A Very Reckless Christmas

Maya

"Why did I let him talk me into this?"

I thought as I laid half-naked on a cushioned table waiting for some stranger to come put there hands all over my face. I had been instructed to get undressed and relax, but this was the furthest thing from relaxing. I pulled the sheet tighter across my chest to protect myself against the cool room. Nick had handled everything like he said he would. He made me promise not to fall in love with anyone else but maybe I will just out of spite.

Savanah met me on the first floor with bells on. She started spewing about all the amazing things that came in the "Deluxe" package, maybe I should have paid better attention considering it involved my body but the only thing I could make out was something about a gold sugar scrub. I wish Tasha was here to translate for me.

A woman suddenly appeared at my side. "Good morning," she smiled down at me.

"Good morning," I replied, making sure my body was completely covered by the sheet. The short woman had curly black hair pinned on top of her head with multi-colored clips. Her brown skin was flawless, would my skin look like that, I wondered. It might make this whole thing worth it if it did.

"My name's Mary, I'll be doing your treatments today," she said slipping on a pair of latex gloves with a snap. "Is this your first time at Ainsworth Deluxe spa?"

"Yes."

"That's hard to believe, you have such gorgeous skin," she complimented, mixing an amber liquid in a bowl. "What do you use?"

"Uh, soap." I watched her set out multiple bowls on a small table each one filled with different things, all of various colors, and textures.

Taking a seat in a chair behind me, Mary began assessing my face. Turning my head from side to side, she touched my skin with a gloved hand. "Only soap, in this weather and you're still so hydrated, I'm amazed. I have to put everything but the bathroom sink on my face to keep it from getting chapped." She moved her hands down my neck and shoulders. "Are you nervous?"

"No, why?" I answered, quickly.

"Your shoulders are tense," she said, applying pressure. I sighed as she massaged the knots from my tense muscles. "You hold a lot of stress here. Did you know that?"

I closed my eyes, relaxing. "No." She continued massaging my shoulders and the length of my neck, she had magic fingers.

"I'm going to start with our liquid gold facial, it's Ryan Ainsworth's personal favorite." My stomach curdled at the thought of Ryan Ainsworth laying on the same table half-naked, knowing him he was probably completely naked. "And we'll follow that with our four-carat scrub and peel, followed by a deep tissue massage. Once we're done with that you are welcome to relax in one of our many jacuzzis or salt rooms, but I would highly recommend visiting the sauna. It feels amazing during this cold weather. Does that sound good?"

"Awesome," I exhaled. I didn't know what a four-carat scrub and peel consisted of or what one does in a salt room but if it felt as good as this I was down.

I never wanted to leave this place. Never ever. After Mary finished all of her scrubs and treatments a wonderful woman named Constance gave me a mind-blowing deep-tissue massage. I was so relaxed that I could hardly move afterward. Once I'd regained some energy, I sat in the sauna for who knows how long before having a full lunch followed by a trip to the salt rooms. I still have no clue what a salt room was supposed to accomplish but it was pretty damn fun.

I drifted back up to our room on a cloud of pure joy and happiness. I clutched my clothes in my hands. Savanah said I could just wear my robe back to my room. She didn't have to tell me twice.