Seb opens and closes his mouth a few times but can’t speak, and E laughs. “Oh, Summer, you did it again.” E is bending over, holding his stomach because he’s laughing so hard.
The guys look over at us and notice Seb standing there in stunned silence.
“What happened?” Bay asks.
“When I said I was going to soak in the tub, Seb said he was coming with me. I told him no, that he was a great guy, but I wasn’t getting naked with him.” I shrug. “He hasn’t been able to speak since.”
The guys find it hilarious, and soon they’re all laughing at Seb. Even Nick chuckles.
“Sunshine, I didn’t mean it like that,” Seb whines. “I meant I wanted to get a salt soak too. In a separate tub,” he points out.
I smile at him. “I know what you meant, Hurry. It’s ok. You walked into that one too easily.”
“You did, man,” E says, wrapping an arm around his shoulder, smiling.
“I’ll give you some salts to use elsewhere Hurry.” I go back into the room I was using and grab a muslin bag and my jar of salts. Walking back out, I ask Seb which bathroom he’s using. Alex offers his tub as it’s deep enough for Seb to get submerged, so I follow him and Seb into the room off the kitchen. It’s a beautiful primary suite with a king bed in the center of the room. Large windows on the far wall show a view of the water. The walls have wood wainscoting on the bottom and a navy color on top. Soft lighting comes from several sconces on the wall and recessed lights. It’s very masculine but comfy. I follow Seb and Alex as they enter the room on the right. A huge freestanding tub sits in the back corner with a window above it. Alex turns on the water for the tub, so I tie the muslin bag so the water covers it coming out of the faucet, and dump some Epson salts in the tub.
“Are you extracting the herbs?” Alex asks, touching the muslin bag.
“I am. It’s the same as making tea.”
“Interesting,” he smiles. “I smell mint?” He questions.
“Peppermint and wintergreen. There’s lavender oil mixed with the Epsom salts. Okay, Seb. Since you ran into a wall with your arm today, soak up to your neck if you can for 30 minutes.”
“Will do, Sunshine.”
I head over to the other bedroom and make myself a bath. I get a text from Zander while I’m soaking, saying he’s home and to have fun. I text him back, telling him to have a good night and that we’ll be at the 8am game tomorrow. Setting an alarm on my phone, I close my eyes and relax while I soak.
I’ve only been in South Carolina for two weeks, and I’m staying overnight with a group of friends already. It feels like I’ve beenhere much, much longer. It’s simply amazing. I’m very lucky to have found these guys, and they can touch me without me freaking out. I seem to have slipped back into life more effortlessly than I thought possible. Sure, I still have issues. Outside my circle, others can’t touch me, and I still experience panic attacks; however, I’m pleased with my progress.
When my alarm goes off, I dry off and put my t-shirt and shorts on for bed. I sit on the right bed to rub some cream onto my thighs and calves, massaging as I go when there’s a knock on the door. “Come in,” I call.
E pokes his head in, telling me Seb is ready for some cream. “I’ll be right out.”
I finish my leg massage and then grab the cream, going out to the living room where I find the guys spread out on the couch watching tv. Seb is sitting near the middle, with E in only a loose pair of shorts.
“Sunshine, I’m ready for my rubdown,” he says, wiggling his eyebrows.
Shaking my head at the goofball, I take a seat beside him, trying to ignore all the muscles on display. “How was the bath? Did it help?”
“It actually did, yeah. Some of the soreness is gone.”
“Good. So, it looked like you made impact with the wall along your right shoulder and arm. Is anything else stiff?”
“My right shoulder and arm into the middle of my back and along my right side.”
I offer to let E rub the cream in, but he declines, wanting me to do it. “I’ll do your shoulder, back and arm. You or E can do the rest.” Grabbing a scoop of the cream, I massage it into his shoulder and upper back in upward strokes with a bit of pressure, causing Seb to let out a long groan. I gaze at his face, but his eyes are closed. Looking over at E with a raised eyebrow, he nods, so I keep going. I rub his arm down to his elbow and then hand the jar to E. “You cando his side for him, E. Seb, take another salt soak in the morning. I’ll leave the cream jar in the kitchen for you. You can reuse the muslin bag again.”
“Thank you, Sunshine.” He cracks an eye open to give me a smile.
I get up to wash my hands in the kitchen sink as E takes my spot, asking Alex if I can grab a drink. He waves me off, telling me to help myself. Grabbing water from the fridge, I sit back down on the couch. E is still rubbing the cream into Seb’s side and then sets it on the counter when he’s done. “That’s why you smelled so good yesterday, Sunshine,” Seb comments.
“Huh?” I ask.
“You smelled great yesterday and today. It’s the bath and the cream. I smell like you now.”
“Um, thank you?” I say, raising an eyebrow.
