As I escorted them to the kitchen, they listed off the names of all those who sent Nana their best wishes. Like a game of Tetris, we shuffled other food in the refrigerator to make room for the new offerings. When we finished, I poured us all some iced tea and insisted we sit at the small table to catch up.
“Thanks to you, Ben was up all night,” Lily complained. “I’ve never seen him so giddy.” She took a sip to cover up her annoyance.
Lavender brushed a strand of her cousin’s hair out of her face. “Don’t worry, Lil. He’s crazy about you.”
“I second that,” I said, raising my glass to clink it against Lily’s.
She slumped back in her seat. “I know it’s crazy to be jealous, especially over old documents. I just wish I knew how to get him excited about me.”
“But you love him because of his eccentricities, right?” I pushed. “I mean, isn’t how smart he is a big part of his allure?”
A slow grin spread on her lips. “Yeah, I guess it is.”
Lavender sighed, swilling her drink so that the ice cubes clinked against the glass. “Isn’t falling in love the most fabulous thing?”
Lily scoffed. “Yeah, it’s swell.”
I flicked some of the condensation from my glass at her. “I guess, although Mason and I haven’t been at that stage for very long and definitely not in the same zip code long enough to enjoy it. Are you speaking in hypotheticals or has someone finally captured your attention?”
My sensitive friend perked up. “He really is the most amazing man I’ve ever met.”
Lily raised her hands at me like she didn’t get it either.
My friend’s answer puzzled me. “You’ve been in love since this morning? Who’s this super being who’s captured your heart so quickly?”
“Nick,” she exhaled.
“Nick? You mean, Nick Draven.” I held her in my gaze. “But you said he didn’t interest you that much.”
Lavender’s smile fell, and she widened her doe-like eyes. “I did? When?”
“At the town hall after you two talked in the flower shop.” When she didn’t remember, I put my drink down with a little too much force. “You called him a little too charming.”
“Pssh,” she waved me off. “That was after talking to him once. I went to Serenity Oasis today to talk to him. He convinced me to try out one of his massages, and I’m here to tell you, they are life-altering.”
I stared at this stranger in front of me. Lavender had always been the quietest out of all my girlfriends, and the way she talked about Nick didn’t feel quite right.
“Let me get this straight. After one massage, you think he’s the perfect match for you?” I pushed.
Lavender grabbed my hand in hers. “I think we might be soul mates. His aura is simply amazing. We’re in complete sync with each other. When I looked at it this morning after the massage, it was the exact same as mine.”
“O-o-kay,” I dragged out. “I’m not sure how one session with the guy could make all that big of a difference.”
Lily’s cousin squealed. “You both will after today. I arranged massages for each of you. Charli, your appointment’s in one hour, and Lily, you’re later this afternoon.” She handed us each a card with the time slots scribbled on the back.
“Um, thanks, Lav,” I started, trying to hand the card back, “but I should really stay here.”
My friend stopped me and covered my hands with hers. “It’s no problem. I’ll make sure Grandma can stay until Matt comes. You’ve been so stressed-out lately. Surely, you should take a little time out to take care of yourself.”
I expected Lily to back me up, but she twisted the card in her fingers. “My cousin may be a little silly about her new crush, but maybe she’s right. Your grandmother wouldn’t want you to run yourself into the ground. And after your efforts last night, aren’t you tired?”
The second the question came out of her mouth, the adrenaline from talking to Mason and Dash’s revelation leaked away and exhaustion hit me. “Yeah, maybe you’re both right. And Nick could probably use the business.”
“Oh, he’s been really busy,” Lavender said, taking a sip of iced tea. “A whole lot of people have been to see him already. I had to fight to get you on the books, but since he just gets me, I guess he moved things around. Promise me you’ll both go.”
I held up three fingers in a mock salute. “On my honor, I’ll go.”
“Me, too,” Lily agreed, copying me.
“I happen to know that neither one of you participated in the scouts, so you better keep your word or I’ll be really disappointed,” Lavender pouted.
Grabbing her lower lip that jutted out, I pulled on it until she giggled and swatted me away. “Now, let’s go check on your grandmother to put your mind at ease so you can enjoy Nick’s session.”
Although Nana’s condition stayed at the forefront of my worries, I knew my grandmother’s health wasn’t the only thing upping my stress levels. Maybe a massage was just the thing to set my world right.
Light instrumental music played over speakers embedded in the walls. Incense burned, the smoke trail wafting up towards the ceiling. A small water feature babbled in the corner. Botanical scents filled my head, and I closed my eyes, soaking in the calm of the front room. While it hadn’t been my idea to go through with the massage, maybe my friends had a point. If it helped me relax a little so I could help with Nana better, then how could it be a bad idea?
A door opened, and Nick stepped through. I expected
