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Natalie knew she must have annoyed someone in a past life. That must be it, no other solution, she thought as she hopped in her car, raindrops beginning to fall. They raced in small lines on the windshield in the brief pauses between the wiper’s rhythmic moves. She stared at them for a moment before letting out a sigh and turning the car on to exit the parking lot.
It had been a long day at work. Meetings at ungodly hours, her computer on the verge of death, and having to master a professional smile with the colleague she despised. But she’d insisted it was all worth it, because at five thirty she was sat at her friend Brianna’s hair saloon for her monthly appointment. Scented products applied by delicate hands and the temperature of the water just right had released all the tension of the past few weeks. And, because she could, she decided to treat herself a little more, adding a manicure.
The peace of mind that she felt at the end of her treatments was immeasurable. Her head felt light as she walked towards the door of the mall, picturing a chill night with both her boys in town -a small miracle, especially in spring. Not to mention the delight on their faces every time she came home with the new hair and nails. The hype they covered her into just made her love them more.
But the peace of mind came to a premature death once she was outside and noticed dark clouds approaching. She quicky got into her car to avoid getting her hair wet—her new hair, just done, fukering fuck. The tiredness she’d felt all day was back in a second. She dreaded the small distance she’d have to walk from the parking lot of her building to the apartment.
With a quick on my way on the group chat with Kasey and Alex, she started the car.
Halfway home, Natalie understood that there was no way of not getting her hair wet. It was pouring cats and dogs, big drops falling horizontally because of the wind and making her squint to see the road in front of her. Always keep an umbrella in your car, Lily always told her. Well, Lily was right, good for her.
She wouldn’t even have the chance to show her boys the new look, she realized miserably.
Once in the parking lot, Nat stopped the car and studied the distance between her and the dry safety of the building’s entrance. And the only empty spot was the farthest from the door, dammit. Okay, Darcy, keep it together. A small run and you’re home. She let out a redesignated sigh, her hand about to open the car door, when she spotted him.
Alex was running towards her, a big umbrella in one hand and a plastic bag in the other. He was wearing Kasey’s Lions’ t-shirt with a pair of sport short, his flipflops to complete the look. He made a quick jog in her direction, stopping in front of her and opening the car door. He held his hand out for her to take.
Natalie blinked.
Alex grinned. “Hiya, gorgeous! Woah, look at you! You look amazing.”
“Alex?”
“Oh, yeah, right, I saw the rain and then I remembered you had your hair appointment today. We couldn’t possibly get your new hair wet, right?”
“Oh my God,” she laughed. She was about to say ten different things, all sounding like thank you, I love you, you didn’t have to do that. But all that came out was “What’s with the plastic bag?”
Alex’s smile grew, a hint of pride in his grin. “Oh, see, the rain is falling sideways. So, I thought, maybe the umbrella won’t be enough. Put it on your head, c’mon.”
Natalie blinked again, before bursting out in a loud laugh.
“What, it’s an incredible idea! You’re just jealous you’ve never thought about it!”
Natalie was still laughing as she adjusted the supermarket bag to cover her hair and secured it with a knot. After a quick look in the mirror to check her hair was entirely covered, she took Alex’s hand. His eyes widened as he noticed the new nails, bringing her hand closer to study them.
"Nat, your nails too? They're beautiful. I like the glitter."
At that, Natalie distinctly heard a ring in the back of her mind, accompanied by the word jackpot. A wave of overwhelming affection made her breath come out shakily as she registered how lucky she was to have someone like Alex in her life. Someone who would wait for her to come home, remember her appointments, compliment her for the new look -even if the hairstyle never really changed and she hit the saloon once a month. A grown man so smitten to run for her in the rain and to think of a plastic bag not to have her hair ruined. Jackpot, jackpot, jackpot.
She jumped off the car and laced her arms around the boy’s neck, tilting her chin up for a deep kiss. After the initial surprise, Alex’s free arm circled her waist, and he made sure the umbrella was covering them both. They stayed like that for a while, kissing and letting the sound of the rain around them isolate them from the rest of the world. When Alex gave her one last kiss, he was smiling into it.
“Such a hopeless romantic,” she breathed against his lips. “I love you so much.” Her waist received one last soft squeeze before Alex released her with a dopey smile. He closed the car’s door and offered his arm to Natalie, who rested her head on his shoulder as they made their way to the building.
Once they were inside, Alex closed the umbrella as Natalie took the plastic bag off. The redhead studied her for a moment with serious eyes before announcing “All dry. Mission accomplished.” That earned him another kiss.
They climbed the stairs with their hands swinging in between them. Their apartment door was already open. They found Kasey in the kitchen, pouring tea into three mugs. His hair was all messy, a grumpy look on his face. Just woke up from a nap, then, Natalie thought. But when he saw them coming from the hallway, he smiled, extending one arm for Natalie to take. She took it and let him make her spin, as he aways did when she got her hair done. It never failed to make her feel special.
“Looks really good,” he murmured, leaving a soft kiss on her cheek. “Always does.”
“Check out the nails,” Alex said as he joined them after kicking his soaked slippers off. Kasey compelled, nodding approvingly and admiring them. He recognized the style Natalie had showed him on Pinterest a few weeks ago.
“Gorgeous.” His eyes then moved to Alex, now grabbing sugar and milk for the tea. His brows furrowed. “You left me,” he accused pointedly.
“Baby, we had a damsel-in-distress kind of situation,” the redhead explained, coming to leave a peck to the goalie’s forehead. He circled his waist from behind, and Nat decided she, too, needed to cling on the goalie, hanging from his neck.
Kasey made a noncommittal noise, a non-vocal I’ll allow it, resting his back against Alex chest and bringing Natalie closer. “You know," he murmured against her hair, "We were in bed, and he kept checking the window for you to arrive. Then jumped off and run outside without a word. You didn’t tell me we got a dog.” Alex made a eh noise, Natalie laughed.
“Well. I would have ruined my hair if it wasn’t for this cutie."
“I thought you were asleep, didn’t want to wake you”. Alex left a line of gentle kisses against Kasey’s neck, receiving a pleased hum in feedback.
“I wasn’t sleeping. I was just resting my eyes.”
“Omg, that is the most ancient shit you’ve ever said.”
Kasey hit him blindly, resulting on a weak slap on the other’s butt, Alex’s chest vibrating with giggles against the offender’s back. But Kasey didn't look like he wanted to move. When he broke the hug, he was staring critically at Alex’s attire.
“You went out in a storm in shorts and flipflops.”
Alex dismissed him with a hand. “Winter, I lived in Florida. That was just some rain.”
Kasey shook his head in disapproval, but he was smiling fondly. “Come on, tea’s getting cold.”
They took place at the counter, and Natalie laughed when both men took each one of her hands again to admire the nails under the light.
“Babes, can’t really drink tea like this.”
Alex let out a dramatic sigh, leaving a small kiss on her hand before letting go and taking a sip from his mug. “Come on, now. Tell us about your day.”
Jackpot, she repeated to herself as she began her story, looking between Alex, his chin on his hands and listening carefully, to Kasey, looking at her with his head tilted to the left and the steaming mug in his hands. And no amount of bad luck will ever defeat all the love I receive.