AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Prescott shakes his head. “You couldn’t have left it at thank you, could you?”
The corner of my mouth twitches. “What would be the fun in that?”
“Okay, let’s go before you two strangle one another.” Nixon turns Prescott around and shoves him in the direction of the exit. “I finally got my wide receiver back, and I need him in one piece if we want a chance of getting that title one last time. We’ll see you soon, Smalls.”
He’s cleared to play?
Prescott looks over his shoulder one last time as the door to the elevator opens, and they step inside.
I stand in the doorway a moment longer, just staring at the elevator. I’m not sure why I’m so surprised. He’s always been a good player, and if he weren’t injured, the Ravens would have most likely won the championship last year too.
Grace’s laughter snaps me out of my thoughts. With a shake of my head, I enter the apartment to find Grace getting out of her boyfriend’s lap, giggling.
My heart clenches at her obvious happiness. When we met, Grace was always so sad. Not that it was surprising, considering the guy she’d been in love with just disappeared out of nowhere, leaving her questioning everything.
Grace must hear me because her attention shifts to me. “They gone?”
“Yeah. They just left.” I lift my hands over my head, stretching my sore muscles. “I think I’m going to go take a shower and call it a night.”
Grace nods. “I have a break tomorrow at two. Lunch?”
Letting my hands drop, I go over the schedule in my head. “I think I can swing that.” I turn my attention to Mason. “Thanks for helping today.”
Mason smiles, his fingers clasping around Grace’s hand. “Of course.”
That damn tightening is back as I look at them, making it hard to breathe. Clearing my throat, I wish them goodnight before going down the hallway.
Rei and Zane went to bed early, which isn’t unusual considering they were both going to be up before dawn to go to the rink to practice.
I enter my bedroom and look around at the mess. Our main focus today had been putting together furniture and organizing and cleaning the common spaces, so my bedroom is still one big pile of unopened boxes and suitcases. Opening one, I fish inside for a towel and my PJs before going into the bathroom.
Both Grace and Rei agreed I should take the master bedroom since I was the one who found this apartment, and you won’t hear me protest about it.
Closing the door behind me, I turn around and face the bathtub, my mouth going dry at the sight.
“Get a grip, Jade. This isn’t the same bathtub; even if it was, you’re better.” My fingers dig into the counter as I repeat more firmly. “You’re better.”
Maybe if I say it enough times, I’ll make it true.
Turning on the hot water, I turn my back on the bathtub and quickly take off my clothes before slowly looking at the tub again.
It’s different than the one I have back at home. When we were remodeling, I convinced my parents to get me one of those freestanding tubs because I loved the way it looked. This one is a shower and tub combo with a glass door.
It’s different.
You’re different.
Chanting those words to myself, I slip inside the shower. My whole body aches, my skin sticky from sweat and dust clinging to it from all the hard work.
The first touch of warm water on my skin is pure heaven. I tilt my head back, letting the water wash away all the stress of the day, along with the dirt, before grabbing my shampoo. The familiar scent of lavender and rosemary fills the space as I shampoo and rinse my hair before applying the conditioner. While I wait for it to process, I take the body wash and spread it over my fingers, gently rubbing it into my sore muscles.
For a while there, showers were a necessity. I got in, quickly scrubbed myself, and got out because I never knew when my mom would need me. Oh, she said she didn’t, but I knew better than to believe her. But since her passing, they have turned therapeutic in a way. Whenever I felt tired or lonely, I’d hop in and let the water wash away the bad memories.
I close my eyes, letting my soapy hands run over my body.
Never a bath, always a shower.
Not after…
