Heaven in Hedonism (The Sinful Series Book 3) by Emma Nichols Page B

for the availability. There was one spot left late in the afternoon. “What other spa services do you offer?” I asked. “Can I get a facial or a mani and pedi?”
    “No,” a woman calmly explained. Clearly, she had this whole Zen thing down. “We offer yoga, acupuncture, and meditation.”
    I tried to picture myself a human pincushion and simply couldn’t. “Maybe some other time. Thank you.” Then I hung up.
    The next place I called was Organic Bliss. While I didn’t care if my products were all natural or chemical, I did like the use of the word ‘bliss.’ At the moment, I wanted more bliss in my life. This time, I visited the website in advance. They offered everything I wanted.
    “I don’t suppose you have time for a Royale treatment today?” I asked. After the last letdown, I was starting to feel desperate.
    “Actually, we do. If you can be here by eleven am, we can have you done by four in the afternoon. Will that work?” She seemed perkier and less serene. This was the place.
    “Sign me up!” I chirped. Her mood was apparently contagious.
    After throwing my clothes in the dryer, I packed my toiletries and pulled out my traveling outfit. We’d be flying overnight. It was all about comfort. Grabbing a maxi skirt in lavender and a black tank from the closet, I laid them on the bed and turned my attention to the suitcase and carry on. Before long, all my electronics and power cords were in the smaller bag and a whole lot of fun clothes were in the suitcase. After all, there were theme nights. I was determined that Mac would have eyes for no other woman. For some reason, that was more important to me than anything. Just once, I wanted to feel like enough.
    With the packing mostly accomplished, aside from a few items I’d add from the dryer when I returned, I was ready for my spa day. Just knowing that I was going to the spa made me feel absolutely decadent. It just seemed strange going without Sin. When she called while I was en route, I felt particularly guilty.
    “Whatcha doing?” she asked. From the sound of her voice, I could picture her curled up on her bed.
    “I’m taking a little time for myself before I leave tonight. I just really needed a distraction. Lately, I don’t even know what to do. I’m ready to climb out of my skin half the time.” I blathered on, careful to never truly answer her question.
    “Sounds lovely. So, I ask again, whatcha doing?” There was an edge to her voice, as if she was already losing patience with my antics.
    Sighing, I responded, “I’m headed to a spa for the royal treatment.” Then I waited for her to respond, to tease me, to make me feel guilty because she wasn’t with me.
    “Oh, sounds wonderful. I’m just lying in bed, snuggling my babies.”
    There it was. I knew it. Bed. “Sounds relaxing,” I agreed.
    “It is. Next time you need to relax, come hang out with my babies. They are magical little stress relievers.” She sighed happily.
    “Huh. I thought babies created stress,” I joked.
    “Not mine. Perfect, remember?” She laughed.
    “Of course they are.  So maybe I should just have one of my own.” There was a brief ache in my chest that I refused to acknowledge. “Well, I’m here, so let me go. I’ll call from Jamaica.” Honestly, I had ten more minutes in the car, but I couldn’t handle talking to her at the moment.
    “You bet. Talk to you soon.”
    Thus ended our last conversation before I flew off to Hedonism. Part of me worried that Sin and I would grow apart. Here she was a wife and mother while I was still single and lonely. Being around her only made me feel more single and lonely. How could our friendship survive that? For a moment, I tried to consider my life without her. It was impossible. We had been intertwined for too many years. She wasn’t trying to be happy to make me miserable, she was simply genuinely happy. Somehow, I would cope. I’d get through it. I’d accept my fate and embrace my life as it was. Maybe