20 Questions

Chapter 16

The spa is as gorgeous in person as it is in the pictures. I don't have an appointment and this place looks like the kind of establishment that books up months in advance. I guess I will just have to take whatever services they have available. Much to my surprise, there was a last-minute cancellation for a full body massage and facial so I steal the spot with zero remorse.

The day didn't start off so great, but things are already looking up.

The young girl at the desk looks to be in her early twenties and has lilac hair. It is not something that I would ever do, but it actually looks really pretty on her. She tells me her name, of which I forget before we even leave the lobby. Rose, Lilly, Iris...some type of flower, I think. She walks me into some type of locker room and hands me the softest robe I have ever felt. She explains how to use the lockers and gives me my itinerary for the next couple hours. She tells me to come into the relaxation room when I am done changing and the massage therapist will meet me when it's time. I undress, put my belongings in the locker and head across the hall to two large glass doors.

I fill a glass of the provided fruit-infused water, hints of orange and lime stimulating my palate. It's refreshing and this redneck hillbilly from Indiana is feeling pretty damn fancy. A row of soft teal chaise lounges line the back wall with the type of padding that makes you feel like you've just sunk into a cloud. I choose one in the center of the room, sliding off my slippers and nudging them under the furniture. The room is dim and tranquil, the sounds of traditional Japanese instruments, cues from nature, waves crashing and gentle birdsongs surrounding me. The chemicals in my brain are reacting to create this harmonious state of relaxation that has been entirely foreign to me since Jansen's passing. A intricate fountain sits in the center of the room, the trickling water capturing and keeping my attention. I'm alone in the large room, of which I'm grateful for. I'm completely naked under this robe and with one wrong cross of my legs, I may scar somebody else for life. I finish my fancy water, set the glass aside and close my eyes as I wait for the massage therapist to fetch me. My mind drifts off to the sexy man who will be accompanying me to dinner tonight. I hope he is having fun and not shoving Bryson off the ski lift. Or maybe I want him to, I'm not sure.

Ten minutes later, the massage therapist arrives and she couldn't possibly be any cuter. Her voice is soft and relaxing as she introduces herself to me as Lynn. I wonder if the employees always speak this low or if it just a requirement in this building. She leads me into a darkened room, asking me about what type of scents I prefer and how much pressure I like during the massage. I tell her this is my first time at a spa and she begins to make recommendations. I decide on a floral scent that is not too overpowering. I remove my robe and cover up with a sheet. I'm trying not to appear uncomfortable being that I am completely naked, but I reassure myself that they do this all day long. The massage table is warm and feels good against my undressed skin. Lynn rubs an oil on her hand, putting it in front of my nose, encouraging me to inhale. The smell is nice, but she could have rubbed her hands with mashed potatoes and I wouldn't have cared. Two minutes into the full body massage and I'm already asking myself why I've never done this before. I close my eyes and find it exceedingly difficult to stay awake.

I must have dozed off because before I know it, I am awoken by Lynn gently shaking my shoulders. I apologize to her for falling asleep and for the possibility of snoring or drooling on her table. I haven't been this relaxed in a long time. She giggles and tells me it happens all the time. She leads me to where I get my facial and I doze off again during it.

These people probably think I am narcoleptic.

After the facial, I return to the locker room and get dressed. I'm glad I elected to not get the scalp massage so I don't have to rewash my hair. I head down to the front desk to pay for my services. This little spa trip cost me a small fortune, but I tell myself that I needed this and I deserve it.

As I'm bundling up my coat before stepping out into the Aspen winter, I take a mental inventory of which clothes I packed. Since I hadn't planned on being asked out on a date by the hottest man on the planet, my wardrobe came a little ill-prepared. With that new revelation, I head in the direction of the little shops I recently visited and find a little boutique.

I'm not exactly sure what I'm looking for, but the one thing I'm certain of is that I need an outfit that will blow Hunter's mind.

I have big plans for that boy tonight.