The Look of Love. Crystal B. Bright
“Your mother would like a word with you.”
Gunnar’s jaw flexed before he accepted the phone. The brief graze of his fingers against hers ignited a small spark in her that quickly died down as soon as he turned his back on her.
“Hey, Ma.”
Eboni tried to hear what his mother said. Queen Elizabeth couldn’t be classified as a yeller. When she spoke, people couldn’t help but to be wrapped up in her every word. From the stiffness of Gunnar’s body, he must have fallen under that same spell.
“You don’t understand.” Gunnar paused. “But I made the decision because of you and your health.” He waited again. “Yes, I know you’re a grown woman.”
Eboni snickered. When she did, Gunnar glared at her. He shook his head and paced back and forth in front of the styling chairs.
“Yes, ma’am.” He cleared his throat. “I’ll leave running the business to Eboni. I’ll take a step back.” His voice lowered. “I love you too.” He handed the phone back to Eboni. “She’d like to talk to you.”
Eboni took the phone from Gunnar. As soon as the device left his hand, he stomped to the back door and pushed his way through it on his head full of steam.
“Hey, Queen.”
“Although I appreciate you keeping me in the loop about Gunnar’s misguided plans, don’t you ever undermine him by running to me like a child.”
Elizabeth’s harsh words forced Eboni to sit down in one of the chairs. The air deflated out of her lungs and her head weighed as much as a tank.
“I thought you would want to know what Gunnar had said. It’s not right for him to try and sell the place that you worked so hard to build.” Elizabeth had to see that Eboni came from a good place with her intentions.
“Gunnar and you are a lot alike. You’re both passionate, you two want to see results, and you think you know what’s best for everyone. I appreciate both of you. If you want to be a business leader, you’re going to need to learn how to communicate with stubborn fools like Gunnar. It’s easy to lead when you have folks who are rooting for you. It’s a challenge to sway an adversary.”
As usual, Elizabeth’s wise words rang true.
Her friend continued. “Put on your big-girl panties. Apologize to my son for putting me in the middle of this and do what you two do best. In the short amount of time since you left the hospital, I doubt you two have had much sleep. Why don’t you go home and get some rest. Calmer heads will prevail.”
Eboni smiled. “Yes, ma’am. You rest your nerves.”
“Oh, no. Now I’m wide awake thanks to all this drama. I’ll see you two later. Love you.”
“Love you too.” Eboni disconnected the call and took a deep breath.
Damn Queen Elizabeth for being right. Eboni secured the shop. She locked the back door and then headed to Gunnar’s rented monstrosity.
Like before, he jumped out of the vehicle in order to open the door for her. Damn his home training.
As soon as she sat down and closed the door, she took a deep breath to apologize to him as Queen Elizabeth had instructed. Before she could get a word out, Gunnar spoke.
“I apologize for trying to take over the decisions of the salon,” he began. “As my mother so succinctly stated, this is her shop, not mine.”
Eboni liked this kinder, gentler side of Gunnar. She knew that the man still had his fighter side inside of him that he didn’t mind pulling out when needed.
“Thank you.” Eboni nodded.
Gunnar put the SUV in gear, but didn’t move. He turned to her and waited as though anticipating something.
Eboni shook her head. “Your mother told you she wanted me to apologize too, right?”
He nodded.
Busted. She didn’t think she’d done anything wrong, but she wanted to be a woman of her word. “Fine. I’m sorry for calling your mother on you. We’re both grown-ups. We should know how to resolve issues without a mediator.”
He shrugged. “You’re right.” Then he backed out of the spot and headed to the road. “And you’re not sorry.”
She started to open her mouth to refute his claim.
“You’ve apologized. But there’s absolutely nothing sorry about you.” He scanned her with a slight smile before driving back on the road.
“Did you just flirt?” Eboni crossed her arms and pressed her back against the door as he drove.
“Nope. Just stating facts. Lord knows, I don’t want to make your boyfriend jealous.” He put his hand to his chest to express sincerity.
Eboni laughed. “You are so transparent. Just ask me if I’m seeing someone.”
“I don’t care about that. Why would I care if you’re dating or married? It’s not like we’re going to date each other again.” He accelerated down the road.
“You got that right.” She glanced out the window. “Besides, I’m sure you have lots of little groupies throwing themselves at you. We love you, Guns.” She puckered her lips and made a kissing sound.
He laughed. “Really? You think I would go for a woman like that?”
“I have no idea what you want anymore.”
Gunnar glanced at her.
She finished off her statement. “And I don’t care.” In her mind, Gunnar had pushed her away so that he could go off and have a different life, one that didn’t involve her. “Let’s get through this for Elizabeth’s sake. Any problems we have, we talk about it. Agreed?”
Gunnar regarded her for a moment at a traffic light. “Agreed.” He continued on back toward his mother’s house.
“Will you turn down this road?” Eboni pointed to the right.
“Why? What’s down there?”
“The center. I want you to see what it’s like now.” She watched Gunnar shift in his seat as he kept his stare on the road. “I think if you saw the state it’s in now, you’ll feel differently about helping.”
“Or I’ll feel exactly the same.” He glanced at her when they stopped at another light.
A stray hair escaped from Gunnar’s messy ponytail. Eboni had to fight the urge to secure it back behind his ear. She shouldn’t care what he looked like or about making him happy. He certainly hadn’t thought about her when he’d left.
“But I’ll go.” Gunnar turned down the street and headed to the center. “I don’t want you thinking I’m inflexible. A lot can be said for someone who recognizes his mistakes and wants to right the wrongs of the past.”
Eboni stared at him. She couldn’t get drawn into Gunnar’s web and world again. She had no doubt in her mind that once Elizabeth got better and came home, he would be out of Virginia and back in Vegas fighting again.
Gunnar pulled into the sparsely filled parking lot of the Oceanfront Community Center. “So far looking exactly like it did when I was here.” He turned off his rental and got out first.
He crossed the front of the SUV and opened Eboni’s door. He’d been here less than a day and she’d already gotten used to him opening doors for her. That alone should make her feel uncomfortable. Eboni couldn’t get used to him and his ways. Disappointment always followed her complacency.
As he’d done before, he helped her out and escorted her over the slick terrain to the building. The automatic doors did Gunnar’s job. He allowed her to walk inside first and followed her.
The sounds of basketballs dribbling off hardwood floors