My Saving Grace

Chapter 18

After dropping my dad off at his conference meeting in downtown LA the next morning, I drove to the nearby spa for my monthly facial and body massage. These past few weeks had definitely taken a mental toll on me, so I was more than grateful for one. Hopefully afterwards, I'd feel relaxed enough to give Antonio a call.

Longing weighed heavily on my chest at just the mere thought of him. If we somehow managed to work things out on the phone, then soon, I'd be in his arms again--my favorite place on earth.

"Sophia, how are you?", Brianna, my masseuse asked with a smile after I'd checked in.

"I'm good. I can't think of a time I've needed a massage as badly as now."

"Those knots in your back acting up again?"

Since getting rear-ended in my friend's car as a teenager, I'd always had muscle knots in my upper back. For the most part, they were pretty mild, but I discovered over the years that whenever I underwent stress or suffered from lack of sleep, they would cause more noticeable pain.

"Yeah. I haven't been sleeping well lately," I admitted.

She frowned slightly.

"That's too bad. But don't worry. I'll make sure you leave feeling better."

Brianna slipped out the door, allowing me the privacy to strip out of my clothes then once I was lying flat on my stomach with a towel wrapped around my waist, she returned. As soon as I felt her skilled hands beginning to knead at the sore muscles on my lower back, I closed my eyes, drifting into unconsciousness.

Two hours later, I was walking along the promenade at Santa Monica, admiring the elegant shops and boutiques. My dad's meeting would end in approximately an hour, and then we were heading out for lunch. Nick was also planning on joining us.

I took a deep breath, letting the ocean breeze calm my senses then pulled my phone out of my purse. With slightly trembling fingers, I began to type in Antonio's number, and for a couple moments, I just stood there, staring at the screen.

"Here goes nothing," I muttered to myself before pressing the 'call' button.

My heart was beating furiously in my chest as I listened to the phone ring, the sound of it like a time bomb ticking away. At last, I was sent to his voicemail, and with a heavy sigh, I ended the call.

Tomorrow, I'd try again. He was probably just busy at the moment.

Later that night, I was lying in bed, staring out the window when my phone started ringing on the nightstand. Anxiously, I reached for it and when I saw the name, my expression fell for a moment, but still, I couldn't help the smile tugging at my lips.

"Alexa?", I answered.

"Sophia, what's up, girl?" She sounded as cheerful as ever.

"Just lying in bed. My dad's in the room next door. He's here for a two-day conference."

"Ooh, tell him I say hi. And that doesn't sound too fun. Shouldn't you be out right now? It's a Saturday night."

"I don't feel like having fun at the moment." I was surprised at how bitter I sounded.

"Uh oh, something's wrong, isn't it?"

I exhaled slowly, shifting my body to sit up against the pillows.

"You remember the guy I told you about in New York? Antonio?"

"Of course I do. The douche who kissed you then vanished into thin air."

So, for the next half hour, I filled my best friend in on my encounters with Antonio--including that last morning in his kitchen--as tears flowed freely down my cheeks. By the end of it all, I wished she were here to comfort me instead of across the country.