T.A. (Biker Bitches 6)

“Then I’m a better director than he is. I know who I would want to play Leon.”

“Who?”

“You.”

Dalton laughed. “No way.”

“Dad, I’ve read Mirror’s. You’re Leon.”

“You know the best part about me sticking to action movies?”

“No, what?”

“No one has to pay for a movie ticket to find out I can’t act.”

5

“Why do you always have to be late when you ask me for a ride to work, but when you drive, you’re always on time?”

T.A. gave Crazy Bitch an apologetic grimace as she buckled her seat belt.

“Sorry, I got a late start this morning. Al came over to ask me if I had any bread, and I lost track of time.”

“That’s the same excuse you used yesterday. Next time, just don’t answer the door, or just give him the damn bread.”

“I did. He just uses it as an excuse to come over and talk.”

“Then take my first suggestion and don’t answer the door.”

“I can’t. He lives next door. He’ll know I’m there and am not answering the door.”

“At least he’d quit bugging you every day.”

“It’s bugging you, not me. Don’t worry. Stud promised me I can have my car back tomorrow.”

“What was wrong with it?”

“I quit asking. I just gave him the money for the part. He’s helping me look for a cheap car that actually works. Hopefully, we can find one before the one I have breaks down again.”

“With the cash you have saved, it’s just going to be another piece of junk.”

Dismally, T.A. stared out the rainy window. “It is what it is. With my credit score I could qualify for a tricycle.”

T.A. wished she hadn’t said anything when she could hear Crazy Bitch’s teeth grinding together.

“I told you I would lend you some money to pay off your loan.”

“No thanks. I’m good.”

“You’re not good, T.A. You have to stop being a sucker for every dick that comes around you with a sob story. Bear…”

“I will—”

“No, you won’t. Calder has been helping Stud look for you too. He said the cheapest thing in town that’ll make it through the winter is going for four thousand, and you only have a couple.”

T.A. wasn’t about to admit to Crazy Bitch that she had lent five hundred to Al to pay his rent. She would have to tell Calder and Stud if they found a car, but she didn’t see that happening anytime soon. Her friends’ husbands had been looking for a while. With her luck, they would find one now, and she would be forced to admit that she lent her neighbor some of her car money.

Sex Piston gave them a harassed look when they walked in the door. Crazy Bitch didn’t have a problem throwing her under the bus to keep her own ass out of trouble.

“T.A. kept me waiting ten minutes, or I would have been on time,” Crazy Bitch explained, brushing past her to put her purse under the counter.

T.A. went behind the cramped space of the counter in the hair salon as Crazy Bitch took off her coat, motioning to a woman who was sitting in the waiting area.

“Take the chair at my station, Sue. I’ll be with you in a second. I just need to pour myself a cup of coffee. Can I get you one?”

“There isn’t any coffee yet. T.A. wasn’t here to make it.” Sex Piston turned the customer she was working on back to face the mirror as she continued blow-drying the woman’s hair.

“I’m sorry,” T.A. mumbled. She couldn’t blame her friend and boss for being aggravated. She bounced back and forth between jobs, but Sex Piston consistently hired her back when they didn’t work out.

Hanging up her coat, T.A. rushed to the coffee maker trying to redeem herself. As Crazy Bitch and Sex Piston talked to their customers, she went back to the counter and started listening to voicemails requesting appointments as she pulled up the computer screen to see what times were available.

Both hairstylists would have already typed in appointments they had personally made. T.A. keyed in the appointments the caller wanted and then double-checked with Sex Piston and Crazy Bitch before confirming.

When the coffee pot stopped dripping, she hurried back to make her friends their cups, carrying them to their stations.

She gave Sex Piston an apologetic glance that was met with an unblinking gaze. Taking it to mean she wasn’t out of the dog house yet, she asked the two women customers if they wanted coffee.

Thankfully, the morning was too busy for Sex Piston to stay angry for long. It was nearly one before they had time to take a break to eat lunch. Saturdays were usually hectic. Trying to make amends, T.A. ordered them a pizza to share.

“You order extra sauce?” Sex Piston asked, lifting the top.

“Of course, and I ordered extra bread sticks for you, Crazy Bitch.”

Crazy Bitch placed the bread sticks on a paper plate and went to sit in the chair at her station.