Total pages in book: 176
Estimated words: 164533 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 823(@200wpm)___ 658(@250wpm)___ 548(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 164533 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 823(@200wpm)___ 658(@250wpm)___ 548(@300wpm)
Her hand came to my shoulder, her voice quiet when she said, “I’m just going to give you a minute while I grab some extra towels, okay?”
I nodded, still face down on the massage table, which was a relief in a way because eye contact would’ve been way too much right then. Kelly left, giving me just enough time to cry it out then wipe away my tears before she returned.
“Would you like to resume now? If not, we have other therapies you might prefer to try instead?”
Refusing to run away from whatever the massage was making me feel, I drew on all my reserves of courage and replied, “I’d like to resume.”
Without another word, which I was grateful for, she continued where she’d left off. I was still tense at first, but as the massage progressed, I found myself relaxing more and more. By the time it was over, I felt like a completely new woman, like I’d surpassed another hurdle.
The massage had been a revelation. Having a stranger’s hands on me felt like a release, drawing all these raw, messy emotions out of me and freeing the tension I didn’t even know I’d been holding.
Afterwards, I met back with Nuala and her mom, and we went to enjoy the Jacuzzi and steam room. If either of them noticed how my eyes were red from my mid-massage crying jag, they didn’t mention it.
The three of us had just sat down in the steam room when I decided to tell my aunt and cousin about my plans to possibly buy a house.
“How exciting,” Nuala exclaimed, full of supportive enthusiasm.
Jo seemed less enthused. “Are you sure this is the right step? I’ll admit I’m being selfish because Padraig and I love having you at the house. We’d be sad to see you go.”
“And I’ll be sad to leave, but I need the independence,” I said, inhaling deeply as I met her gaze. “It feels important I prove to myself I can go it alone, you know?”
Understanding tinged with sadness filled her eyes as she nodded, “No, I do know that, and we’ll support you every step of the way. Whatever you need, Padraig and I will be happy to help.”
“Living next door to Rhys, though,” Nuala said, some of her enthusiasm fading a little. “Are you sure about that?”
“Why would living next door to Rhys be a problem?” Jo questioned. “He’s basically another member of the family, and it’ll be good for Charli to have a friend close by if she’s going to be living in town.”
“Right,” Nuala scoffed mildly. “A friend.”
I shot her a glare, but it was too late. Her tone had already garnered her mom’s attention. “Is there something I’m missing?” Jo asked, confused.
Nuala glanced at me, eyebrows raised. Oh great, so she wanted my permission to reveal mine and Rhys’ history to her mom. I sighed and waved for her to go ahead. It wasn’t like my aunt would judge me for having a teenage romance with Rhys. Not when it was so long ago.
“That summer when Charli came to visit,” Nuala began, “she and Rhys became close.”
“Close?” she said then looked at me, realisation dawning. “Oh,” she breathed. “I had no idea.”
“Yes, mother. If my brothers’ antics are any sort of marker, you can be fairly oblivious to teenagers secretly shagging under your roof.”
“Nuala,” Jo exclaimed. “I am not oblivious.”
“Oh, really? Then how come Derek and Tristan had about five or six girlfriends each stay the night, and you never found out about it.”
Jo’s eyes flared wide. “Excuse me? Five or six each?”
Nuala chuckled raucously, and I couldn’t help releasing the grin that was tugging at my lips.
“And that’s a conservative estimate,” Nuala added. “Though, you’ll be relieved to hear I never broke the rules like my very naughty brothers because I’m a good girl.”
Jo narrowed her eyes like she didn’t entirely buy that statement, and it made me wonder if Nuala had ever had a boy stay over back in the day. As far as I knew, she hadn’t been with anyone the summer I’d visited.
Jo pressed her fingers into her temples. “I think this might be one of those things I’d rather not know about.”
“Hey, my brothers turned out okay in the end despite their youthful ho phases, right?” Nuala remarked with humour.
Jo shook her head in exasperation, and I sensed from her expression that she might bring the topic up the next time she had an argument with one of her sons. Nuala looked entirely too mischievous and pleased to have thrown them under the bus, and I realised that sibling rivalry continued no matter your age.
A small quiet passed before my aunt brought her attention back to me. “So, you and Rhys were together back then?”
“Yes, but it wasn’t serious.” The lie came easily. “Just a summer fling.”