CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
Elodie wasn’t there when I got home. I couldn’t remember if she had to work or not—I barely remembered thatIhad to work—and I didn’t pay attention to whether or not her car was in the driveway.
I took a quick shower, but I still felt like death when I got out. Brien used to keep a hangover kit in his apartment. Extra Strength Tylenol for a headache. Benadryl for puffiness. Pedialyte to replace essential minerals. And Alka-Seltzer to soothe the stomach. He was like a depraved Boy Scout, always prepared. What I wouldn’t give for a couple of Tylenol now. Forget the ex-boyfriend, take the meds. That sounded like a good plan. I searched the entire house but came up empty-handed. I even fumbled through the drawer with the packets of soy sauce and chopsticks, just in case I’d find one of those little individual packets of Tylenol or Advil in there. I wouldn’t even have cared if it was expired. Even though the drawer was full, there were no pills of any kind, but I did find an old fortune cookie, which I cracked open.
You don’t need strength to let go.
All you need is understanding.
Actually, fortune cookie company, I really needed some aspirin.
I made a cup of coffee and sat at my kitchen table, staring into space. My mom, my dad, Austin, Kael—every stressor in my life seemed to be weighing on me, hard. Tapping me on the shoulder, pulling the muscles in my back. I wanted to bang my head against the wall, to cry or scream and shout, but I had to leave for work. As everyone kept reminding me, I was the responsible one.Just do the next thing,I told myself.Put one foot in front of the other and do what needs doing. That’s how you’ll get through the day.
With that little pep talk in mind, I made my way out of the house and through the alley to the salon. The doors were unlocked when I got there, the OPEN sign bright in the window. Mali was behind the desk, checking in a middle-aged man and woman for a couple’s massage. I was glad I came in as they were being escorted to the room so that I didn’t have to take them. The woman looked really excited about it. He looked annoyed, as if his wife had dragged him there to work on their relationship or something. You could always tell. That’s why couple’s massages were my least favorite thing. I’d rather rub a client’s thick, callused heels, and I really hated doing that.
“Good morning, sweetie,” Mali said when she returned. “Or maybe not?” she asked, her eyes searching my face. She could always see right through me.
“Hangover,” I offered. I thought it was best to admit at least half of my problem.
She took in my wet hair, puffy face, and bleary eyes. “Hmm,” was all she managed.
It would be a long day if Mali, of all people, started getting on my nerves.
“Is Elodie here?” I asked. I couldn’t see the calendar from where we were standing.
“Yes, and on time,” Mali told me, nodding in approval, and maybe making a little dig at me.
“Elodie’s not late that often.”
“Your client is here,” Mali said abruptly, looking toward the door.
“I don’t have any clients scheduled—”
“Not true,” she said. “Here. Look at the schedule.” She pointed to the name scribbled on the little blue line that said “10:00”
“Did someone move their appointment? I can’t read this,” I said to Mali.
The bell dinged behind me, and Mali turned to address the customer in her sweetest voice.
“Mikael? For an hour deep-tissue at ten? That you?”
I nearly choked on the air when I turned around and saw Kael.
Sure enough, there he was, wearing a gray T-shirt and joggers. They were black, tight on his legs, with a big Nike swoosh on the thigh. He looked exhausted, or hungover. Like I was.
“Kael,” I said, as if I had to tell myself that he was actually standing there.
“Hey,” he replied.
Hey?
Was he here to talk to me? Or to get a massage? Both?
It was all too much.
He waited patiently while I collected myself and checked his name off the schedule. I stared at Mali until she walked away reluctantly and with a smirk imprinted on her face. I looked at Kael and felt the tape of the last twenty-four hours unwind.
I didn’t like him, I told myself. That addiction stuff was nonsense. It was just that it had been a while since I’d been in close contact with the male species, so of course he was getting inside my head. I was lonely, that was all. Everybody got lonely. It was only natural.