"Let's get some food and stay in," he said. "I haven't been by my room, but I already called and checked in. We could go there if you don't feel like being at home. Or we can just walk upstairs. I’m not trying to say this just to touch you or anything, although that would be… I'm saying this because it's true. I could probably really help you with a massage ifyou want me to. I've had enough spine and neck manipulation over the years that I… I wouldn't promise I could help, but I do know for sure that I wouldn't hurt you. And there's a chance that I could help."
I smiled at him. "Hanging out with you upstairs with even the slight chance of a helpful neck rub sounds like the most perfect evening I could imagine."
Chapter 18
EJ
Savannah took a shower while EJ ran to get some food. She had placed an order at a pita sandwich place that was only a few blocks from her salon and apartment. EJ had eaten something earlier on the road, so they split one of them. He picked up a few different bags of potato chips, along with a couple of drinks and cookies while he was there.
He called his mom when he was on the way back to Savannah's place. She was curious about Savannah, and she encouraged EJ to bring her to lunch on Sunday. He assured her that he'd try.
There was no sign of Nico on his way up to her apartment, and EJ made it up there carrying two bags, one from the restaurant and one that he bought with him from Chicago. It was a birthday gift, and he told her they could open it after dinner. It was a gold chain, and EJ was certain that it was too much, but he couldn’t stop himself from buying it. She liked gold jewelry, and he had seen her wear necklaces. He knew it would look amazing on her, and he bought it on a whim.
They had been talking a lot, but neither of them had tried to define their relationship or even talkabout it. The same was true now that they were face to face. He was going to wait to give her the necklace because of that.
The two of them talked about their work life while they ate. EJ was doing some construction on the locker rooms and one of the pools, and he had some stories about one of the carpenters that he had been getting to know.
Savannah was interested in his story, and she asked him questions. She was kind and responsive, and so very beautiful that EJ could hardly hold his train of thought as he spoke to her. There was no way he could move on and just be friends with this woman. He knew he had to find a way to tell her how he felt. He knew he had to assure her that he wouldn't hurt her. At this moment, as he looked at her, he knew he would never hurt her. He would never leave her. She could have him by her side as long as she'd let him stay there.
He couldn't stop noticing Savannah's face, her mouth. The last time he was with her, he hadn't kissed her, and now he found himself looking at her gorgeous, precious face and counting the milliseconds until it could happen. She had just given him a sip of her soda, and he could still taste it. He wanted to taste her. "Let me work on your neck," he said, shaking himself out of the daydream. He had the urge to move too fast, and he knew he had to rein it in.
"No, I don't want you to. You worked, and then you drove all this way. If anything, I should be offering to rub your neck."
"No, really, I can see how stiff it is," he said.
"Oh, that's just, it's just on this one side, and it's so much better than it was."
"Do you not want me to touch you?" he asked sincerely.
"No, it's not that," she said.
She glanced at him, and their gazes held… and held. They had been looking at each other for the last hour, but this was the first time they really stared.
Her eyes.
She cleared her throat. "It's not that at all. I would love it if you… " she hesitated. "I don't mind if you touch me. It's not that I don't want to be touched, it's just that I feel bad getting a neck rub."
"You shouldn't. I want to do it."
She gave him a shrug and a shy smile, and he felt like he wanted to ravish her at the sight of it.
"Maybe for a minute," she said.
"Look, lie flat on your back right here, and I'm going to come behind you… yep, with your feet out that way. Okay. Listen, stay flat and don't tense at all. It's important that you're relaxed. Are you comfortable?"
"Yes, but I'm scared. Are you going to pop it or something?"
"What? No. I’m just saying, it works better if you don't lift your head up at all. Just relax the weight of your head into my hands, even if it feels heavy." EJ had his hands under her head by then. He adjusted her hair and was able to grip gently around her neck.
He put aside his attraction and the fact that his hands were on fire just from touching her. He wanted to help her. He could see the stiffness in her neck when she turned, and he wished he could take it away.
Ask and it shall be given unto you.
He thought of the Bible verse. He was almost sure the verse was not in direct reference to helping a would-be girlfriend to get rid of a crick in her neck. But he prayed anyway. Her eyes were closed, and he could feel that she was fully relaxed. He moved his hands gently and slowly on her skin, and he prayed.
Help me help her, if you please. She's had it for days, and I would love it if something I could do would help her. I know You can help me do that. I know You're capable of that. If You do it, I'll tell her I prayed and it was You. Is that bad of me? I don't mean to test You or anything. It's fine if You don't… I'm just asking, if You will, to please help me help her. Help my hands move in the right way to get her muscles and nerves back in the right alignment, please.
EJ took a deep breath and…
