I could do that.
I let down my hair, then twisted it into a clip. Why was I getting so worked up about my work shirt? Or sushi and…surprises? I loved my life. I loved my boyfriend. I didn’t need to make a whole production of it for date night. We had the rest of our lives, a million special moments to come. Life would naturally give us surprises—good and bad.
Rolling my shoulders, I shimmied out of the rest of my clothes. “How was your day?”
The faucet squeaked on from afar when I slipped into a robe.
“Oh, you know. Laid some tracks. Ricky might’ve got me a set,” he said.
“He did?” I grinned, striding up to him in the brilliance and mist of my master-bath. “Congrats. When is it?”
“New Year’s Eve.”
My heart sank. “I’m working. Maybe if I open…” I played with the sash on my robe. At least Fancee’s closed early on holidays.
He tugged the other end of the sash and laughed. “What’s with this?”
“It’s silk,” I said, dropping my clothes on the counter.
“I know it’s silk, but why are you wearing it? I’ve seen you naked.” He wagged his brows and grinned.
I rolled my eyes, but smiled, and got a bath bomb from the bowl on the side of my tub. Flirting was not going to distract me from relaxing. “What time is your set on Thursday? I have a closing shift so I might be late.”
He juggled a few of the bath bombs. “Aw, babe. Why don’t you quit? You make enough money from your side gig for this place, plus some fun stuff.”
Not every month. Plus, I needed the excuse to keep moving and socialize, or I’d be on my phone all day waiting around for him. I put the bath bombs back–they were expensive–and straddled his leg. “I like the discount.” I shrugged out of my robe, electricity simmering under my skin.
Theo stared and rubbed his chin. “You’re looking extra-fine tonight, babe.”
“Thanks.” I wiggled my hips and used his shoulder to help me balance as I clambered into the hot water. “Want to join me?”
“That tub isn’t big enough for both of us.” He looked around. “You know what? Let me get your phone.” He eased it out from my clothes pile and used the pattern code to unlock it.
“Why?”
“So you can buy even more surprises. You deserve them. We both do.” He chuckled and handed me the phone with the photos app already open.
I guessed he was right. It would be nice to save up for a vacation. Somewhere warm. I’d need a new suit, a pedicure, and a wax. It all added up. I crossed my ankles and rested my feet on the edge of the tub. “I’m gonna do a video. Why don’t you play one of your songs low in the background?”
He raised his chin. “Great idea, babe. I got the perfect one.”
The thud of his baseline was kinda tinny coming from a cell phone speaker, but he bobbed his head to dance to it, so I figured it was fine for my fans too.
Framing my legs from my upper thighs down, I pressed record and turned the faucet off with my toes. This part was easy: rub my feet together, flex my toes, run the hot water and my hands over my calves. Theo mouthed his lyrics and danced quietly around the bathroom, performing for some imaginary audience. In his mind, the steam from the tub was probably like dry ice onstage. He interrupted his miming to type something out. I would’ve asked who he was talking to, but I had to stay quiet for recording. Once I had a few minutes of footage, I filtered, then posted it.
Five guys messaged me privately. Each direct message was bonus cash, and they all said some variation of the same thing.
They only wished that would work in real life. I chuckled and showed Theo. “Should I respond now or wait until after sushi?”
He shed his hoodie and sat on the edge of the tub. “No need to keep your public waiting.”
I rolled my eyes and smiled. These guys weren’t actual fans. I copied and pasted my response across the messages.
“What’d you say?” He thumbed through his own messages.
“I said, ‘I sure could use a good foot rub. Do you know anybody with strong hands who could help me?’” It felt silly to say aloud, but that kinda stuff was gold in this industry.
