Lost Souls - Book 2 "Convergence"

Chapter 17 - Saturday, September 26th

Petra and Tabby left H20 an hour later, bubbling with excitement and gushing over their wonderful, crazy day, the awkward tension between them gone as if it had never happened. Sporting new hairstyles, brilliantly painted nails and expertly applied makeup, they waited in companionable silence in the shade while the parking valet disappeared to fetch Petra's car.

Fanning herself against the baking, summer heat, Tabby turned around slowly and drank in one last, longing look at the beautiful building she was leaving behind. "I don't want to leave." She whined, wistfully, her eyes still twinkling with awe. "I know it's stupid but I finally got a taste of what it's like to be treated like royalty and I want more."

"I know how you feel. It's nice being pampered and I'm going to miss those mineral springs. I would soak in that damn pool until I sprouted fins and gills if they'd let me."

The black Prius pulled up and stopped at the curb in front of them and a second attendant rushed to open Tabby's door for her. As they climbed in, Petra thanked the valet and let him close her door for her.

He tipped his head in acknowledgment, young face beaming with genuine pleasure. "No need to thank me, ma'am. I'm glad you enjoyed your stay with us." He gave the roof of the car a light thump and Petra put it in gear.

"Where to now?" Tabby asked as they left the spa's curved driveway and merged into traffic. As if on cue, her stomach rumbled with an embarrassingly loud gurgle.

"On that note," Petra chuckled. "I'm hungry too. Let's go grab some grub."

Tabby rubbed her empty stomach. "Mmm, sounds awesome."

Petra drove them to a nearby steak house and parked the car. "We might as well have an early dinner. There won't be time to eat before we head out to Delirium and I don't want to go on an empty stomach." She paused and studied Tabby, recalling the panic attack she'd had the last time they'd gone to a restaurant. "Are you going to be okay with going in there?"

Tabby stepped out of the car and cautiously sniffed, measuring her reaction to the aroma of grilling food in the air. Her stomach gave a slight lurch and her nerves prickled but other than a mild pang of anxiety the bad memories stayed obediently in their locked box. The calm oozing through her veins was a welcome balm and soothed her in a way she hadn't felt since...since the last time Marcus had held her.

Oh...enough of that, she warned herself, shutting off those memories. I don't need him in my head right now.

"Yeah. I'm good," Tabby announced, hoping her face didn't show the curveball her memories had thrown her.

"Awesome," Petra said, leading the way into the restaurant. 

Tabby breathed a sigh of relief and put a happy grin onto her face that was at odds with the sharp ache in her chest.

Throughout their meal, Tabby shifted and squirmed as discretely as she could manage in her seat, distracted by stinging heat coming from between her legs. She tried to hide her discomfort behind smiles and laughter but her thoughts were consumed by the concept of cold. An ice pack...snowdrift...hell, even liquid nitrogen would do the trick. She couldn't believe how easily she'd been suckered into getting her privates waxed. How gullible was she?

Petra had been watching her since they'd left the spa, knowing what was behind her friend's squirming and that it had little to do with having a full belly. "You got ants in your pants or something," she teased, a smirk dancing on her pretty lips.

Tabby scowled. "Oh, shut up. Like you don't already know. Does this blasting stinging ever stop and why aren't you uncomfortable?"

"It doesn't bother me because I'm used to it and the stinging doesn't last long. Trust me, it's going to be worth it," Petra giggled and Tabby wanted to strangle her dearest friend yet again, for talking her into the wax-job from hell.