Uncaged Love #2: MMA New Adult Contemporary Romance Read Online Free Page B

to work there?”
    “Yes,” I say. “I’m just not sure why you guys would risk it.”
    “I want you there,” Colt says, and everything inside me wants to shout, YES!
    Brittany groans. “Of course.” She shakes her head at Kimi. “Just like I told you.”
    Kimi nods, but it’s a patronizing motion, like she knows it’s best just to agree with Brittany.
    “Are we here to change my appearance?” I ask. Light is dawning.
    “Bingo,” Brittany says. “They can only identify you by your hair.”
    I reach for my ponytail. I tied it back when we got on the bike. “You mean cut it?”
    At those words, Kimi comes forward and takes the end of my hair to peer at it. I’ve been trimming it myself since I’ve been on my own. She clucks in disapproval.
    “Not enough,” Brittany says. “Unless you want to go super short. I could live with that. What do you think, Colt? Pixie cut?”
    He shakes his head. “Leave it long.”
    Brittany walks in a circle around me. “Okay, then. What color? Chestnut? Black? Be fun and go with pink or green?”
    I clutch my ponytail. It’s always been a mousy brown.
    “Blonde then?” Brittany asks.
    I shudder to think of having hair like hers.
    Brittany laughs. “I didn’t think so.” She stops next to Kimi. “What do you suggest?”
    “I can do some highlights.” Kimi tugs at the strands. “She has some natural red hidden in there. Add more, maybe?”
    “More red might be fun,” Colt says.
    I shoot him a look.
    “Or maybe just highlights.” He presses his lips together to stop from laughing.
    “I know,” Brittany says in mock sympathy. “He’s supposed to love you just the way you are.” She whips around to Kimi. “Red, then.”
    The next thing I know, I’m sitting in a chair and a black kimono is tied around me. “Lean back,” Kimi says.
    Nobody’s washed my hair for me since I was a kid. It’s awkward enough without Brittany and Colt watching. I feel like my neck is in a vise as Kimi sprays warm water over my head.
    Brittany plunks down on a red sofa to wait, but Colt stays near. He thinks the whole thing is funny. “We could give you a perm and tell everybody I kissed you so hard your hair curled.”
    I try to hit him, but my elbow smacks against a cabinet, banging my funny bone.
    After an eternity that makes me feel like my neck will break, Kimi lets me up to go back to her station. In the mirror I look huge with the satin kimono over my bulky hoodie. My hair falls in fat wet strings around my face. I am the most unattractive thing I’ve ever seen.
    Brittany’s face pops into the mirror. I want to groan. I can’t believe my arch-enemy is in charge of my hair.
    “Shall we cut it?” Kimi asks. “The ends are bad.” She holds up a handful of hair like it’s Exhibit A in a murder trial.
    “Sure,” Brittany says. “Shave it off. No one will recognize her then.”
    My eyes get very big. Brittany laughs. “God, you’re so easy to manipulate.” She turns to Kimi. “Just trim it. The red will be enough.”
    I can’t believe I’m getting red hair.
    After a while Brittany decides we’re in good hands and takes off. Colt drags a chair over to sit next to me. He looks like a warrior in the delicate chair, as if it might crumble into dust beneath his weight. “I like you covered in metal and blood,” he says.
    I steal a glance in the mirror. Little bits of foil stick out all over my head. Kimi paints another lock of hair bright red and folds it into a silver square. She isn’t doing it all. In between the foil, bits of regular hair stick out like spurts from a fountain. I’ve gone from hideous to ridiculous.
    “How long until this fades?” I ask her.
    “It’s permanent,” she says. “But it will be less intense after six weeks.” She teases out another strand of hair with a spear-like comb. “I am softening the top so you won’t have terrible roots.”
    I’m relieved, since I know I can’t afford to get this redone. Although I guess if Colt