Page 83 of Tuned To Break
STELLA
The soft instrumental music trying to lull me into tranquillity has got nothing on the chaos that is my friendship group.
“I still can’t believe you had sex in Arden’s bathroom,” Emily says, adjusting her towel as we settle into the plush recliners in the lounge at Lotus Day Spa. “At a work function. With everyone outside.”
“It wasn’t a work function,” I argue, folding my legs beneath my fluffy robe. “It was a barbecue. And we were very discreet.”
“Discreet?” Megan snorts, hair piled in a messy bun under a wrap. “Stella, you came back with sex hair and a dress that looked like it lost a fight with a tumble dryer.”
“Plus,” Yasmin adds, smirking, “Jake had that smug ‘I just got laid and she screamed my name’ look for the rest of the arvo.”
“He did not,” I say quickly—then immediately picture his shit-eating grin when we sat back down. Damn it.
“Oh, babe, he totally did,” Ella laughs, reaching for her champagne flute. “He looked like the cat who got the cream—and licked it clean.”
We all groan, and Ally raises a hand from her massage chair. “Can we talk about how hot it is that you two can’t keep yourhands off each other? I swear, I nearly ovulated just watching him look at you.”
I choke on my bubbles. “How does he look at me?”
Emily leans in conspiratorially. “Like you hung the moon and invented coffee.”
“It’s disgustingly romantic,” Megan says, smiling into her flute. “Honestly, I’m torn between being turned on and needing a barf bag.”
“You’re all ridiculous,” I mumble, trying not to smile too hard.
We’re midway through a full-blown spa day that Ella insisted on after the chaos with Doc and my emotional unravelling. Massages, facials, manis, pedis, unlimited champagne—the works. Arden apparently offered to foot the bill without hesitation. Something about Ella’s puppy eyes and well-timed blow jobs. Her words, not mine.
“Speaking of romance,” Yasmin sighs, settling in for her facial, “how are things going with you two? Like… really going?”
I glance around the group and exhale. “Good. Really good. Better than good.”
“Okay, but give us something,” Emily pleads, waving a cucumber slice like it’s a mic. “We want the full vibe check.”
“I am not giving you details about my sex life.”
“Not those details,” Megan clarifies, grinning. “Although, if youwantto share those too... we wouldn’t say no.”
“Relationship stuff,” Ella prompts. “Is he still doing that thing where he kisses your temple every time he thinks no one’s watching?”
“Yes.” I can’t help the soft smile curling at my lips. “He makes me feel… safe. Seen. Like I can just be, and it’s enough.” Five matching sighs, and Ally fans herself with the spa menu. “And yeah, we’ve talked about future stuff,” I add. “Marriage. Kids. The whole white-picket-fence fantasy.”
“Oh my God,” Emily gasps. “You’re going to marry Batman’s kinky cousin.”
I burst out laughing. “Nothing’s decided. We’re just exploring possibilities.”
“You’ve got it bad,” Yasmin says with a knowing smirk. “And he’s got it worse. That man is obsessed with you.”
I don’t deny it.
My phone buzzes on the table, lighting up with Jake’s name.
Jake
How’s spa day? Relaxing or secretly redesigning the workflow in your head?
Stella
Relaxing. Mostly. Although I did think of a new filing system for client contracts.
