His bottom lip is slightly sucked into his mouth in a nervous gesture. As my eyes bore into his, I wonder how I can care for someone this deeply and so fast.
I hope we’re not a losing game—two people finding comfort in one another for just the time being. Yet it seems like that. He’s leaving. I’ll be stuck in my town with so many terrible memories.
I find myself in him. He has scars, and he’s not afraid to show them to me. Since the moment Leonidas moved into town, he’s shown me that my life is worth living. Even though my father passed away in the most brutal way anyone could die, I know he’s in a better place. Leonidas is the first person to not pity me, to not tiptoe around me like I’ll break.
He seesme.
How can you not get attached to a person who makes you feel alive?
Not only do I believe I have an angel on earth, watching over me, but I also now realize that I have him up there with the big guy, watching me too.
Leonidas makes my hands shake in excitement and replaces the jolts of anxiety.
My heart aches at the thought of losing him. I can’t imagine my life without him. The idea scares me. Leonidas has carved his way into my heart. People might say we’re moving fast, but I don’t care. When you’re in love with someone, you feel it in an instant. We’ve argued and teased back and forth for weeks.
I know what my heart wants; it wants him.
“How did I get so lucky to call you mine?” I whisper up to him. “I don’t deserve you, Leonidas, but I’ll try with everything in me to be better for you.” A tear trails down my right cheek.
His eyes follow the path the moisture takes. Leaning down, he kisses my salty tear away. “My love, you deserve everything this life offers. You don’t see that yet, but I’ll make sure you do by the end of this,” his voice whispers against my cheek.
Laughing softly, I cup his face. “You make me want to live.” The words come out of my mouth without my head processing them, but I’m not ashamed. I’m telling the truth, which is always best.
Leonidas says nothing because he doesn’t have to.
He saved me, and he knows it.
TWENTY-THREE
TRINITY
Ipractically begged him. I didn’t want to go to the spa by myself.
Leonidas demanded that the hotel room was where he belonged, not some spa. He hates the idea of having cucumbers over his eyes. One look, and he could tell I wasn’t happy. My frown immediately vanished when he declared in his husky voice that the only woman’s hands on him should be mine.
I was surprised the butterflies I felt in my stomach didn’t take flight, bringing me in the air with them.
He informed me the directions to where the spa was in the hotel and gave me a pat on the butt.
Now, here I lie, on a massage table. A kind, beautiful Korean lady has been massaging me for an hour, loosening out all the knots in my shoulders and my back. She’s also taught me a few words in her language. A smile immediately lifts my mouth when she praises and says I am a natural. She also informs me that the pretty girl sitting at the front desk is her daughter. Her shiny, stunning, pin-straight black hair screams health.
I bite my lip, trying to stop the moans from coming out of my mouth. Her fingers massage and relieve me from the tension I’ve felt for years. I instantly notice the difference when my shoulders drop and feel lighter. Leonidas would have loved this, if only he wasn’t such a party pooper. I’ve been paying attention to her—what positions her hands are in when she massages. She uses her fists, palms, and her fingers. I’m definitely trying this out on Leonidas since he didn’t come.
Giving me a friendly hug good-bye, she sends me on my way. I’m going to miss her. Is it weird that I want her to come home with me and massage me every day? Yes. Yes, it is.
Leonidas was wrong. They don’t put cucumbers on your eyes here. All the movies and books I’ve watched and read lied to me.
As I walk up to the hotel room, I can’t help but notice how clean I feel. My skin has a fresh glow to it, my hair has volume, and I feel more relaxed and confident. I’d never been to a spa before. I’m grateful Leonidas thought about this.
Gripping the cool metal of the hotel doorknob, I pull open the door. I drop my purse on the floor and let out a sigh. I hear the distant noise of the TV playing in the background. Walking toward the sound, I find Leonidas lying on the couch, watching the television intently. Time to ruin that peace with my new massaging skills.
As I walk into the room, his eyes land on me. His mouth turns up into a smile. Whistling, he motions for me to walk over to him. Taking my steps slowly, I add a sway to my hips, making his eyes darken.
“How was your massage?” he asks as I climb onto his lap.
I wind my arms around his neck, and he places his hands on my thighs.
Leaning his head to the side, he bites his lip as I stare at him.
