"Please never stop." I was pleased to see his mouth stayed open and his eyes stayed closed.It was hard, but I forced myself to stop before things went too far and he noticed. "I'm going to use a buffer on your calluses, and then I want you to go wash and use the pumice stone in the bathtub. Anyways, so, Jules' turn came up. She ends up nailing one cup after another and with each throw, the shouts grew louder and louder. And then she wins and the whole place goes crazy. Switch feet," I said, using the switch to fan out the blanket and let some of the heat out. I was damp, but it wasn't sweat. I forced myself to ignore it and put the blanket back. I started rubbing his foot again with a sigh, squishing the lotion between his toes and along the ball."So, she won?" he prompted me with a grin."BF draws eyes like a flower draws bees on a sunny day, but now she's the goddamn belle of the ball. She gets pulled into another game and I start swatting away the creeps that aren't brave enough

"Sure."After we put away the food, except for a whole chicken, he pulled out a large skillet and a cutting board. "How about fried chicken?""I don't want anything that heavy. What about some kind of chicken and pasta?""I can do that. Want some steamed veggies with it?""Yes. That'll be my job," I said, and then we set to work. I chopped carrots, broccoli, and cauliflower, while a pot full of water warmed on the stove. John began to cut up the chicken, but stopped and muttered under his breath."What's wrong?""Do you guys have a knife sharpener?""I think so." I dug around the knife drawer until I found a metal stick with a rough surface. "Something like this?""That'll do." He grabbed all the sharp knives from the drawer and put them on the counter. He picked up one and leaned back against the counter, and then began to run the blade rapidly against the sharpener."Are we supposed to do that? I don't think either one of us have ever done it.""I can tell." He grinned and shook his

I felt him lean over and heard the sound of his backpack unzip. Then the room was suddenly filled with the aroma of sandalwood. When I looked up at him, I saw him rubbing his hands together with a small vial sitting on the table behind him."I'd like to return the favor," he murmured."What?"Reaching down, he took my foot in his warm hands and began to rub the oil into my skin. The sensation his fingers created forced open my mouth and made me expel a slow breath. "Fuck..."He lifted my leg and pulled my foot into his lap. After pushing my pajama legs up to expose my calf, he began to knead the muscles, drawing tension out with each strong squeeze. "If you lie on your stomach I can do them both at once."Before I could stop myself, I had turned onto my stomach. He moved my pant legs up and added some oil to his hands. When he continued the massage, I groaned out loud then whispered, "I'm cold."At my words, he pulled the blanket off of the back of the couch and covered me up, leaving

After paying for our coffee and a few pastries to share, I made my way back to our table. I didn't have a lot of money, but I felt like I owed them for keeping me occupied and away from home."Oh, Kate, thank you," Steph said as she took the coffee from me and sipped it carefully."My pleasure, I really appreciate you both hanging out with me today.""Missing Jules?" asked Holly over the top of her coffee."Yes." And I realized I really was. I could always count on her to give me a pep talk and she'd be able to put the situation with John into perspective. She had always managed to steer me away from the rocks where relationships were concerned. God knows she ended up on the rocks often enough herself to know what to avoid."Can I ask you a personal question?" Holly had a glint in her eye that made me feel uncomfortable."Sure, I guess.""Were you and Jules ever ... involved?" My mind flashed to a summer day in her pool, the scent of chlorine and coconut suntan lotion."What?" I asked

"Well, what time do you want to meet up here on Saturday?""At three o'clock, right here," I replied, but I had to force the words out."Good. Tell John I can't wait to meet him!" she said, squeezing my arm in a friendly way, but the bruises I'd left caused me to wince."I will. See you later, Steph," I said. When she'd walked off toward the exit, I made my way to the arts and crafts store where Mom worked.As I walked through the store looking for Mom, the coffee and lack of real food made my stomach cramp. As the manager of the whole store, she could be anywhere. I nodded to the staff members I recognized until one pointed in Mom's direction. I found her speaking to a woman about a sewing machine. Mom smiled at me over the customer's shoulder, so knowing it could be a while I browsed around the craft aisles until she was free."Kate! Where's John?""Home. Can I get a ride home with you?""How'd you get here?" she asked and gave me a quick hug."Steph and Holly.""Did you remember to