The sound of the sheets rustling on our respective massage tables grates on my nerves. The last thing I want to do right now is waste my time getting a massage when the possibility of me relaxing is slim to none.
“Hey,” Dani whispers. “I’m sorry about that. She didn’t mean it.”
I should’ve known she wanted to be paired up with me to plead Ri’s case. She’s always been the Amerie whisperer of the group. It irritates my soul sometimes the way she coddles her; but honestly, it makes me appreciate Dani’s friendship even more because though she may be high maintenance as hell, she’s always down when it counts.
I take a deep breath. “Respectfully, Dani, it wouldn’t matter either way. She shouldn’t have said it.”
“She’s been intense since she got engaged and it’s only getting worse the closer the wedding gets,” she sighs.
“Then she should talk to me or us. I’m her sister, not her punching bag.”
“I think something is going on with her, but she won’t tell me.”
“Well, she better tell somebody. Go sit on that lady’s couch if need be.”
She scrunches her nose. “What lady?”
“A therapist.”
She snorts out a laugh. “Nelle, please.”
Her adorable snort pulls a much needed laugh out of me. “Or that man’s couch or that person’s couch. Just pick a fucking couch.”
Her laugh grows into a heavy wheeze. “Something is wrong with you.”
“Well shit, let me lead the charge to the couches then.”
“Oh my God.”She holds her palm up to stop me from saying anything else as she gasps for air.
Footsteps echo in the hallway and get closer to us by the second.
Dani adjusts her position and I think that’s the end of our conversation, but she turns to me and says one more thing. “I feel you. I’ll talk to her, okay?”
My friend shouldn’t have to tell my sister to be nice to me. That shit is weird as hell, but here we are needing mediation.
“Okay.”
Sofia and another woman who introduces herself as Guadalupe enter the room and tell us all about the massages they’ll be giving us today before getting started.
I want to feel relaxed from Guadalupe’s touch. I want to soak in the essential oils being used on my skin. I want to bask in the pampering I’m receiving, but it all just feels wrong. I can feel Guadalupe working her fingers to the bone trying to loosen the tension in my shoulders, but it’s so tightly coiled it would take the jaws of life to undo.
Or Rome.
Something tells me his touch could easily take away the anxiety wrestling with my limbs.
It was strongly suggested that we leave our phones with our clothes, but I’m wound too tight for this massage so I kept mine with me, hiding it beneath my breasts. I hear Guadalupe’s heavy sigh when I slip my phone from under me to beneath the table to type up a message. She knows as well as I do this massage is a waste of time.
Me: So how does this stress relief arrangement work exactly?
The bubbles pop up almost immediately. I wonder what he and the guys are up to. Was he waiting for my text?
Rome: Simple.
Rome: You tell me you need me and I come
Me: And then I come?
Rome: *laughing emoji* Told you it was simple
