by Bella Falls
Dash made his way to his motorcycle and threw his legs over the machine. “Don’t worry, I’m going right now. We’ll get your boyfriend home soon enough.”
Before I could say another word, he kick-started his bike, throttling the engine and letting it roar. Gravel kicked up as he revved his way down the road, swerving once to miss the car headed in my direction. I stood on the porch, wrestling with my sympathies for him and my own defense of my emotions.
Lily and Lavender climbed out of the car and pulled several dishes out of the back seat. They walked up the porch steps and stopped to interrogate me.
“Where’s Dash going in such a hurry?” Lily asked.
I could have told her that he was running away from his true feelings, but nobody else needed to hear about the man’s personal issues. “He’s going to drive outside the town limits and make some calls.” I breathed in the hot air of the day laced with the sweetness of honeysuckle and the bittersweetness of heartache. “What did y’all bring?”
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 him to be in some flowing shirt with linen slacks tied at his waist and bare feet. Instead, he looked more like a misplaced biker than a spa owner.
His tight, black short-sleeved shirt hugged his fit body, showing off the faint outline of his pectorals. The dark color matched the inked lines flowing down his arms and ending above his wrists.
With his signature crooked smile, he gestured at the interior of the other room. “Welcome to Serenity Oasis, Charli.”
“Shouldn’t you be greeting me with some sort of guru wisdom about life?” I teased.
His genuine laugh eased my nerves. “If it would make you more comfortable, I think I can come up with something.” Nick paused for a moment before his eyes twinkled and he bowed once, folding his hands together. “Never test the waters with two feet.”
I scrunched up my face. “I don’t think either one of us are that cautious in our lives, if I had to venture a guess. Me, I’m more of a cannonball kinda girl. Straight into the deep end and splashing everyone around me.”
“I’d like to see that,” Nick chuckled. “And I’m not going to tell you what kind of guy I am.” He gestured for me to enter the room.
“Why not?” I asked, entering a room painted in a cool blue tone with paintings of tranquil settings decorating the walls.
Dark curtains blocked out the light, keeping the space dim. A vintage dresser pressed against the far wall held a multitude of glowing candles. The cushioned table sat in the middle of the room covered with a cream bla
nket.
“Because,” Nick said from behind me, “I find a little mystery in life quite tantalizing.” He shut the door, enclosing us both inside his den of zen.
“I like what you’ve done with the old place,” I commented, taking in the decorations. “It doesn’t resemble a house anymore.”
Nick appreciated my comment with a nod. “Thanks. This used to be the dining room, if you can believe it. I had a hard time finding blackout curtains that fit the old windows.”
“If this is the dining room, then where do you eat?” I asked.
He pointed at the second door. “Standing up at the kitchen counter or sometimes upstairs in my office if I’ve got a lot of clients. I’ve also come to like the food at the cafe.”
“Yeah, that place is iconic. Mr. Steve is a great cook.” My eyes flashed to that table, knowing what was supposed to happen soon enough.
Nick picked up a clipboard and a pen. “Don’t be nervous. I just need to ask you a few questions and get your consent before we begin.” He checked his paper. “Do you have any ongoing health conditions? High or low blood pressure or stuff like that?”
“Nope.”
“Any persistent pain anywhere?” he continued.
I snorted. “Other than my brother’s teasing?”
“So, that’s a no.” Nick checked something off with a smile. “Any areas you would like me to focus on in particular?”
Rubbing my hands, I did a mental checklist of my body. “Not that I can think of?”
“And what’s your purpose in being here today?”
I sighed. “My friend made me the appointment.”
Nick’s haughty demeanor faltered with a slight grin. “Yeah, Lavender’s pretty great. I didn’t expect to meet someone like her here.”
His words quelled my concerns about my friend’s crush. “It’s about time she met someone nice.”
Worry lines appeared between his eyebrows and his jaw ticked once. He shook it off and gestured at the table. “Let’s get started, shall we? I’ll go out and give you some privacy, and when you’re ready, lie down under the blanket facing up.”
Lying on the table, I did my best to relax into the experience. When Nick knocked on the door to come in, I yelped a little and pulled the blanket up further.
“Nervous?” he asked.
“A little,” I admitted. “Honestly, this is the first spa Honeysuckle’s ever had.”
He squirted something into his hands and rubbed them together. A pungent aroma filled the air around me.
With gentle hands, he rubbed my tense jawline. “You’ve never lived anywhere else?”
The scent of sandalwood permeated my senses, and I breathed it in deep. “Actually, I have. But I never had the means to afford such a luxury.”
His fingers worked their way up to my temples. With his thumbs, he pressed into my forehead. “I don’t see finding ways to take care of ourselves as a luxury. More like a necessity. But my guess is that you give to others a lot more than you take.”
“Mm-hmm.” Thoughts of how I deserved to experience this flitted in and out of the peaceful fog filling my head.
Nick’s fingers massaged my neck, working their magic, and I suppressed a satisfied groan. With his heated touch, he massaged the oil into my skin, and its scent distracted me while I tried to identify it. About the time I thought I knew what it was, I lost track and started over again. The more Nick worked, the more I forgot.
“What is that scent?” I asked, my words slurring a little.
Nick pushed his fingers into my skin a little harder. “It’s an oil of my own making, but it’s not important. Just let go.”
I opened my mouth to say something, but the words fell right out of my head. The music changed cadence into something with a low steady thumping rhythm. Like a heartbeat. My breathing slowed to match its tempo.
Leaning close to my ear while he massaged the underside of my shoulders, he asked, “Now, Charli, can you hear me?”
I nodded in answer. “Yes.”
“Good.” Nick’s hands moved to cradle my head, his fingers pressing into the base of my skull. “Then I want you to tell me what it is that you desire most in this whole world. What would make you the happiest?”
If his question had been simpler, it might not have interrupted my tranquil state. But the existential inquiry erased some of the murky haze from my mind. My first response should be for my grandmother to reawaken and fuss at me again. However, I also wanted Mason to return, even though that was the more selfish choice. And then there was Dash. I’d do anything to take away his pained expression from earlier today. The choice was too hard.
“Don’t think too hard,” Nick commanded. “Tell me.”
The pressure he applied increased, and I jerked a little from the sudden penetration of heat into my skin. “I don’t know,” I managed.
“Stop fighting me, Charli. Let me do my job,” he insisted, pressing hard enough to make me wince. “Tell me what you want.”
The warmth on my neck slithered across my shoulders and down my arms. Instead of bliss, I fought shivers of disgust.
Little alarm bells clanged in my head, waking me from my restful temperament. Opening my eyes, I tried to adjust to the pale light in the room. A soft, sickly glow covered my body, and I raised my arm to locate the heat that wriggled through my veins.
Dark lines pulsed across the canvas of my skin, invading and curling around my arms like inky ropes.
Struggling, I found myself unable to move. “What are you doing?”
Nick grunted behind me. “Why isn’t it working?” He released my neck with one hand and laid his warm palm across my forehead, pushing me down. “Stop fighting, please. I don’t want to hurt you.”
“Then…don’t…” I begged through clenched teeth.
The door I’d entered through before banged open, and the light from the other room flooded in, highlighting the shadow of a small figure.
“Leave her alone,” a familiar voice demanded.
I recognized the tiny being coming to my rescue. “Fenwen, be careful!”
She raised something over her head as if she were ready to swing it as a weapon. In my condition, I thought I saw a toilet wand in her hand.
“I’ll stop you,” Fenwen warned. “You won’t hurt anyone else.”
Nick lifted his hands, and the snaking lines retreated from my arms and curled around my neck, entrapping my head in place. “I don’t have time for this.” He lifted his hands in the air, and the crackle of power rose around us.
“Look out!” I yelled, unable to escape my magical bondage. “Fen!”
A bright light exploded, and heat filled the room like a dry desert. I fought to free myself to see if my little friend had survived, but the restraints against my throat tightened.
Nick’s face lowered over mine. “I’m sorry for this.” He laid his palm over my forehead, and the world went dark.
Chapter Fourteen
“Well, isn’t this a terrible surprise.” A soft hand stroked my hair. “No time for sleepin’, Charli Bird. You gotta get up.”
I fought against the heavy covers encasing me like a cocoon. “Nana? Is that you?”
Her laughter tinkled in the air like faraway bell chimes. “Why don’t you open your eyes and see?”
Desperate to spend time with my grandmother, I tried to lift my heavy eyelids but failed.
“Come on. Get up, sweetness.” She waited for my usual response.
My mind worked to find the right response, struggling to trudge through the fog thick as mud. Something about birds. No, I was the bird. And yet, I couldn’t fly out of the haze and into the light.
“I can’t,” I mumbled, wanting to give in to the drag of sleep.
Someone yanked on my hair, and the sharp pain woke me up.
“Don’t give into the dark. You gotta fight it,” Nana commanded. “Now, let’s try this again. Birdy, morning’s here to greet you with her shining light. What do you say back?”
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br /> “Nobody here but us chickens?” I said, a little stronger than before.
More of Nana’s chuckles chased away the rest of the fog. Blinking my eyes, I rubbed them to banish the soporific cloud. When my vision came into focus, there she sat like a cat perched on the edge of my bed.
“Hey there, Birdy.” She held out her arms.
I tossed the suffocating blanket off of me and sat up, throwing my arms around her. She wrapped me in a tight embrace, rocking me back and forth.
“I’ve missed you, Nana,” I muffled into her shoulder. “Don’t leave us again.”
She kissed the top of my head. “Oh, Birdy, I’ve been with you the whole time.”
Pulling back, I tried to take in our environment but saw only the bed we occupied. “Where exactly is here?”
Nana took ahold of my hands, pulling my attention to her. “Somewhere you shouldn’t be. And that’s something we need to rectify right now.”
My brow wrinkled. “I don’t understand.”
“And I’m afraid we don’t have time for me to explain.” My grandmother tightened her grip on my fingers. “Listen carefully to what I’m saying. There’s gonna come a moment where you’ll be at a crossroads. You’re going to have to make a big decision. Trust your gut, Birdy. Do what you know is right.”
“I can try,” I offered with a yawn.
“And now, I need you to wake up. Really wake up,” Nana insisted. “We’re running out of time, and I don’t know how much longer I can last.”
Angered adrenaline coursed through my veins. “Is someone trying to hurt you?” Whipping my head around, I looked for the villain.
She grasped my chin to make me focus on her. “I’m doing what I can here, but I need you to rise and fight for both of us. Whatever you do, you cannot fall back asleep.”
The second she mentioned it, a tiredness that ached to my bones took over. I yawned. “Why not?”
Nana’s eyes glared into mine. “Because you have to find her and stop her at all costs. You have to win so I can wake up, too.”
“Stop who?” It all sounded like too much effort. “Can’t I sleep now and fight later?”