A Broken Forever(70)

I nodded, looking away from those intensely mesmerizing deep blue eyes. Picking up my comb I ran the teeth through his hair determining the style cut into place currently. All the way around it was about the same length with exception to the section of hair at the top of his head. It didn't matter what I did today, Stefan was going to leave looking absolutely incredible. The more I thought of what to do, the more excited I became to see the end result. Before I knew it, my hands were moving of their own accord to create the image painted into my mind.

With the razor I focused on the sides and back, trimming them up, blending them together; making sure they were visibly shorter than the top. Switching the blade for my shears, I took just a little off the length to clean up the ends and insuring it would lay the way I pictured. A few times I had looked up from my work and caught Stefan's eyes locked ceaselessly on my face, curiously watching what I did. Neither of us spoke a word, though. The silence wasn't awkward, it was comfortable and it allowed my nerves from earlier fade away. This was what I knew how to do, and it didn't matter if Stefan's presence was off-putting. When I was in the zone, nothing could distract that.



       
         
       
        

As the look finished up I knew I had to apply product in order to show everything I had envisioned. I returned the shears to their place and tried to clear away the dryness in my throat so it didn't crack embarrassingly as I spoke.

"I'm just about done but I would like to use product to complete the look, if that is okay with you."

Stefan nodded once, watching me with a newfound fascination. Maybe he was somewhat impressed since he had never seen me do hair before. It was also very possible that he had been able to receive an entire haircut without me screaming at him.

"Do you use a specific brand of gel?"

"No, I usually just pick up whatever I think is going to be best at the time."

I nodded, reaching for the product I believed would best suit his hair, and this cut. "I'm going to try out American Crew© Fiber, it is a molding cream that works with all lengths and will help keep the fullness of this look in place. It's very easy to put in too. I know one of the biggest concerns men, and women, have about using a product is that they will get home and find it much more difficult to recreate than the stylist made it seem. They end up spending twice the time, using double the product and are still not satisfied with the end result."

For the first time the corner of Stefan's lips turned up and his eyes lit up with enjoyment, instead of the painful look in them from before.

"So, you're saying this product won't give me that problem?" Despite the hint of amusement in his voice, I remained ever the professional.

"Absolutely not, you just get some of the cream in the tips of your fingers and start working it through. Just remember you're not trying to flatten the top. So, just run your fingers through and almost work the top into a bit of a poof. This will help the hair stay in place and show off the shorter sides." I did as I had instructed him until finally I felt pleased with the appearance.

In the end it turned out exactly how I hoped; now I just had to hear if Stefan liked it too. I unclipped the cape from behind his neck, brushed a few pieces of hair onto the floor and pulled it off. Stefan stood once the cape was in my arms and moved closer to the mirror, inspecting my work. Turning his head to see the different angles and running his fingers through the top, he caught my eye in the reflection and nodded.

"Damn good job, Greyson Rose."

My entire face lit up with my responding smile. "Yeah? You really like it?"

"Absolutely." For a few passing moments we stared at each other, smiling.

I didn't know what to say, and I could feel Stefan hesitating with something as well. If I could have stopped time right now, I would. There was clearly a grander meaning behind this visit than simply getting a haircut. Until this point, I could focus solely on what was in front of me, instead of what was awaiting directly below the surface. No longer could I pretend Stefan was just another customer, and I was terrified to embark on whatever came next. 

"Well, I need to sweep up the salon and take out the trash so I can ring you out now. That way you aren't stuck waiting for me to be done in order to pay and go home."

Stefan shrugged his shoulders, and took a seat back into my chair. "I'll wait and give you a hand taking the trash out when you're done."

"Stef, please, you don't have to do that. I'll be just fine." I felt the desperation sink into my words; knowing all too well how difficult it was going to be dragging this out even longer.