“Satisfied?” she asked when she was done.
He took a look at himself in the mirror. “Yeah. I was just worried.”
“I might not like you, but I take my profession seriously.”
She started the shaver again to finish, and a couple of minutes later, she turned it off again.
“You can raise your head. It’ll feel much cooler now. It’s long enough that, if it gets hot in the garage, you can tie it back with a band. It’ll be even cooler then.” Reaching into her drawer, she pulled out a hair tie and demonstrated how to pull his hair to the crown of his head.
Calder ran his hand over the back of his neck. “Damn, that feels good.”
“You want me to leave it up or take it down?”
“Take it down. If it bugs me with my helmet on, I’d have to pull over.”
Crazy Bitch took off the cape, brushing his shoulders off to remove the tiny hairs.
“You did a great job. Thanks. How much do I owe you?”
“No charge. I’ve already closed down the register for the night. You can catch me next time.”
Calder nodded, becoming tongue-tied. “I wish you would let me take you out some time. We could do a movie or whatever you want. We don’t have to hang out at the club if you don’t want to.”
“No. Sam and I are getting serious. I don’t cheat on someone when I’m in a relationship with them.”
Calder didn’t miss the dig she made at him.
“I admit, I was a fucking asshole back then. We could have had something good, but I was an ass and jerked you around. You didn’t deserve it. I wish you would give me another chance.”
Crazy Bitch threw the cape in a hamper then started sweeping the hair off the floor. “You know, my dad asked me for a second chance after he begged me to meet him. Never saw the fucker again, even though he lived five miles away. Then my mom told me she quit after every time she used, right up until the night I tucked her ass in bed and she didn’t wake up.
“I gave you a chance, although I knew you were using. Instead of meeting me after making me horny as fuck, you gave it to Candi in the parking lot of my club. Then you decided, when you were finally high enough to fuck me, you would come knocking on my door.”
“I—”
Crazy Bitch raised a hand to stop him then continued sweeping. “I gave Joker a chance. He decided to quit working after he moved in with me, and he liked to knock me around when I complained about the money he was stealing from my wallet. When I’d had enough of his sorry dick, he nearly killed my crew and Lily. So, you see, Calder, I just don’t have any more second chances to give anyone.”
He stared at the woman whom he had always assumed just had a chip on her shoulder and didn’t take crap from anyone.
“I can understand.” Calder nodded. “I’ll leave you alone. See you around.” He turned toward the door then paused. “Can I ask you a question?”
Crazy Bitch brought her hand to her hip in an aggravated stance. “What?”
“What’s your real name?”
“You really want to know?” she snapped.
Calder had never been a smart man, so he nodded.
“It’s fuck you.”
4
The sound of the bell pealing through the beauty shop as Calder left had her giving up any pretense of sweeping.
“He leave?” Sex Piston asked, coming out from the back office.
“You finally decide to show your face?” Crazy Bitch snapped, resuming her sweeping.
“I was busy.”
“Doing what?”
“Counting the bank deposit.”
“If it took that long, then I need a fucking raise.”
Her best friend smiled, not angered by her snappish reply. “Why don’t you just fuck Calder and get him out of your system?”
“I’m done with bikers, especially ones like him.”
“What you got against Calder, other than he stood you up all those years ago? Damn, girl, that’s ancient history.”
“He may not be using anymore, but he fucks any bitch who steps into the club.”
“He was a horny toad when he got out of prison, but he’s calmed his roll down.”
“We’ve known Calder since we were nineteen; he’s always been a player. All the brothers are. I’m looking for something better, like a man who doesn’t straddle a bike. Sam’s got a car in his driveway. I’m not a kid anymore, and the bitches coming into the club are getting younger and younger. My ass isn’t getting any smaller.” Crazy Bitch stared at herself in the wall of mirrors facing the chairs. She tugged down her smock that covered her top. “I’m getting a muffin top.”
Sex Piston grabbed the broom from her. “Then quit eating out with Fat Louise and drink water instead of beer.”
She sank down on one of the spinning chairs. “I’m getting old.”