"Hey baby, I miss you...
"Hey, I was thinking about you last night...
"Something funny happened yesterday, and I wanted to tell you...
I scowled as I tried typing out a text, and then deleting it each time, trying to craft something that would get a response and wouldn't get ignored.
"Dan, you'll never guess what happened on the subway yesterd-
"Paige, what's going on?" A voice snapped me out of my reverie, and I shoved the phone in my bag without finishing the text. I looked up and my friend Mal had taken the seat opposite to me in the lunch room.
"Nothing's up." I shrugged and took a bite of my salad.
"Please don't tell me that you were texting Danny again." Mal rolled her eyes. I shook my head. "Good, because he's dating someone else. He's over it. You need to get over it, too. I'm surprised that he hasn't changed his number yet."
"Ok, ok, I was writing him a text, but I didn't send one. I'm not going to, I promise."
"Good, because we've got something else to talk about. I was selected to go on that sales convention to Ottawa, and I was told that I can bring someone to help with the set up and tear down. Do you want to come with me?" Mal asked.
"I don't know. I think that I've got plans." I stabbed a cucumber with my fork.
"Fuck off. Our accommodations are at a spa. I only need you to help me set up Friday morning, and then tear down is Sunday after lunch. The rest of the time you're free to do what you want, and you'll get credits to use at the spa. You've been awfully uptight since you and Danny broke up. You need to relax."
"Well, if you're going to present it like that, then yes, I'd be delighted to go with you." I said.
"Alright, I'll pick you up at 7 Friday morning. I'll call you Thursday night to go over the details." Mal and I talked about a few more things, but she soon left me to head back to her floor.
*
"Thanks for your help this morning. We finished that sooner than I expected." Mal said as we were grabbing some lunch.
"No problem. I think I'm going to have a nap this afternoon. What time do you need to go down to the conference centre?" I asked as I put some food on my tray.
"At 1. You didn't want to check out the spa? Also, you should come to the mixer at 1. There's bound to be some cute guys there." Mal elbowed me in the ribs.
"I don't know about that. I haven't been with anyone since Danny left. I'll probably make some bad decisions." I sighed.
"That's the point! That's what a rebound is for. No wonder you've been so uptight lately. You're probably horny. You and Danny split 4 months ago." Mal rolled her eyes.
"Ok, I'll think about it." Mal left the dining area a few minutes before me, because she said that she had some things to finalize before going to the conference centre. When I returned to the room, she was still there putting her makeup on.
"Paige, I have some great news! I got you in for a complete relaxation massage at 1. Get down to the spa. I heard some of the other girls talking about how good Dante was. I was able to get you in because there was a cancellation." Mal shoved me back toward the door so I wouldn't be late.
I found my way down to the spa and announced myself to the receptionist sitting behind a large desk.
"Great. Paige, you are scheduled for a two-hour full body massage. Please take a seat, and Dante will be with you momentarily." She gestured for me to sit in one of the comfy looking seats behind me. I flipped through two pages of a magazine when I heard someone beside me clear their throat.
"Are you Paige?" A rumbly voice asked. I looked up and there was a tree trunk of a man. He looked like the type of guy who spent way too much time at the gym and would have no problem bench pressing me.
The most that I could do was nod. He opened the door behind him, and gestured for me to go with him. He led me to a small room that was softly lit. The usual spa amenities could be found in the room.
"You are scheduled for a two-hour massage. It is up to you how much of your body you expose. If you want it touched, remove the clothing. Whatever you leave on, I will avoid." Dante then left the room so I could undress. I decided to take everything off. I climbed up onto the massage table, which I soon found out was a heated table. The warmth and coziness of the table immediately made my muscles begin to relax.
When the door opened again a minute later, I felt like I was in a hazy dream-like state. Dante's strong hands started rubbing the muscles of my shoulders and I sighed.
The massage continued like any other massage that I had. He worked my back and arms, and then moved the blanket to my upper body so he could massage my legs.