Chapter 29: Call Me.
Sophia stepped back, scissors in hand, and surveyed her work.
She had spent the last thirty minutes shaping, trimming, and blending. Layers that framed his face. Clean lines around the ears. Just enough length on top to style without looking like he was trying too hard.
Liam had sat perfectly still the entire time. No squirming, no checking his phone. Just the quiet rise and fall of his chest and the occasional flicker of his blue eyes in the mirror.
Now, she reached for a small hand mirror and held it up behind his head.
"Take a look," Sophia said.
Liam raised his eyes to the main mirror and stopped.
The man staring back at him was not the same man who had walked in thirty minutes ago.
His blonde hair no longer hung over his forehead like a warning sign. It was clean and sharp. The kind of haircut that gave the illusion of having his life together even if that was a complete lie. His jaw even looked stronger but this could very well be an optical illusion as his cheekbones more defined as well. The dark circles under his eyes were still there, but somehow, the haircut made them look like intensity instead of exhaustion.
Liam tilted his head left and then right.
A slow smirk spread across his face as he couldn’t contain his excitement.
"10/10!" he announced, loud enough that the blow dryers seemed to pause. "Sophia, you are a miracle worker!"
A few customers glanced over. The stylist who had been braiding hair laughed quietly. Sophia’s cheeks flushed, but she couldn’t stop the smile that spread from ear to ear.
"You’re so dramatic," she said, shaking her head.
"I’m just being honest." Liam turned in the chair to face her. "There’s a huge difference."
"Dramatic and honest. That’s a dangerous combination."
"Is that the way to your heart, perhaps?"
Sophia rolled her eyes, but the smile didn’t budge. She reached over and brushed a few stray hairs from his shoulder, her fingers lingering for just a moment longer than necessary.
"Don’t let it go to your head," she said. "The haircut, I mean. Not your ego. Your ego is already too big."
"My ego is perfectly sized, thank you very much."
"Uh-huh." Sophia crossed her arms. "Says the man who screamed like a wounded animal at the gym."
"That was Mike’s fault!"
"You keep telling yourself that."
Liam stood up from the chair, running a hand through his freshly cut hair. The texture felt different. Lighter. He liked it.
"So," he said, turning to face her fully. "How much do I owe you?"
Sophia waved a hand. "Don’t worry about it."
"Absolutely not." Liam pulled out his phone. "You just gave me the best haircut of my life. I’m paying you."
"Then buy me a coffee sometime."
The words hung in the air.
Liam looked at her. Sophia looked back, her expression casual but her eyes giving her away. She hadn’t planned to say that. It had just slipped out.
Liam smiled.
"That’s the second time you’ve avoided giving me your number," he said.
"Maybe I like the chase." Sophia confessed.
"Maybe I’m tired of chasing," Liam retorted.
Sophia laughed. She pulled her phone from her back pocket, unlocked it, and handed it to him.
"Then stop chasing and put your number in mine."
Liam took the phone. His fingers moved quickly, typing in his name and number. He handed it back.
"There. Now you have no excuse."
Sophia looked at the screen. A small smile played on her lips.
"We’ll see," she said. Liam still paid for her services because he had no reason not to as he could do both.
[Ding!]
[Transaction Recorded]
[Target: Sophia Reyes (Mid-Tier MILF)]
[Investment: $150 (Good banter + flirting + physical proximity + Mid-Tier quality)]
[Base Value: $4,100]
[300% Beginner Bonus Applied]
[Rebate Received: $16,400]
Liam walked toward the door richer than he had walked in, then stopped. He turned back to the salon full of women—the stylists, the customers, everyone who had been watching the exchange with quiet amusement.
"Thank you all!" Liam called out, waving. "You have a wonderful establishment!"
A few women waved back. One of them whistled. Sophia buried her face in her hands because why was he being so extra cheesy.
Liam pushed through the door, the bell chiming behind him.
The moment he was gone, the salon erupted.
Sophia’s friend—the one who had been sniping the hair—dropped the scissors and spun around in her chair. Her name was Chloe. She was dark-skinned, curvy, with a short afro and gold hoop earrings that caught the light. She had been watching the entire exchange with her mouth half-open.
"Sophia Reyes," Chloe said, pointing a finger. "What the hell was that?"
Sophia busied herself with folding the cape. "What was what?"
"Don’t play dumb with me. That man. That tall, blonde, blue-eyed, 10/10 man who just walked out of here looking like he stepped off a magazine cover."
"He’s just a guy from the gym."
Chloe stood up and walked over, arms crossed. "Just a guy? Sophia, you were smiling like a teenager at a boy band concert. I haven’t seen you that flustered since—" She paused. "Actually, I’ve never seen you that flustered."
"I was not flustered!" Sophia countered.
"You handed him your phone, babe. You never hand anyone your phone."
Sophia sighed, but she was still smiling. "He’s cute, okay? He’s a cute guy from the gym. That’s all."
Chloe grabbed her shoulders and looked her dead in the eyes. "Listen to me... Get on that. IMMEDIATELY! Do not let that man get away."
Sophia laughed. Loud and bright.
"You are such a sex freak, Chloe."
"Hey!" Chloe placed a hand over her heart in mock offense.
"I’m living vicariously through you. My husband is out of the country for two more weeks. TWO WEEKS, Sophia. Do you know what I’m doing at home? Watching Netflix and eating ice cream straight from the tub."
"That sounds like a personal problem," Sophia rolled her eyes.
"It’s a tragedy." Chloe grabbed Sophia’s hands. "So you need to go after that man for both of us. For justice, for the sisterhood, for my sanity."
Sophia shook her head, laughing. "You’re such a dweeb."
"And you’re blushing."
Sophia touched her cheek. It was warm.
"Shut up," she said, but there was no heat in it.
Chloe grinned, spinning back toward her client. "Just promise me you’ll text him."
Sophia picked up her phone. Looked at Liam’s name in her contacts.
"No promises," she said.
But she was already thinking about what to say.
