“Yeah, let’s go shopping,” Isy said. “I’m so excited.”

* * *

Mack and Flora waved goodbye to Isy as she was driven away by Uncle Thomas’s driver.

“Thanks for today, Flo. Isy really enjoyed that.”

“Please, thanks for your help. The decorations look the best yet.”

Mack smiled and rubbed her hand on the small of Flora’s back. “Don’t be daft. We’re here to help. Why don’t you close up, and I’ll go and get everything ready for you at the barber’s.”

Flora looked unsure. “You don’t have to cut my hair today. You’ve done so much already.”

Mack could tell it was Flora’s anxiety speaking. “Go and get locked up. It’s only me, remember?”

Flora nodded. “Okay.”

Mack hurried back to her shop. She got out lots of towels, brushes, and scissors that had been tidied away on Friday afternoon. Mack was really looking forward to this, not only because she could get close to the woman who was stealing her heart, but she didn’t get the chance to style women’s hair, apart from Isy’s, very often.

She looked around and checked that everything was there that she would need. Then she remembered. “Music, need music.” She took her phone from her pocket and selected a spa playlist to play over the shop speakers. Mack let out a sigh when the music came on.

She was actually nervous. She’d never really experienced that with anyone before. Mack generally was very confident with women that took her interest, but Flora was different.

She tapped her fingers on the headrest of the seat, then spun the chair around fast, practising for when Flora walked through the door. That move was one of her small trademarks when she recorded videos for YouTube.

Then Flora walked up to her door and came in.

Stay calm, stay cool. “Everything’s ready you.” Mack spun the chair around, but she must hast taken a step closer than usual, and the chair smacked her right in the midriff.

“Are you all right?” Flora came rushing to her.

“Ugh, aye. I just knocked the wind out of myself. That was supposed to look cool.”

Flora begun to laugh. “I know you do that in all your videos.”

“I’m glad my pain makes you laugh.” Mack pouted.

“No, I checked to see if you were okay first.”

“That’s true.” Mack straightened up. “I’ll try not to do anything cool again. Let me take your jacket, and you take a seat.”

Flora sat down and gripped the hand rests. She knew what was coming, she’d watched all the videos and imagined herself in this seat so many times, but now reality was setting in. Mack was going to touch her, and she wanted it so much it scared her.