Page 7 of Becoming Family

“I’ve been telling her that,” Delaney joined in. “Besides, Steele, all you have to do is learn how to ride a motorcycle and you’ll never doubt yourself again. Trust me.” Delaney grinned and snagged a candy bar from Clementine’s cauldron, while Clementine was busy pulling all thirty candles from the cake and sucking the frosting off each one.

“I’ve never evenriddena motorcycle,” Tabitha lamented.

“Running.” Clementine spoke around a candle. “Join my running group and fall in love with a new sport. That’ll make you feel strong.”

Tabitha wrinkled her nose. “Doubtful.” Despite how much she loved her gym, she struggled at everything. Running. Gymnastics. Lifting.

“You’re all knees and elbows,” Coach Rhett had declared one day in his bold baritone. He’d been watching her try to snatch a barbell, his narrowed eyes taking in Tabitha’s skinny legs and caving knees. “We need to fatten you up. With muscles.”

Red offered a soft, knowing smile, which peeked out from behind her fire-engine lipstick like a secret. “Let’s forget about the wish and start slicing this cake up.” She glanced at her phone. “Rhett’s regretting opening up the gym for a party. Things are getting wild over there.”

Right. The party. Tabitha had forgotten about the party. She was so proud of herself for dressing up, driving out here, making a wish in front of people, she’d forgotten that she actually had toattenda Halloween party. She drowned her trepidation in the huge slice of chocolate cake Clementine thrust into her hands, and by the time they’d all finished, her jitters had been doused with sugar.

“All right, ladies.” Clementine drew a jacket over her running clothes and held up her keys. “Let’s go have some fun.”

They all piled into Clementine’s SUV, Tabitha climbing in the farthest seats in the back with Trinity. She was going along for the fun, even though she had no plans to drink excessively. Safety in numbers, and this night shouldn’t be so bad. Though Tabitha had to admit, she’d feel a lot more comfortable right now if she hadn’t put her wish out in the universe like that.I wish I could be as confident and strong as this group of badass ladies. And that includes my dog.

Because that was true. Even Trinity was more badass than Tabitha.

Red climbed in beside her, nestled her crystal ball in her lap and gave it a rub. “The ball tells me you need my ear.”

Tabitha waited until they were under way and the other women were all talking and singing along with the music before she peeked around Trinity’s furry shoulder and said, “I think massage school was a mistake.”

Red’s expression didn’t change. “Why?”

“Aside from doing poorly on most of my quizzes, I’m giving all the men in my class erections.”

The interior of the SUV went silent. Clementine even turned the music down.

“Brava,” Sunny quipped.

“That’s pretty normal, right?” Clementine peeked in the rearview mirror. “That can be a normal reaction. Especially if the guy is relaxed.”

“It can,” Tabitha agreed. “We even talked about it in class. But three guys? In a row?”

“Oh, c’mon, Steele.” Delaney waved a hand. “Don’t you think you’re being a littlehardon yourself?”

The women burst into laughter. They’d barely simmered down before Sunny added, “She really is the Woman of Steele,” and they all broke into hysterics again.

“Ladies, c’mon,” Clementine sputtered, the humor still thick in her voice. “Tabitha needs solutions, not jokes. Can we all pleaseriseto the occasion?”

Trying not to laugh was pointless by now. After a while, they all started to talk over each other, each of them offering their own special brand of help. Tabitha heard everything from extra blankets to turning a blind eye.

“Ladies.” Red, the only therapist in the car and quiet up until that point, asserted herself with her usual calm, authoritative tone. “This is an easy fix. One Tabitha could’ve cleared up with a text message.” Red gave her a chiding look. “She doesn’t need to quit massage school.”

“Oh, do tell, Cici.” Sunny turned to face her older sister.

“She just needs—” Red covered Tabitha’s hand with her own and squeezed “—to use more pressure. If you’re giving men erections on a regular basis, then your touch is too light. That’s all. It’s a rookie mistake, but that’s okay. You’re in school to learn these things.”

“Really?” Tabitha’s cheeks burned, but the car was dark, so no one would see it.

“Yep. That’s it. You’re not the first person to have this problem. There are articles on this topic.”

“Where can we find thesearticles?” Delaney quipped. “In the back of the magazine?”

The women laughed while Red smirked and shook her head. Clementine turned the music back up; Tabitha grew quiet and sank deeper into her seat. Of course it was that simple. How could she have been so stupid? Her touch was too light. Just like in every other aspect of her life. “What if it happens at the marathon next weekend?” she pressed.

Red gave her a look. “Trust me, hon. You’re not going to give anyone an erection after they’ve run twenty-six point two miles through Greenview Park. Their legs are going to be Jell-O and the only thing they’re going to want from the therapists at the end of the run is a chance to lie flat on their faces and some quick, warm compression. Besides, I’ll be there. I’ll keep an eye on you.”

Again, Red was right. Volunteering to massage runners after the grueling race was optional, but Tabitha definitely needed the extra credit after her last few quiz grades. She’d be there whether the thought of practicing on marathon runners terrified her or not.

“Hey.” Red’s hand covered her own again. This time, she gave a gentle stroke. “If this isn’t really about erections, if it’s about something else, you being afraid or anything at all...that’s okay. You’re still going to be okay. You know that, right?”

Tabitha didn’t respond, but she didn’t draw her hand away. Instead, she let Red’s hand grow heavier over her own, until the pressure felt good. Grounding. Warm. Just like Smoosh Time. She leaned into Trinity, who leaned back. Between the dog’s shoulder and Red’s hand, Tabitha would at least make it until she reached the party.

She had no idea what she’d be like after that, but hell. It was her birthday. She was at least going to try to let it end better than it had started.

Source: www.allfreenovel.com