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“O-okay,” Winnie stammered, her pleading eyes bouncing between Jo and me. Penis-man stepped back and gestured efficiently with his hand for her to precede him to the treatment rooms.
“Go, girl, enjoy your pampering!” Jo smacked Winnie’s ass hard enough to get her moving. When they disappeared down the hallway, Jo turned to me, eagerly pulling her phone out of her back pocket. “Now, let’s talk Spark.”
“Spark?”
“It’s the dating app I use,” she answered absentmindedly, thumbs flying over her phone. “I’ve already set up your account with your e-mail address and this cute picture we took at Brooks’ the last time we were there.” She angled the phone my way to show me.
“Lily-Loves-Baking10?”
“It’s your username. I was going to make it Lily-Loves-Baking69, but figured you would get some major pervs. And even though it can be fun to laugh at all the dick pics, that shit gets old fast. I’ve already put in a few sentences for your bio, we just need some fun facts to round it out. What do you like to do in your spare time?”
I didn’t really have spare time. Every day I woke up before the sun to get started on my orders. Once everything was packaged and delivered, I was on my way to the bakery to clean until my fingers went numb. I barely had the energy to shower before I collapsed into bed every night.
When I didn’t say anything, Jo continued. “Like, working out, hiking, taking long walks on the beach, reading…”
“Oh! I like to read.”
“Perfect!” She started typing, “Loves to curl up on a rainy day with a good book and a cup of tea.”
My nose wrinkled, “But I hate tea.”
“Gotcha. Coffee?” I nodded my head and she typed it in. “Looking for my real-life book boyfriend. And…done. I sent you the password info so all you have to do is download the app and you’re good to go.”
My stomach turned over with nerves but Jo was so excited to help me and I didn’t have the heart to tell her I was having second thoughts about dating thanks to my disastrous night with Grayson.
After how I’d reacted to his question, I didn’t think it would be a good idea to meet up with strangers who would be asking the same thing. A real relationship might never be possible for me, who could I ever trust enough to tell them about my past? My heart told me that Grayson could be that person but I shoved the thought down deep, unwilling to think about being that vulnerable.
“Do you think Winnie’s going to be okay?” I changed the subject, worried about the look of terror on her face before she left.
“She’s got Joel, honey. She’s going to beamazingwhen he’s done with her,” a masculine voice said. The man who’d been behind the reception desk when we arrived was now arranging magazines on the coffee table in between the couches in the waiting area and apparently overheard our conversation.
“I don’t know if that’s a good thing,” I admitted to him.
“It’s a very good thing. That man’s hands,” he brought the tips of his fingers to his lips in a chef’s kiss, “they should be insured, they’re that talented.” I giggled, imagining an insurance commercial with boats, cars, houses and Joel’s hands.
“What’s your name, cutie pie?”
“Lily.”
“Nice to meet you, Miss Lily, I’m Benji,” he held out his hand palm side up and I placed my hand in his as he dramatically laid a smacking kiss to the top. Normally a gesture like that would have me sinking in on myself in fear, but Benji had an air about him that had me relaxing.
“It’s actually Benjamin Fitzgerald Huntington the third, but please, call me Benji.”
“That’s a lot of name.” Benji was tall and fit with more of a runner’s build than someone who spent their time at the gym lifting weights. He wore the same linen pants as the rest of the employees but a t-shirt with the spa’s name covered his chest. He was adorable with his brown tousled hair and enchanting green eyes. When he smiled, twin dimples showed on his cheeks. I had the distinct feeling this guy could probably sell wood to a forest but he used those powers of charm for good.
“Undeniably, and all it does is remind me of my stuffy southern lawyer father, hence the nickname.” He flipped imaginary hair over his shoulder theatrically.
“Now, you,” he grasped both my hands and held them out to my sides as he looked me over. “You look so sweet, I think I have a toothache. Those glasses are precious, librarian?”
I released another giggle, “Baker, actually.”
“No! I love to bake!” Pure excitement shone on his face, the kind that you couldn’t contain when you found another person who loved something as much as you. “I guess I got the toothache part right. What’s your specialty?”
“Cupcakes mostly, some cookies and other small treats. I also bake pies and cakes for some local restaurants.”
“Yummy, I love to make donuts myself. I have dreams of opening up my own shop someday,” his eyes clouded momentarily as if he could picture said shop over my left shoulder.
“Lily’s opening her own bakery,” Jo said proudly, making me smile as my cheeks blushed. I didn’t know her as well as Winnie, but she was without a doubt the kind of person who would always provide support and hype you up. She was solid gold in the friend department and I considered myself lucky to have been befriended by her.
