Chapter 31
thirty-one
WESTLAKE VILLAGE, CA
Avery did not have time for a day of massages and cucumber water.
Her jaw clenched every time she thought about the “Location To Be Announced” banner that loomed large on the foundation website.
As reassuring as it was to know that everything was out in the open, it didn’t lessen the amount of work needed to pull off the gala.
But Caroline and Stacey had insisted on a spa day.
The three of them weren’t often in the same city, and Stacey stopped in LA on her way to the Las Vegas grand prix.
My girlfriends know I could use a post-Teddy pick-me-up.
The timing had worked out nicely, she’d give them that much.
She had issued a solo statement announcing her and Teddy’s breakup the day before.
It had been time to give up the charade once and for all.
The internet would start speculating when she didn’t go to the Vegas race, especially since Teddy was returning to the grid after missing a race, having been cleared of any wrongdoing by the International Racing Association.
She had drafted a statement, had Caroline read it once to make sure it wasn’t too curt, and then emailed it to Teddy and James moments before posting it:
“Teddy and I have decided to end our romantic relationship. I wish him success as a valued member of team Silver. Thank you so much for your continued support.”
Curt, cold. Just like him. A less hurt version of her would have consulted Teddy first, but after his impersonal email, making it very clear he wanted nothing to do with her, she had decided to do things on her own.
She turned off her phone and placed it in her locker, locking the door behind her.
Her skin prickled at the thought of being unreachable when she had so much on her plate, but she knew that completely unplugging was her only hope for enjoying the day.
She’d be too tempted to read the comments on her breakup announcement.
Caroline and Stacey had carved time out of their busy schedules to spend a day cheering her up.
Neither of them had time during the season to take a full day off work either, but they’d done it for her. So, she would at least try to enjoy it.
“Okay, first on our agenda: the invigorating foot scrub,” Caroline announced, once they’d all gathered in the lounge area in their fluffy spa-issued robes and rubber flip-flops.
Avery followed her friends to the salon room and sank down in a lazyboy chair as a woman got to work scrubbing her feet. She let her eyes close gently, and stretched out her jaw.
“This is way better than a pint of Ben & Jerry’s and a rom-com on Netflix. You are the best friends, seriously,” she said. “I know you both are so busy, how did you manage to get away for the day?”
“I told your dad we needed an off-site gala planning day,” Caroline said. “So as long as we talk about something related to the event, we can thank the Silver corporation for our team-building massages.”
“And I’m free until I have to fly to Vegas. I’m on the same leave as Te…” Stacey answered.
“It’s fine you can say his name around me,” Avery sighed. She didn’t want her friend to feel like she couldn’t talk about her life, her work, which inherently revolved around the sun that was Teddy Ross.
“Well, this is your breakup party. I didn't know if it was the weepy kind, or the I-never-want-to-hear-that-bastard’s-name-again kind,” Stacey admitted, head tilted.
Avery rubbed her temples.“I don’t know. I mean, all three of us work with him, so he’s unavoidable. But yeah, after yesterday’s announcement, I guess I can use a day off from talking about him.”
“Speaking of Vegas: my roommates and I are hosting a watch party. Pajamas and poker themed,” Caroline offered, changing the subject. The Las Vegas race had an unusual midnight start, hence the pajamas. “Avery, you should come, since you aren’t traveling to the race. It’ll be fun.”
No way. Half watch the race while playing poker? She would never. “Thanks for the offer, but I think I’ll watch alone, if at all,” Avery replied.
Plus, she knew all eyes would be on her when Teddy was shown on screen. She didn’t want the pity, the curiosity of acquaintances she barely knew. It would be way more than she could handle.
“I get it. Okay, next up massages,” Caroline directed, “I’ll meet you both in the relaxation lounge in an hour.”
* * *
Avery’s massage was divine. The masseuse’s warm hands, and the invigorating minty massage oil had brought her back to life.
If only her brain had been able to give into the masseuse’s hands the way her muscles had.
But instead of deep relaxation, her mind had spent the full hour reliving every conversation she’d ever had with Teddy.
Why oh why can’t I get this guy out of my head even after an official breakup announcement?
She was supposed to be done with him –no fake dating, no real dating.
It was behind her now, if only her thoughts would cooperate.
She took a sip of hot tea and grabbed a handful of almonds from the spa lounge’s snack bar. Caroline and Stacey filed in behind her, looking blissed out. Avery’s ribs squeezed with envy.
“How were your massages?” she asked her friends.
“Really good, my masseuse had a great knowledge of the musculoskeletal system,” Stacey answered.
“So good,” Caroline sighed dreamily. “I feel bad Ben missed out on this. I thought since he’d be in the men’s lounge it didn’t make sense to invite him, but that massage alone would have been worth it for him to come.”
“Don’t worry about it, he was busy anyway,” Avery said.
“They are installing turf across the main lawn at their house today. They can’t seem to keep grass alive with all the drought-related watering restrictions.
So, I’m sure he’s there making sure every single blade meets his standards. Which will take hours.”
Avery rolled her eyes. Her brother was obsessed with his show-stopper of a house in an exclusive gated community outside LA where the brick homes were more stately than Monticello itself.
Caroline laughed. She’d been to their house enough times to know what Avery meant.
“How big is his lawn?” Stacey asked, her eyes wide.
“As big as a football field, and they have this spectacular garden that he obsesses over,” Avery answered. “It’s gorgeous, if I ever get married, I’m going to have my wedding at their house. There’s this one juniper tree the previous owners planted in the garden. It’s iconic.”
Avery gasped. A wedding. A wedding venue. It struck her like a bolt of lightning, the answer to her problem suddenly crystal clear. She’d been looking for a blank, square space to have the gala in. And her brother’s lawn was the perfect venue.
Avery waved her hands in the air.
“I’ve got it. We can tent the new turf lawn and have the gala at Ben and Adam’s house. You guys!”
She was bouncing on her toes, resisting the urge to sprint back to the locker room so she could ask Ben and Adam. She didn’t want to waste another minute.
Caroline clapped her hands in glee. “You’re a genius. I can’t believe we didn’t think of that earlier.”
“No, you’re a genius. An off-site planning massage was exactly what I needed to come up with it.”
“That’s brilliant,” Stacey agreed.
Avery was already picturing the event. There was just one hitch. Ben and Adam would have to agree to it. But hadn’t Ben said he’d help her?
“Okay, we’ve lost you. I can see it in your eyes,” Caroline smiled. “Go and get dressed. You’re officially excused from spa day.”
She bolted toward the lockers to change and call Ben.