Free Big Love by Saxon Bennett, Layce Gardner Page B

the shop’s mirrors.
    “You look beautiful, Nell,” Zing said. “Even more beautiful than before you lost your hair.”
    Nell blushed. “Do you think Dove will like it?”
    Carol scowled. “Who cares? You’ve never even actually met the woman and it doesn’t look like you ever will.”
    “You’re just mad because I have somebody and you don’t,” Nell said.
    “Please, don’t fight,” Zing pleaded. “This is supposed to be a good moment.”
    Miracle diverted Carol’s attention, by saying, “Wow, Carol. You look. . . hot.”
    Carol turned to the mirror and actually smiled at her own reflection. “You’re right. I don’t look half bad. Sammy, you are a genius.”
    Miracle whipped out her black American Express card and handed it to Sammy. “Give yourself an enormous tip, honey.”
    Carol pulled her wallet out of her jacket pocket.
    “Oh no, this is my treat,” Miracle said. “No arguments, either. I have three oil wells in West Texas named after me. I can afford it.”
    “Why is the card black?” Zing asked.
    “It means she’s loaded,” Carol said out of the side of her mouth.
    Zing was puzzled.
    “She means that Miracle can buy anything she wants,” Nell said. “And thank you so much, Miracle.”
    “Yes, thank you,” Carol said. “With my new do, I might even get a date someday.”
    “Oh, you will,” Miracle replied, winking at Carol. Her voice lowered to a sexy timbre as she said, “I’m sure of that.”
    Carol pretended to study the shelves of product, unable to meet Miracle’s direct gaze.
    “Is that what you call flirting?” Zing whispered to Sammy while the others examined themselves in the mirror again, mesmerized by their transformations.
    “You bet it is,” Sammy said.
    “I want to try it. It looks fun.”
    “Oh, baby girl, it is,” Sammy said.
    Zing turned back to the mirror and practiced winking at her own reflection.
     
    ***
     
    Later that night, Zing wasn’t surprised when Annabelle appeared in her bedroom.
    “Your hair looks really nice,” Annabelle said. She sat on the bed beside Zing.
    Zing self-consciously fluffed her curls. “Thank you. I was a little worried in the beginning. It was my first haircut. Sammy washed it and made it smell nice, too. Oh, and he gave me this,” Zing said, handing Annabelle a magazine.
    Annabelle looked at the cover. “Alien cats?”
    “I know, right? I have so much to learn.”
    “And remember you only have twenty eight days left,” Annabelle said. She raised her eyebrows and stared pointedly at Zing.
    “I remember, don’t worry. But that’s not much time to save Nell’s heart from that woman.”
    “You mean Dove Lance?” Annabelle asked.
    Zing nodded. “Yes. Nell needs me. Her heart is at serious risk.”
    “Yes, but if Nell is willingly in a relationship with Dove Lance, there isn’t a lot you can do about it,” Annabelle said. She touched Zing’s hair again. She seemed transfixed by it. “It’s so soft.”
    Annabelle picked up the The Guardian Angel’s Handbook where it sat on the bedside table unopened and unread. “I wish you’d find time in your busy schedule to peruse this.”
    Zing plopped backwards on the bed, groaning. “It’s so boring. I’d rather read Miracle’s poems.” She popped back up, saying, “Did you know that she intentionally writes bad poetry?”
    “I know she does. But I can’t figure out why.”
    “Because she can. That’s what she told me. She does it to piss off the literati,” Zing said.
    “What does that mean?”
    “I have no idea, but it has something to do with people who think all poetry should be done in a certain way and anything new or different is bad.”
    “I think that writers and artists should be treated nicer because they devote themselves to improving the quality of life,” Annabelle said.
    “Tell the literati that,” Zing said. “Miracle has tons of copies of her book of poetry. You want one? I can get it autographed.”
    “You mean with my name on