CHAPTER XXX

“I can’t believe we finally have a night off. This is exactly what we needed, Tabi.” I sighed with contentment as I settled into a plush massage chair.

Tabi grinned as she looked at her freshly painted nails. “Right? I swear, I could do this all week.”

The past few days had been filled with a whirlwind of emotions between Nico and me, and filled with tension and misunderstandings. Once I understood that he wasn’t deliberately avoiding me, everything finally calmed down.

Nico mentioned that he had a work assignment that demanded his attention, but he promised to check in with me at least twice daily. I looked forward to those nighttime calls because he was more relaxed when it was just us.

“So, spill, girl!” Tabi’s voice pulled me from my thoughts as the warmth of the water began to wrap around my feet.

“You left me hanging about your wild night with Nico,” Tabi prodded.

“What are you talking about? I told you everything about that night.”

“Not the most crucial detail.” She leaned in. “The size of... you know...his package.” Her smile stretched from ear to ear.

I felt my face heat up and looked around, ensuring no one else was within earshot. “You’re crazy, you know that?” I hissed.

“Hey, it’s been a dry spell for me.” Tabi whined, “I need some action, and you’re my only hope.”

“First of all, I don’t have a sex life,” I reminded her, wiggling my toes in the bubbly water.

Tabi’s eyes lit up, and she grabbed my hand. “We can change that. We need to get you waxed and ready!”

“Tabi, no!” I glared at her.

Just then, a spa attendant approached with a tray of wine and chocolate-covered strawberries. Tabi seized the moment, waving her over.

“Wine and wax, please,” Tabi declared, snatching a strawberry and a glass of wine. “My friend here needs to get laid.”

I choked on my strawberry, my eyes pleading with the attendant, who seemed to find the situation hilarious.

“Waxing services are our specialty,” she assured us, her voice overly enthusiastic. “Shall we book you in right away?”

Tabi’s eyes gleamed with victory as she sipped her wine. “Oh, yes, the sooner, the better. My friend here is in desperate need.”

I was going to kill my friend.

* * *

I didn’t know why I was doing this. I always kept my hair trimmed to a quarter of an inch, and Nico never said a word when he was exploring my downstairs.

I let out a heavy sigh, stretching out flat on my back on the spa table, waiting for the technician. Enya’s ethereal voice drifted through the speakers, lulling me into a near-dream state as I tried to relax. Suddenly, my phone beeped, a text message coming through, but it was out of reach since my purse was laying on the table across the room.

Just as I was about to let my eyes close, there was a sharp knock at the door. It swung open, and a middle-aged man with brown hair strode in, dressed in crisp black scrubs with the company’s logo on the left side of his chest.

“Hello, Winter,” he greeted me, a smile on his face as he shut the door behind him. He sat and rolled over on the chair, an iPad in hand. “So, Winter, is this your first time getting a Brazilian wax?”

I swallowed hard, suddenly anxious. If Nico found out about this, he’d freak out.

“Y-yes,” I stammered, gripping the edges of the table.

“It’s standard procedure for me to ask you a few questions before we get started,” he explained, his tone professional yet gentle.

I nodded, trying to steady my breathing.

He tapped on the iPad, asking about my medical history, whether I was on any medications, if I had allergies. I struggled to focus, my mind racing.

“Okay, do you have any questions for me before we begin?” He closed the iPad, his eyes meeting mine expectantly.

“Um, no, but maybe—” My words were cut off by a sudden uproar from the hallway. Angry voices and heavy footsteps echoed ominously.

The technician stood abruptly, his chair rolling back slightly as he headed toward the door. Before he could reach it, the door burst open, nearly slamming into him.

My breath caught in my throat as I saw Nico, his face twisted in fury, filling the doorway with his imposing presence. His chest heaved, the veins in his neck throbbing.

Oh, shit. This was bad. Very, very bad .