Chapter 8 #2
“I don’t know yet. I’m about to decide and go downstairs. Have fun, and remember, do what your Auntie Kandi says.”
“Okay,” they sing.
“Who loves you?” I ask.
“You do!”
They end the video call and I smile. No matter what I’m going through or how I’m feeling, I can always count on my girls to put a smile on my face. They are my reason.
Still smiling, I ease off the four poster, king size bed and take another tour of my suite before getting comfortable on the plush sofa, finding a movie on the television, and ordering room service.
The nachos and popcorn I ate at Blast! has vacated my stomach.
While I wait on my garlic butter lobster pasta, caprese salad, garlic knots, and lemon drop, I put my hair up in a high bun, change into my sleep shirt, and just relax on the sofa.
My cell chimes with a text. It’s Xai. When I feel my smile returning at the sight of his text, I decide to do something different. I’m all alone, chilling, and want to hear his voice. Instead of texting back, I call him. I swear he answers before it even rings.
“Hey,” his deep tenor says.
“Did you even let it ring?” I question, laughing.
“It rang, barely,” he admits. “We’ve been texting all week and I’ve been dying to hear your sweet voice. Shit, I saw your name and snatched it up.”
“I’m not interrupting, am I?”
“Nah. I’m at my new spot trying to visualize the remodel. The company gave me markups but I’m a visual person. I have to see it.”
“This late?” I ask because it’s almost eight.
“Yeah. I was at my main location until five then came out here. I’m heading out in about fifteen.”
Xai is truly about his business and I like that.
He wants his own and works hard to get it.
Every day we’ve texted, he has been busy between his current car detailing place and his new one.
He’s a business owner, works hard, and enjoys it.
He doesn’t take; he earns. I try hard not to compare him to Rushmore but that contradiction is glaring.
“What’s on your agenda after you leave?” I ask.
“You, if you let me. Have you eaten yet? I can take you to dinner.”
“I just ordered room service. It should be here soon. I’m good. First night without the girls, so I think I’m going to just eat, watch a movie, and sleep.”
“As much as I want to see you, I get it. You need your time. How long you gon’ be there again?”
“I check out Sunday,” I say, then inhale. My next words fly out before I can think. “Maybe we can do lunch before I get them.”
“That’s a bet,” he says, then I hear a noise in his background.
“What’s that sound?”
“Me, closing up. I’m going to go ahead and bounce.”
“I hope I’m not making you leave early.”
“Nah. You not. I’ve been here a minute.”
“Well, what are you about to do?” I ask. Then there’s a light tap on my door. “Hold on. I think this is my food.”
“You got that. I’ll lock up while you handle that,” he says.
After placing my phone on the sofa, I jump up and open the door. It is my food. I direct the young man to the living room and he places the platter and my drink on the table. I sign the check and he leaves. When I pick the phone back up, Xai is still on the line.
“You waited?” I ask, a little surprised.
“For you, of course. What did you order?”
“Lobster pasta.”
“That sounds good and you need to eat it while it’s hot. Just hit me when you finish eating.”
“I just might,” I admit with a smile, then end the call.
After taking a sip from my lemon drop, I uncover the platter, say a quick prayer, and dive in.
The portion sizes are actually better than I thought.
I kill the delicious pasta and half of the good ass salad.
I didn’t even touch the garlic knots. I’m good and full.
By ten-thirty, I’m stretched out in bed and knocked out in ten minutes.
I don’t know if it was the delicious food, the comfortable ass bed, the quiet, or all three, but I don’t open my eyes until nine hours later.
My spa appointment isn’t till eleven, so when my eyes open around seven-thirty, I don’t get up right away.
After stretching, I grab the remote and turn the television on.
I search the guide and settle on a movie.
An R&B singer whose music I love has a small cameo in it.
I’d actually gone to elementary school with her before she got famous. I’m two years older than her though.
I watch the first thirty minutes of the movie then I move.
I travel to the bathroom, start the water in the large whirlpool tub, and drop three capfuls of my body wash in.
As the tub fills, I brush my teeth, gargle, and wash my face.
Since I’m getting a facial and full body massage later, I leave my hair in the bun. Styling it would be a waste.
Before taking off my pjs, I grab a water bottle from the fridge and disconnect my cell from the charger.
There’s a bath tray in the bathroom so I place the water and my phone there once I’m immersed in the tub.
After drinking about half my bottle of water, I text Kandi.
It’s Saturday and the girls typically sleep in, so I don’t want to wake them.
Me: Good morning.
Kandi: Grand rising! Why are you up?
Me: Taking a bath. Bout to grab something light before my spa appointments. The girls up?
Kandi: All three!
Me: My babies are up?
Kandi: Feeding Jazzmyn. Averi is holding her and Romi is holding her bottle. It’s soo adorable.
Me: Send a pic.
Kandi: Okay. So did you sleep alone last night?
Her text makes me think of Xai and I instantly feel bad. I didn’t text or call him back last night.
Me: I did and I slept good too.
Kandi: If you slept good, then I guess I can’t get mad. Let me get up and cook these waffles. Call me after your treatments.
Me: I will. Send the pic.
Not even a minute later, I get three cute pictures from Kandi. My girls really love Jazzmyn and they try to be so helpful when she’s around. Before bathing, I hit Xai. He answers, sounding wide awake and on the move.
“Are you in your car?” I ask him.
“Nah. I’m at the shop, outside by the washing bays. I was just about to hit you.”
“Sorry about last night. I crashed after I ate. I guess I was tired.”
“It’s cool. You doing your thing this weekend, relaxing and shit. I wasn’t gon’ stress you ’cause I already get to be in your space tomorrow.”
“That’s right for lunch. I check out at twelve. We can meet somewhere close to the hotel.”
“You at The Metropolitan, right?” he asks. I’d informed him of my weekend staycation earlier this week.
“Yeah.”
“It’s a lot around there or wherever. We can meet anywhere you want. Pick your favorite spot.”
“I’ll think of something by tomorrow.”
“You do that.”
“I gotta get ready for my treatments today. You have a good day, Xai.”
“You too, pretty lady,” he says before ending the call.
After finishing my water bottle, I gingerly lift the bath tray and place it on the floor. Then I take my bath, moisturize my body and face, and get dressed. Since I have a little over an hour until my appointment, I decide to grab breakfast from the restaurant downstairs.
There are two restaurants and a bar in the lobby but only one restaurant serves breakfast. I find a small table in the back and order a mocha latte and a sausage, egg, and cheese croissant.
My mind is truly bigger than my stomach because I’m still full from dinner.
I’m only able to drink my latte and eat half of my croissant.
As I do, I call the girls and check in with them.
They are full from waffles and are watching a movie with Kandi and the baby.
Fifteen minutes before my appointment, I head to the spa and check in with the lady at the counter.
A feeling of relaxation and calm blankets me as soon as I enter.
Between the subtle opulence, natural materials like wood and stone, the calming colors, and soft, ambient lighting, there’s a soothing ambiance.
The place not only looks beautiful, it smells pretty as well.
The air is infused with a unique blend of aromatherapy scents.
I smell hints of eucalyptus and lavender.
There’s also soft, instrumental music playing in the background.
After I check in, she offers me a glass of prosecco. Because I want to have the total spa experience, I accept the glass of sparkling white wine. To my surprise, it’s delicious. I intended to sip it but my excitement causes me to empty the glass quicker.
“If you are accustomed to prosecco, I can prepare you another one,” she says.
“I am,” I lie. I’ve had wine a few times but it’s usually red. This is actually my first time trying prosecco.
“Oh good. My last appointment yesterday evening wasn’t and it hit her so fast. She was tipsy right after her second glass. She wanted a third and I felt bad when I told her no. Thankfully, it wears off just as fast as it hits,” she says before walking off to get my second glass.
When she returns with my second glass, I gladly accept and sip as she escorts me back to a private dressing area.
We journey past serene relaxation areas and private treatment rooms. Once inside, I finish my glass then use the restroom.
As I’m washing my hands, I feel a little lightheaded but shake it off.
It’s minor but I can tell I’m not my normal self.
Carefully, I walk out of the restroom to my assigned locker.
I change into the spa robe and slippers and place my items into the bamboo locker.
Right when I’m closing the locker, I remember my cell.
I need to silence it. When I pull it out, I see a text from Xai.
The screen is a little blurry but I can make out his text.
Xai: Enjoy your spa day, pretty lady.
Smiling at my phone, I sigh. “He’s so sweet.”