I keep the pillow over my head but roll over, peering at him as he sits up and turns off the alarm.
“Why?” I mumble.
“Because, I thought you could use a little pampering.”
I chuckle. “Sex doesn’t count as pampering.”
Josh barks out a laugh. “I wouldn’tset an alarmfor that.”
He reaches over and peeks at me beneath the pillow, revealing my squinty, skeptical face. “I made you an appointment for a mani-pediandyou’re getting your hair done. I thought you would want to relax before tonight. You deserve to feel your best.”
I blink at him. His words land with more weight than he probably realizes. “Are you serious?”
Josh nods, a proud grin climbing his face.
“But I am picky about who I let touch my hair and nails.” I frown instinctively.
“Already handled. Sophie gave me a full list for the future and booked everything for you.”
Josh leans back against the headboard, folding his arms across his chest, clearly pleased with himself.
“Wow.” I sit up, scooting close, my fingers finding the waves at the nape of his neck. “You really thought of everything.”
Josh looks at me, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. “This is your chance at your dream, babe. I want you to walk into that show tonight feeling unstoppable.”
My heart squeezes and I can’t speak, so I nod, leaning in to kiss his cheek before slipping out of bed.
“Okay,” I say, grinning now. “I’m going.”
The ocean breeze is light when I arrive at the nail salon, and there’s Sophie, leaning against the brick building, holding two iced coffees.
“What are you doing here?” I ask, a smile already blooming on my face.
“I figured if I was booking an appointment for you, I should treat myself, too.” She hands me a drink.
I laugh, touched that she thought of me. “What is it?”
“I hope you like it. I asked Liam what you like, and he wasn’t sure, so I took a guess.”
“I’m sure it’s great,” I say, taking a sip. “Shall we?”
We spend the next two hours getting pampered in the best kind of way—hot towels, scrubs, perfectly polished nails, and the easy rhythm of conversation. My hair salon is a short walk away and I’m so looking forward to the scalp massage and blowout in my future.
“Tell your dad I’ll FaceTime him a little before six,” Sophie says, pulling off the toe separators as we walk toward the door.
“I will. Thank you so much for doing that for him. He’s going to love it.”
I lean in for a hug and Sophie squeezes me tight, lingering a little before pulling back.
“You know, Mel, I don’t think I’ve ever seen you this happy. Your dad sees it too.”
I look down, swallowing the knot that forms in my throat. “Thanks. I…I am happy. It’s all felt like a dream.”
Sophie places a hand on my shoulder, firm and grounding. “So, keep going. Don’t stop here. Trust me when I say, it’s never too late to go after what you want. You have spent a long time watching other people be happy, supporting them. It’s your turn, Mel.”
At this something pulls loose inside me, quiet and sure. For so long, I’ve been afraid to go after what I really want. I’ve played it safe, kept myself in the background. But Sophie’s right. Maybe it’s time I believe that I deserve more out of life than simply surviving it.
* * *
