Yes, I know.
And you’re having a surprisingly nice conversation.
Also noted.
And you keep picturing…
‘Can I ask you something?’ Eva said suddenly. ‘Why were you trying so hard to make me comfortable earlier?’
Maddy’s brain stalled for a second. ‘Was I?’ she said.
‘A bit,’ Eva said. ‘You kept checking if I was bored.’
Maddy frowned into the face cradle. ‘Oh. Sorry. I guess I felt like you were a little above our league. Socially.’
‘I’m not sure what that means.’
‘I guess I just feel like you might need something a bit more…’
Eva broke in there. ‘You don’t have to do that with me.’
Maddy blinked slowly. ‘Do what?’
‘Take care of me.’
The therapist’s hands paused briefly before moving to Maddy’s lower back.
‘But you’ve done that for me,’ Maddy said tentatively. ‘Maybe I wanted to repay the favour.’
‘Maybe we should stop taking care of each other quite so much, then. Maybe we’re both pretty tough,’ Eva said.
‘Maybe.’ It came out more quietly than Maddy expected.
There was a small rustle from Eva’s table again. ‘Okay,’ Eva said.
And for some reason, that single word made the room feel warmer.
The fountain-or-tap continued trickling quietly somewhere in the background, and the soft music chimed on. The massage therapist began working slowly down Maddy’s back, firm but methodical. It was doing dangerous things to her ability to maintain normal conversational filters.
‘So,’ Eva said after a moment, voice thoughtful now, ‘if Hannah’s your mum’s dream daughter…’
Maddy braced.
‘…what does that make you?’
Maddy didn’t hesitate. ‘First pancake,’ she said. ‘Unfortunately, by the time she knew I’d turned out funny, the stove was cold.’
Eva burst out laughing. Maddy couldn’t believe she was talking like this. This was inside voice stuff. And it was out. Andkilling.
Then Eva said, softly amused, ‘You’re no dodgy pancake.’
Maddy wanted to think that was simple politeness. But something about Eva’s voice when she said it made Maddy suddenly very aware of the warmth in her shoulders where the therapist’s hands had just been.
‘Well,’ Maddy said after a second, aiming for lightness and mostly achieving it, ‘give it time.’
Eva laughed again. And Maddy suddenly realised that she was comfortable. Which was slightly alarming. Because she was still in a quiet spa room, half melted into a massage table, feeling oddly content just hearing Eva breathe quietly on the next table over.
They were still naked and vulnerable. Only, it didn’t feel that way now. It felt safe.
