Leah had no idea what memories Avi was processing as they walked through his childhood home, but seeing his bedroom had rattled him.
Her ask, she hoped, gave him an excuse to put it aside. They entered the master bedroom, fairly utilitarian. But the master bathroom?
“Who would’ve thought a cantor would be living so large?”
He let out a long, low whistle. “Oh, I am sure this work of art is all my stepmom.”
“Putting those proceeds from the childhood bedroom museum to good use,” Leah humored him. It reallywasa masterpiece, but the star was the bathtub; like something from a home renovation show. Sunken, spacious, promising luxurious jets and warm bubbles.
Avi leaned against the doorframe. “We have time, you know. If you want to soak.” His voice was calm, but there was something about the way his eyes held hers.
“Avigdor Meir ben Yosef! In what alternate reality?”
Leah looked longingly back at the tub. It was oversized and sunken, with all sorts of fancy-looking bath products along thewide tiled rim. It would be nice to really clean up. Smell less like a French fry when she met investors on the boat. Wash her hair.
Judging from the labels, she’d say Avi’s stepmother was a curly girl herself.
Avi followed her gaze. “Those guys held afternoon prayersway early with my dad and the rabbi not around. I say…you soak a half hour, then I’ll shower. We’ll get dressed up and on the road like normal people, heading into town on a Friday with evening plans. Jacobsdale’s a bedroom community now, Letty. Tons of people commute to the city for work daily now. It’s only two hours.”
“You know…you’re very rational for a rock star.” Leah arched a brow. “And how do you know so much about optimal tub soaking time?”
“It’s basically a hot tub. Rock stars know, and love, their hot tubs. Plus, I saw what happened to your hands after squeezing wet potatoes…you prune, girl.”
She laughed, although the memory of Avi at the JCC cafeteria table, taking her palm and kissing it, sobered her quickly.
“Or you could soak with me…if it’s basically just a hot tub.” She swallowed hard. “Room enough for two.”
Avi froze. His brows lifted, but his eyes didn’t leave hers. “Just to be clear,” he said slowly. “To make sure you’re sure. It’s gonna be a hot tub, without suits.”
“With jets and bubbles going, I won’t even see you.” Her heart pounded harder, the more she tried keeping her tone casual. “I just ask you give me a five minute head start.”
He nodded, face not easy to read. “Time enough to check if any of my old clothes still fit.”
Avi knew exactly how to wait five minutes – but these minutes felt longer than he had had to endure in the rest area without a phone or clock to keep track. He did exactly what he’d done to kill time then: he paced his bedroom and counted to sixty in his head as calmly as he could, five times.
Then he knocked on the door.
“All clear,” she called.
Not exactly the case. The room was humid and lavender-scented.
But it felt like a haven.
Leah lay back against a tiny shell-shaped bath pillow, covered to her neck in bubbles and hair turbaned in a towel.
“You don’t have to close your eyes, Gellman.”
“It helps me think logistics. What are we going to do with all the wet towels?”
These were the logistics she was thinking of? How to be a gracious – or stealth – houseguest? He was just trying not to cream his track pants at the sight of one bare knee, bubbles sliding off it as she raised it.
“Cleaning service,” he said gruffly, although he really had no idea. “My stepmom would break a nail lifting a finger. I’m sure they’re on a weekly schedule.”
He quickly stripped, leaving his road-worn clothes in a pile on the radiant-heated floor. “Ready for me?”
She nodded, shifting slightly. Eyes finally opening when she felt the water settle back down.
“Hell yeah, good call.” He let his body drift down on the opposite side of the rectangular tub. The water, a perfect temp as he immersed to his chin, then tipped his head back.
