Page 171 of As The Shifter World Turns

“Go. Win this thing.”

I didn’t win, not even close, but I held my own and at no point in the race had I wished for death, which I called a victory in andof itself. As the finish line came into view, I attempted to speed up and finish strong. My body was having no part of that, continuing its pace. That was until Ivor came into view. He was clapping and cheering me on like it was his job. I wish it was. He’d been working too hard.

That helped me rally and my speed increased, my finish was going to be strong… until it wasn’t. With my eyes glued to my mate, I tripped over my own feet and lay sprawled on the ground.

“Ryder, are you okay?” Ivor shouted as Neil grabbed his arm. Our friends were standing, their mouths open wide, as instead of running, I crawled the last few feet over the finish line.

71

A MASSAGE A DAY KEEPS THE DOCTOR AWAY

Ivor

“Micah, if you allow these plants to die before I collect them tomorrow, there will be trouble.”

The unicorn shifter extended his arms with wrists together. “Cuff me now. Easier to get the punishment over and done with before we party!”

Daire ignored his friend and work partner and went up onto the roof.

“We don’t have a green thumb, I’m afraid, “ Archer admitted. “It’s kind of a desert up there.”

It was our baby shower day and everyone in the manor was invited. After an afternoon of pampering, games and craft activities, food was being delivered and we were eating on Micah and Archer’s roof.

I hadn’t been up on their roof but our grizzly friend had described the dead plants. Micah had been taking furniture and cushions upstairs since yesterday but Daire insisted it needed greenery.

“Ready?” Archer asked. My fellow wolf shifter had a sitter for Elune so he could join in the activities.

I nodded, eager to lie down and have a relaxing facial and foot massage. Neil, Archer, Micah, and Ryder were joining me, while Martin and Daire said they’d come later when we were playing games. Neil had brought Toby who said he’d never had a facial or a foot massage and wanted to try them.

We had three beauty therapists so Toby, Neil, and I went first. The massage tables and equipment had been set up in the basement apartment as Archer’s dad lived in an aged care facility most of the time.

As soon as I lay down and the therapist coveredme with a big fluffy towel and placed a warm cloth on my face, I was in heaven. Neil was moaning beside me and Toby shouted excitedly, “This is nice.”

“Toby,” Neil said gently. “This is for us to relax, especially Ivor. So it's a quiet time.”

“Okay,” Toby whispered.

My face was cleaned and there were more warm cloths. If I had enough money, I’d do this every day. I fell asleep to soothing hands gliding over my cheeks and brow, and woke up to someone tapping a gong. “Is it over?” I asked not remembering if it was day or night.

I glanced at Neil who looked like I felt and Toby who was sound asleep. “That was so good,” my friend said.

We were led to another room while the towels and face clothes were replaced and it was Ryder, Archer, and Micah’s time for their facials. Micah had to carry a sleeping Toby into our room.

We sipped ginger tea and nibbled on cut fruit while leaning back in very comfortable chairs. When it was time for the foot massage, I opted for a light touch as my feet were placed in warm water, scrubbed, and wiped, and one was placed on a stool while the beauty therapist massaged the other one and rolled a wooden thingie over it.

So good. Once again, I closed my eyes and began to drift off to sleep when a yelp beside me had my eyes snap open. Neil was holding Toby’s hand and wincing as his foot was massaged. He’d asked for a strong massage and it was obviously painful.

“You can ask for a lighter touch,” I told him.

He shook his head. “I can do this,” he insisted, gritting his teeth.

“Neil, you’re hurting my hand,” Toby complained.

“Sorry.” My friend grabbed a magazine and hid behind it as he made faces. But he wasn’t hiding from the therapist because every time he grimaced, his toes curled and he tensed.

“What’s that noise?” I asked Archer as he came into the room after his facial.

“Ryder and Micah are sleeping, mouths open and snoring.”

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