“Hey, girl,” my waxer Khadijah says as she always does when she enters the room for my regular Brazilian appointment. “What’s new? Oh!” She stops in her tracks and smiles at Darren. “Well, here’s one big chocolate new boo thing. Hello.”

“Oh my God,” I groan at her.

But Darren is better than me and has actual manners. He stands from his seat and offers Khadijah his right hand to shake. At the same time, he shoves his left hand into his pocket to slip his phone inside. I see the gold of his wedding band, and my heart rate speeds up for a second, but it eases when he keeps his hand in there, hidden. We definitely should have thought about this.

I exhale and try to recover that post-kiss high and smile.

“So, when did this happen?” Khadijah asks, eyeing me with deep suspicion. “And why is this the first time I’m hearing about it?”

“Because I don’t have to update you on my life every time I make an appointment.”

“Don’t you?”

I sigh, and Darren chuckles lightly.

“So, how’d y’all meet?”

“On a dating app,” Darren says.

“Don’t give her any information. She’ll only want more.”

“I will. And what was your first date?”

“None of your damn business.”

Darren opens his mouth, and I reach up, contorting my arm so I can cover it with my hand. I feel his soft laughter on my palm.

“Ma’am, they send us a survey after every appointment. Don’t make me fuck up your score.”

Khadijah’s mouth falls open. She’s snapped a blue surgical glove onto one hand, and she stops halfway into pulling the other on. “I want to be shocked and say you wouldn’t, but bitch, I know you are ruthless. Do you know she is ruthless?”

I press my hand tighter against his mouth. “Don’t talk to him. Don’t even acknowledge that he’s here.”

She laughs and shakes her head, pulling her second glove fully onto her hand. “Oh, you like him like him. I never thought I would see the day.”

I wait until she lifts the privacy screen from my lap and gets to work. She mumbles softly to herself while making sure the wax is ready. “Girl, I am shook.”

Only then do I take my hand away from Darren’s mouth.

But he grabs my wrist and kisses my palm.

And then he holds my hand while Khadijah waxes me bald, so I can be very ready for my date with him and Nadia this weekend. Test results willing.

“Any chance you’re going to buy, like…food?” Darren asks.

“Don’t be elitist,” I tell him.

“I’m not being elitist,” he says carefully, “I’m just wondering how you’re going to survive on coconut ice cream, juice, and frozen organic pizza.”