Fierce Salon, Episode Four: A New Adult Smexy Serial Read Online Free

without a cigarette and I want to kill someone.
    If there wasn’t so much drama in the salon today to keep me distracted, I probably would have pulled out the emergency cig I’ve got stashed in an old M&M’s Minis container. I cut off half the cigarette so I couldn’t smoke a whole one but that nub has been calling out to me all damn day.
    I’ve been chomping on hard candy since I woke up but that only keeps me satisfied for a few minutes at a time. I hope Greg likes chubby girls because with the way I’m inhaling sugar, I’m going to be fat and/or diabetic by the time Saturday rolls around.
    Not only that, I think I pulled out a filling because my back left molar hurts like a sonofabitch. I’m just about to pull into the Jamba Juice by my house when my phone rings. It’s my mother. The perfect ending to this shitty day.
    I answer and try to sound human. “Hey, Mom. How are you?”
    “I’m good, darling.” She sighs loudly. “You know I’d be better if I had a wedding to plan.”
    “Seriously, Mother? Is that the only reason you call anymore?”
    “Honey, I’m just worried about you. You’re not getting any younger and there is more competition for the good men every day.”
    “I’m fine, Mom. I’ll bring someone to your Christmas Party. I promise.”
    “You know it’s more than that.” She laughs like it’s not true but we both know damn well it is. “I just want you to be happy and I know how hard that is for you when you don’t have a man in your life.”
    She might as well be talking into a mirror. My dad left her when she turned fifty and she seems to think that if I wait a day past thirty to hook myself a good one, I’ll be a spinster for life. She might be right based on my recent track record. Although, there is Greg.
    “Actually, Mom, I’m seeing a new guy.” The fake cheer is replaced by actual fondness when I think of him. “He’s a really great guy. I think you’ll like him.”
    “Really?” I can just picture her bouncing in her seat. “When can I meet him? Maybe lunch on Saturday?”
    Lunch on Saturday? This woman is on crack. I’m not even seeing him again until dinner on Saturday. Maybe bringing him up wasn’t such a good idea.
    “No, he’s busy this weekend but maybe in a few weeks. Give me some time to make sure there’s something there before you start planning the reception menu.”
    “You better not be getting my hopes up for nothing, Olivia.”
    “I’m not, Mom.” I so am. I haven’t even been on a single date with the guy and he hates smokers and I’m not sure I’ll make it to bed without my half stick. Fuck me. “If things seem serious between us, you’ll be the first to know. I gotta run. Love you.”
    I hang up before she can say another word. My phone rings once while I’m waiting for my Caribbean Passion smoothie but I hit ignore and continue to read the nutrition chart on the wall. Who knew there were so many calories in a fruit smoothie. Is nothing truly healthy in this world?
    ~**~
    I’ve been home for an hour and I can’t stop twirling that stupid candy container around in my hands. I really think I should just smoke the half cig in there and be done with it. I’ve done great today and a few hits seems like a fair reward.
    I pop the plastic top off the container and inhale the delicious scent of tobacco. It’s just a stump…
    Before I can pull it out, my phone rings again. It’s a local number but not one in my contacts so I debate whether or not to answer. In the end, I hit the green button and grunt into the receiver.
    “Yeah.” I almost hope it’s a telemarketer so I can bitch someone out. I’ve been holding my tongue all day and I need to unleash.
    I hear a chuckle on the other end of the line before a throat clears. “Wow, you sure know how to greet a guy.”
    “Greg?” My voice squeaks and I sit a little straighter on my bed. “Hey.”
    “Am I disturbing you?”
    “No, not at all. I’m just sitting around.” And trying