Chapter 13
EBBA
I didn’t get to sleep in as long as I had planned, because by ten o’clock Sabrina and Whimsy were knocking on my door to head to the spa for massages and to get a manicure and pedicure.
The nail tech is applying a glittery hot pink to my toes that matches what I chose for my fingers.
“Did you have a bad night?” Whimsy asks from my left. “You keep yawning.”
“Oh.” I lower my hand from my mouth. “Um … yeah. I didn’t get much sleep.”
I could, and probably should, tell them about my early morning adventures with Fisher.
But since Fisher was always a secret in the past it feels strange to talk about him freely.
Besides, I’m not sure how I feel about it yet and I’d rather process on my own first before my friends start giving me their opinion.
“I’m sorry,” Sabrina says from my other side. “I hate it when I can’t sleep. I get insomnia right before my period starts and it drives me insane.”
“If it’s cool with you guys after we grab lunch I’ll probably head back to my room for a nap. I don’t want to be falling asleep on you tonight at the club.”
Sabrina giggles. “I’m so excited to see Noah in a club. Is it terrible that I love seeing him awkward and out of his element?”
“You never know. He might surprise you,” Whimsy says, leaning forward to peek at her pastel blue polish.
“We’ll see. I still can’t believe he agreed to Vegas. Truth be told, it’s not really my thing, but you only get married once—hopefully—and I thought it would be fun.”
“Besides, you’re going to Greece for your honeymoon so that’ll be beautiful and relaxing. Vegas for a few days is fun.” Whimsy picks up her phone and smiles at a text message.
“My brother?” I ask and she immediately blushes.
“Yes. I know he’s your twin, so you probably think he’s a total shithead, but I love him so much.”
I laugh. “He’s a total shithead, but I love him a lot and I’m glad he finally settled down.”
“Did I tell you he bought me tickets to see Jurassic Park with a live orchestra?” Whimsy gushes.
My heart warms at my brother’s thoughtfulness. “That’s so sweet. He’s obsessed with you.”
“I’m grateful he indulges my love of Jurassic Park and isn’t sick of it yet.”
I can’t help but laugh. “He’s so down bad for you I’m pretty sure if you asked him to crawl, he’d drop to his knees.”
Her lips part in awe. “Should I try that?”
Sabrina leans around me. “Yes. Yes, you should.”
Whimsy’s lips purse with intrigue. “I just might have to.”
“Let us know if he listens,” Sabrina laughs.
“Don’t tell me.” I gag. “I don’t want to know.”
When our toes are finished, we go to check out but find that everything has already been paid by Noah.
Sabrina gives a dreamy sigh as we exit and head toward the restaurant. “He’s so sweet, isn’t he?”
I laugh. “It wasn’t that long ago that he drove you insane.”
She presses her lips together, holding in her own giggles. “He still drives me crazy at times.”
After scarfing down some much-needed lunch, I say my goodbyes to the girls and head back to my room.
I don’t feel too sleepy now, but I know a nap is a good idea after my late night if I’m going to be able to keep up with everyone tonight.
I’m cursing myself for not bringing my cane with me today.
I figured I’d be sitting a lot and wouldn’t need it, but my entire leg is screaming in protest.
Sometimes, the pain makes me angry. Not just because it hurts, but because of the reminder it is to what I lost. I loved dancing.
Ballet, hip hop, jazz—all of it made me happy.
I loved choreographing a routine and seeing it all come together.
I’m sure I could’ve stayed in the business in some way, whether as a teacher or something else, but that wasn’t what I had ever dreamed of.
I always wanted to be on stage, not on the sidelines, so I walked away from all of it.
Sitting on the edge of my bed, I take off my shoes and rub the arches of my feet. Not getting enough sleep last night is noticeable in the way I’m achier than normal.
As much as I want to crawl beneath the covers and pass out, I decide a shower is in order first—at least that way I won’t have to shower when I wake up and I can begin getting ready for the evening right away.
The shower helps loosen my muscles and has me feeling relaxed as I slip into my pajamas. Swiping a bottle of water from the mini-fridge, I twist off the cap just as there’s a knock on the adjoining door.
I wait for a twinge of annoyance, but no such feeling comes.
Unlocking my side of the door, I open it to find Fisher standing there with a bag from the nearby CVS. My eyes dart from the bag up to his face where he wears a shy smile. He pushes his glasses up his nose and the shy smile turns lopsided. I wonder if he knows his glasses have me in a chokehold.
“Hey,” he says. “How’s your leg?”
I shrug. “Okay. It’s been worse.”
“I went by CVS and got you some things. I thought you could see if they helped.” He pulls a box out of the bag.
“Menthol patches.” Next, he pulls out a deodorant shaped bottle.
“Roll on menthol.” Another box. “Some sort of heated patch. And…” He rifles through the bottom of the bag. “Aleve and Hershey Kisses.”
My heart squeezes. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” He passes me the bag. “I hope it helps.” He looks me over and smiles at my pajamas. “Candy hearts?”
I pluck at my t-shirt. “It’s cute.”
“You are. I guess I’ll see you tonight?”
I nod. “For sure. I’m going to take a nap because someone kept me up way too late.”
Arching a brow, he reaches out and grasps one of my curls. I hold my breath as he spins it around his finger. “If I recall, someone else bumped their toe and needed assistance first, so who’s the real culprit?”
“Touché.”
He drops my hair and steps back. “Have a good nap.”
I close the door between us and carry the bag over to the desk. Dumping out the assortment of goods, I grab the roll-on menthol and use it on the particularly achy parts of my leg before I climb back in bed.
When I close my eyes, I dream of Fisher.