly offered up.

  “What did you say?” Kacie asked, making each word sound like its own sentence.

  I cleared my throat and shook my head. “Nothing.”

  “Honey, you did not just say nothing!” Tyler squealed out. “Do you know Stefan Harrison?”

  “No! Of course I don’t know him…anymore.” I made sure the last word was said just for my sake, but apparently their hearing was working overtime because they all screamed, “What?!”

  My head hung down. “Can I please not answer any follow up questions about it?”

  “Hell no!” Kacie squealed. “Here I am lusting over this man and turns out you know him!?”

  “Knew,” I corrected.

  Tyler stepped forward, his mouth hanging open as if he was trying to say something but was put on mute. “I just…Grey…you knew the sexiest man in the damn world. I need to hug you!” He flung his arms around my shoulders and squeezed so tightly, I half wondered if he was trying to reach Stefan through me.

  “When did you know him?” Kari asked sensing by my hesitation that there was more to the story.

  “In high school. It was a long time ago. I doubt he’d even remember me.” I added a forced chuckle to lighten the words, but I felt every ounce of hurt behind it. Based on the way their faces instantly switched from enthusiastic surprise to looks of embarrassment they knew a line had been crossed.

  “I’m sorry, Grey,” Kacie said, taking hold of my arm.

  “Yeah honey, we didn’t know there was a past between the two of you.”

  A past but not a future was the first thing that crossed my mind. And I despised it.

  “No, no, its fine you guys. Don’t get all weird about it. I knew him but I don’t anymore. That’s it.”

  The bells above the door jingled and I immediately whipped my head around to see who it was. Relief flooded me as I saw Devin walk—well, okay—saunter in.

  “Thank God you’re here, Devin!” I yelled out with a large sigh. Yet another thing I didn’t exactly mean to express. The six-foot tall Rock God looked from side-to-side before pointing to himself. Blue eyes lit up with amusement.

  “Was that for me?” He shrugged his shoulders as if thinking about it. “I’m good with that reaction. It’s good to see you too, Grey.”

  Kacie rolled her eyes while Tyler openly eyed Devin from head to toe. Devin’s biggest fan wasn’t his girlfriend Kari; it was Tyler, and honestly if it weren’t for Tyler, the two of them would have never met. One night Tyler needed a wingman, and they went to a bar where Devin’s band was playing, and from the moment their eyes met it was love. Even now you could see it, the way his smile spread from ear-to-ear when he looked at her. The way her entire body glowed with pure love and happiness at seeing him.

  Even though they had probably seen each other just a few hours before, she ran to him and jumped into his arms. Devin readily caught her and it didn’t matter who saw or where they were; they kissed as though they had been apart for years. The simple sight made my heart ache. I loved Richard so much that I missed him every second I wasn’t with him. But this was different. If I let myself remember the way things once were—I had once known the love they had. That—can’t eat, can’t sleep, can’t go a day without being together—feeling. I’ve had that but I mean, how healthy could a feeling like that be?

  Devin set Kari’s legs back on the ground and ran a hand through his dark carelessly gelled, perfectly styled hair.

  “Are you ready to go, babe?” Kari nodded her head and looked back my way. It wasn’t until both sets of eyes were locked on me that I realized how closely I had been staring at them. A gentle smile touched her lips as if she knew what was running through the silent depths of my mind.

  “Yeah, but Grey’s coming out to eat with us.”

  Devin looked my way with one of his crowd adoring smiles that I had seen the dozen or so times I’d seen him perform.

  “Sounds good, you can go ahead and grab your things. I’ll just be right out front.” Kari placed a kiss to his cheek before skipping back to her station.

  A tender hand pressed against my shoulder and I jumped up, startled. Kacie stared at me with the big puppy dog eyes that were famous for making me cry.

  Her voice was almost silent as she asked, “Are you okay?”

  I gave my most convincing smile as I nodded. “I’m just fine. I promise,” I reiterated before she could question me even further.

  “Alright, well, don’t hurry back or anything. I’ve got the place under control. Wendy and Lisa come in for their short shift in a few minutes, so I’ll have them, Eloise and Tyler to help out. Nothing to worry yourself over.”

  “Thank you,” I said, giving Kacie a kiss on the cheek before grabbing my purse and walking out with Kari to meet Devin.

  He smiled around the cigarette held in his lips as he saw us walk out. “Dev! I thought you said you were going to quit smoking!” Kari yelled, grabbing the cigarette from his lips and tossing it to the ground.

  “We agreed I would only smoke when I’m seriously stressed. Or drunk,” he said with a wink.

  She rolled her eyes and crossed her arms over her chest.

  “No, you said that and I told you that you might as well not try to quit at all, if that’s what you’re going to do.” A mischievous grin touched the corner of his lips.

  “Sounds like a good plan to me.”

  Kari huffed out a frustrated sigh, but didn’t press it further. I’m sure it was because I was standing right there.

  “How does Mexican sound? Kari and I found this amazing little hole-in-the-wall place right up the street.”

  I smiled with a nod. “Works for me.”

  We nodded in agreement and set off down the road. Devin took hold of Kari’s hand and then it hit me; sitting back at the salon with Stefan’s picture staring back at me was probably a much better solution.

  Kari chatted animatedly trying to include me in everything they said, but I was in another world. My mind was drifting away and only my legs followed after them. We stopped at a busy intersection and waited to cross the street. I still had no idea where we were going, but I was happy for the fresh air; that was b
ound to help clear the fog from my mind—right?

  Devin was in the middle of telling Kari about something concerning the band when I heard the sound of a honking horn off to my left, drawing my attention from the clouds. My eyes instantly found something that made my heart skip a beat. It couldn’t be…

  The same eyes from the tabloid were a mere twenty feet from me. Without a single doubt in my mind I was staring directly at the man I had been desperate to forget. Standing with a foot on the street and the other half of his body still in the car, his eyes were undoubtedly locked on me. Shock settled into his features, leaving his lips open enough for a tense breath to escape while his fingers curled around the top of the door. His hair was styled up in the front with the sides cut a little shorter, and I wanted nothing but to wrap my fingers through his thick locks.

  It didn’t make sense why he was here right now or why he was standing half way out of a car staring at me, but I didn’t care. In this moment I wanted nothing more than to run to him. Throw my arms around him, smack him, hug him, feel his hair and his chest.

  “Grey…walk!” someone yelled behind me. My legs began walking across the street, but my eyes were locked on Stefan. I was unable to blink as if my life depended on it.

  “Grey!” I heard again.

  The sound of another horn approaching made my body jump and my eyes lock onto an oncoming car. I looked just in time to jump backwards to avoid the vehicle. In my jump I landed half on the curb, causing my ankle to twist in pain and my body to fall backwards. The last thing I remember was Stefan fading from view and my head hitting the ground before everything went black.

  My eyes opened and instantly I felt the throbbing in my head. When I saw Richard’s eyes locked on mine, I tried desperately to remember where I was. As a slight recollection of the room came to me, my stomach plummeted. This wasn’t necessarily the same room I had woken up in seven years ago, but it was almost identical. I was at Richard’s hospital, and the same place I was when I was given the worst news I would ever receive. Before I could even figure out what was happening, he sealed his lips over mine. The warmth from his lips and the taste of coffee teased my tongue. I didn’t understand his intense kiss, but I had no intention to fight it. The unsettling feeling in my heart needed to be filled and I couldn’t remember why.