Noah leaned his head back against the seat, closing his eyes for a moment, and I was left staring at him, still turning his words over in my mind.
If there’s no risk, it’s just existing.
Was that what I’d been doing? Existing?
ABOVE IT ALL
The spa receptionist, a young woman with a tight blond bun and an expression that suggested she'd rather be anywhere else, tapped at her keyboard with impossibly long nails.
“Name?” she asked.
“Luna Faraday. But the original booking might be under Evelyn Faraday—my mom.”
“Yes, right here,” she said. “I just need you to fill out this release for me.”
While I started reading through it, checking boxes, et cetera, I overheard Babs having some sort of issue at the next station.
“It should be there. Barbara Milton,” she chirped. “I know I signed up when I booked—this is one of the stops I was most looking forward to.”
Her receptionist tapped away, then frowned. “Hmm.”
Babs tilted her head, pushing her glasses higher up on her nose. “Hmm, what?”
“I’m not seeing anything under Milton.”
My hand had gone still. When I glanced over, Babs met my stare. “I knew I should’ve asked Tay for her phone number… She would have cleared this right up.”
Because the bus had already pulled out of the parking lot, taking the half of the tour who hadn’t signed up for massages, and Tay, to…I had no idea where.
Bab’s was talking to the receptionist again. “You can still get me in though, can’t you?”
The polished-looking woman offered a tight smile. “We’re fully booked. I’m sorry.”
Babs’s mouth trembled at the corners. And then how she tried masking her disappointment with a breezy shrug.
Nope. This wasn’t happening. Not to my sweet little seatmate.
“She can take mine,” I said quickly. “I don’t mind.”
Babs turned, startled. “Oh, no, dear. I can’t take your place.”
“I’m not even that big on massages,” I lied, forcing a smile. “Too many strangers touching me.” I gave a dramatic little shiver.
She hesitated, so I handed the half-filled release back to my receptionist. “Can we get a blank one, please?”
The woman looked mildly confused but passed it over.
“You’re sure?” Babs asked.
“Absolutely.” And surprisingly, I was. Seeing her face soften in relief—Totally worth it
“Oh, Luna.” Babs reached for my arm and gave it a gentle squeeze. “You’re a gem.”
A few minutes later she disappeared, thanking me again, as she followed the receptionist through the frosted glass door.
So…
I exhaled.
