The warmth seeps into my palm when I pick it up.
“If more memories return,” I say, “we can document it carefully.”
“I’d like to do that,” he whispers. “With you.”
I meet his eyes. He holds my gaze, but he remains so still that it doesn’t seem like he’s let out a breath. More curiously, the rosy tint from his ears is now spreading across his high cheekbones, curiously unexplained.
I’m about to ask if he’s feeling unwell, when Stan’s voice booms through. “Em! Kaye said it’s spa time!”
Nil sighs as he looks down and stands up. “We’ll talk more soon.”
Nodding, I follow his lead out of that home office and find Stan some feet away, waving his two big arms in the air.
He smirks at us, while we walk over to him. “Having a threesome without your third? Brutal, babes.”
That earns an eye roll from Nil.
Stan wraps an arm around him. “What? Am I right?”
“We were just talking,” Nil answers.
“Right.” Stan smirks. “Talking through…body language?”
“Stan.” Nil groans while I can’t stop a breathless, short laugh.
They both look my way. Nil raises his brows. Stan’s smirk stretches. He thankfully doesn’t mention the morning mishap in the bathroom. Instead, he leads the way while he tells us about the sauna room Kaye turned into a home spa for the day, and how Kaye’s “committing brother-in-law betrayal” by not inviting him.
“Heard that!” Kaye snaps, her head peeking out of the door where steam’s rising from.
Nil speeds up to whisper something to Kaye, who pouts as she listens. “Ten minutes tops it is. Thanks for looking out, pal!”
Kaye covers her mouth, eyes widening as she looks between me and Nil. Whatever she thinks she’s noticed, she doesn’t say it out loud.
Nil offers her a small smile. Before I can ask what’s happening, Stan’s suddenly in front of me. He places his hands on my shoulders,firm and warm, guiding my attention back to him.
“Okay, here goes, gorgeous,” he says, smiling. “I just want to say, thank you.”
“For what?” I ask, searching his gray eyes.
“For letting us take care of you,” he continues. “Even when you clearly hate being taken care of. That means a lot to me. To both of us. Honestly, all of us.”
I hesitate, unsure how to respond.
“And now,” he adds, volume rising with theatrical resolve, “you get to go have fun with myso-calledbest friends who are leaving me out because apparently spa time is only for girls!”
“Correct, you cootie-carrying fucker,” Kaye says, holding up her middle finger toward him.
Stan places a hand to his chest. “Wow. Betrayed in my own house.”
“It’smyhouse,” she replies, grabbing my wrist.
Kaye drags me toward the open door. Steam spills out, warm and fragrant. Behind us, I hear Stan whining as Nil murmurs, low and soothing. “You’ll survive, Stan.”
“You’re right, babe. I’ll feel better soon.” Stan sighs. “Even sooner if you give me head.”
Kaye groans as she slams the door with a decisive thud.
Elle looks up from where she’s crouched near the stones, smiling as she pours water over them. The steam rises swiftly, filling the indoor sauna.
