Page 146 of Heart of Stone

We took our seats in the cushy chairs that would serve as our personal thrones during the pedicure. I relaxed back, trying to find that quiet place that I had in the Serenity Suite, while I enjoyed the feel of various oils and stones being rubbed over my feet and legs.

“You okay?” Allyson asked after a while.

I turned my head to look at her, confused by her question.

“Of course I’m okay. How could I not be when I’m being pampered like this?” I laughed, pointing to the tub of swirling hot water in which my feet rested.

“I was only checking. I thought you might still be stewing over that fact that Alexander picked up the tab for all of this,” she said, motioning to our surroundings.

“It was unexpected, but that’s just how he is. I shouldn’t have been the least bit surprised,” I said with a frown.

“Well, if you’re sure that everything is okay…” she trailed off. “You just seem sort of quiet today, that’s all. I mean, you took some major steps recently. I just want to make sure that you’re handling it all right.”

“I’m fine, Ally. Just taking it one day at a time…” I trailed off, closing my eyes again.

I wished that I could tell Ally exactly how big those steps were, and for the first time in our friendship, I felt lost. She knew that I had a secret, but she had respected my boundaries over the years. It pained me to think of how hurt she would be if she knew that I had opened up to Alexander before her.

But I couldn’t explain my reasoning for telling Alexander without filling her in on the rest of it. She wouldn’t understand the complicated layers that made up my relationship with him, as her worry for my wellbeing would overshadow all else. Telling Alexander was a giant leap of faith, one that I had to take if I wanted to continue the path that I was on with him.

Trust and honesty.

That’s what he told me. Without that, we would never stand a chance.

I heard someone say the word Alexander, and my ears naturally perked up. I peeked around my chair to see two women walk into the room and take seats behind Allyson and I. They both looked familiar, but I couldn’t place either of them.

Maybe customers from Wally’s.

I dismissed the notion that I knew them from somewhere, and tried to resume relaxing. However, it was difficult because neither woman would shut up.

“Suzy, I trust him, and so should you,” said one of the women.

“I’m sorry if I have a slight trust issue when it comes to him,” the other woman spat out.

“Ugh. You need to get over it. It was a long time ago. Besides, it never would have happened.”

“I know that better than anyone. The man will never commit to anyone.”

I heard Allyson groan beside me and I looked at her.

“Those two sound like a couple of cackling hens. I wish they’d pipe down,” she complained, motioning her head back to where the two chatty women sat.

“Yeah, tell me about it,” I agreed. “But, we are almost done anyways. Lunch should be waiting for us once our pedicures are finished.”

“Good, because I’m famished. I discovered that I’m not a big fan of French food and I feel like I haven’t eaten in days. I never want to hear the wordshaute cuisineagain!” Allyson finished with an exaggerated French accent that made me laugh.

“No, I kept it light, with your appetite for American-fare in mind. We’re just having finger sandwiches and a green salad. Nothing too exotic.”

“Sounds perfect,” she said, settling back against her chair and closing her eyes.

I did the same, wanting to cherish the last few minutes of self-indulgence.

However, as hard as I tried, I could not tune out the two women. They were still adamantly going at it.

“But Justine, how can you be sure that what he did will work?” I heard one woman ask the other.

Justine. I know that name.

I turned again to take a closer look at the two women. Sure enough, there was no mistaking that glossy black hair. It was Alexander’s sister. The other woman was a red head, the same woman that I saw photographed with Alexander in the article that I had read online.

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