The Look of Love by Crystal B. Bright

Eboni thought he would hit on the clients. So far, Tillman had behaved himself.
    “Gunnar, this is Tillman. He’s sort of our jack-of-all-trades. He does hair, nails, waxing. Whatever.” Eboni pointed to the man who took off his heavy leather jacket and placed it on the coat rack by his station. “Tillman, this is--”
    “Gunnar ‘Guns’ Wells! As I live and breathe.” Tillman held out his hand and brought Gunnar in for a half hug.
    “You know this man?” Shay asked as she leaned against her station.
    “You don’t? He’s only the undefeated mixed martial arts champion. He kicks some serious butt. I saw that fight with The Shark this past weekend. Actually, I missed it. I saw him when he laid that punch on you.” He pointed to Gunnar’s eye. “Then I blinked and it was over.” He laughed hard.
    Gunnar gave him a slight smile and nodded. “My mom had called me before the match and said she was in the hospital. I had to make it quick so I could come home.”
    “What a coincidence. Queen is in the hospital right now.”
    Eboni punched Tillman in the arm. “Queen is his mother. Do none of y’all listen to her when she talks about her children or even go in her office to see the pictures?”
    “I would remember seeing this cat’s picture.”
    “She has pictures of me as a teenager with shorter hair.” Gunnar jutted his thumb over his shoulder to his mother’s office.
    Tillman pointed to Gunnar. “Man, I can’t believe you’re here. So what are you doing at the salon?”
    “He’s filling in for Queen while she’s sick.” Shay shrugged and turned to her station.
    “Okay, okay. Welcome to Press ’N Curl.” Tillman nodded and went back to his area.
    “I thought men working here wouldn’t work out.” Gunnar stared pointedly at Shay.
    Shay took her time turning back to him. “People know Tillman. He grew up around here. He’s like everybody’s little brother.”
    “I grew up here.” Gunnar pointed all around the salon. “I grew up in this neighborhood and I grew up in this salon.”
    “I’ve been here for the last five years. Where have you been?”
    The question stopped him cold.
    Shay pointed at him with her rat-tail comb. “Hey, since you’re a big celebrity and all, maybe you could do a commercial or print ad or an interview to drum up some business around here.”
    Gunnar shook his head. “Not going to happen. Not my thing.”
    “Yeah, I don’t think I’ve ever seen you do an interview.” Tillman looked at his reflection in the mirror behind his station. He looked over at Shay. “He’s not a hype man like them other MMA cats.”
    Shay snickered and shook her head. “Great. He’s about as functional as a paperweight.”
    The backdoor opened again, and this time Monica lumbered inside. The short, heavy woman didn’t stop when she looked at Gunnar. She made it to her seat at the receptionist area, plopped herself down, and turned to the group.
    “Who is this? Health inspector?” She pointed to Gunnar.
    “Queen’s son.” Tisha spoke a hair above a whisper.
    “MMA champ, Guns Wells.” Tillman pumped his fist in the air.
    “Gunnar.” He approached Monica’s area and extended his hand.
    She accepted it but gave him a suspicious stare. “What are you doing here?”
    “Filling in for Queen while she’s in the hospital.” Shay sat in her styling chair and swung her high-heeled booted foot back and forth. “The great white hope is here to save us.”
    “Hey, don’t do that.” Eboni wagged her finger at Shay.
    As much as she didn’t want Gunnar there, she wouldn’t stand to have him ridiculed because of his race.
    “Is this everyone?” Gunnar asked again.
    “This is it.” Eboni walked toward the front door to unlock it.
    “Before you open the door, I just wanted to say a few things. Just one second.” Gunnar ducked back into the office.
    Eboni hurried to the area to find out what in the world he had planned. “What are you doing?”
    At that moment, she caught