Page 18 of Paradise

After a minute, she stands up. “Please follow me.”

She leads us to one of the rooms down a long, cream-colored hallway, where there’re two women waiting for us next to a step of massage tables. The room is masked in shadows from plants and low lighting, making everything feel serene and almost out of this world.

“Wow,” I say, appreciating my surroundings.

There’s soft music playing that sounds both calming and tropical, and Sara nods her head at me to agree. “Right?”

We’re directed behind some screens to strip down and wrap towels around our bodies, and then back to the tables to lie down.

I’ve never gotten a massage before, and I feel lucky that I’m not shy because I’m not sure stripping down and lying on a table would be everyone’s cup of tea. Sara isn’t shy either, it seems, since she drops her towel to her ass before she lies down, flashing her tits to the room.

I drop my face into the round pillow at the end of the table, then one of the women steps up and shuffles my towel down so she can begin on my back. I take a deep breath in when she tells me to, then as I’m blowing it out, she slides slippery hands against my shoulder blades.

I feel every muscle in my body relax one by one, and I hear Sara breathing out a deep sigh of relief as her masseuse begins as well.

After about five minutes, I speak. “This is great.”

“I know, I really needed this after sitting cramped in that plane for so long.” Sara sighs in bliss again.

“Do you think Carson and my dad will be okay today?” I laugh a little.

Sara chuckles. “Who knows with those two, both as stubborn as the other.”

“I’m just hoping your comedian of a son doesn’t say anything too inappropriate.” I sigh.

Sara laughs harder. “Like that time he thanked me for buying you that white dress because he could see your thong through it?”

I groan, even as I laugh. “Exactly.”

seven

CARSON

Levi and I get a message from Gary around noon, inviting us to play golf with him.

Golf.

The most awkward setting you could probably find yourself in, with a man who just married your mother, lied to her, then left the house for over six months.

I’ve played before. I’ve pretty much tried every sport since I’m an athlete, but I’m really looking forward to seeing Levi on a golf course. Even though Levi wears many hats, the country club vibe just isn’t for him.

He’s a beach bum some days, a kid from the hood the next, and the day after he’s playing basketball. He’s a wildcard, Levi Valentino, and I’m really excited to see him do this.

Thankfully, there’s a course at the resort we’re staying at, so we don’t have to go too far to meet Gary. We find him at the pro-shop just inside the freestanding building on the edge of the golf course, flicking through some different clubs.

When he sees us heading for him, he waves and meets us halfway.

“Hey, guys.” He pats me on the shoulder, which makes me feel awkward. “Ready to hit some balls?”

I let Levi borrow a polo shirt, and I put on a matching one—just so we look the part—and I’m pleased to find Gary is in full golf attire too.

“For sure,” I say. “Do we need to rent some clubs or something?”

“I set everything up this morning, so our caddies should have it all on the carts already,” Gary answers, impressing me. He doesn’t seem verycountry clubeither, since he’s been living in Franklin for the better part of his life, but maybe I’m jumping to conclusions.

We follow Gary out through the shop, and the sun is beating down on the greenest grass I’ve ever seen when we step out onto the course. There’re three carts sitting at the edge of the first hole, all accompanied by young guys who will be our caddies for the day.

“How are you?” Gary greets them, shaking hands with each of them before he points to me and Levi. “These are my sons, Carson and Levi.”

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