At The Spa - Part II "What?" Juniper lifted her head up completely and stared at her mother. Her mother finally lifted up and shot her an apologetic smile. "I heard Phineas say since he was the one who brought you into their lives, he deserved first crack at the can." "He did not." "He did and then Beni said he was the one who liked you first, so he deserved it but then Adil said Beni was wrong because he was the first person to see you and question Kyst's sanity and wanted you for himself. Then they said something along the lines of may the best man win but they'd never stop trying to steal you from whoever got you." "They're best friends!" she was aghast. "Yeah, I didn't get the feeling their friendship was on the line over it. I think they genuinely are wanting each other to be happy but also to make you happy. It's going to be an all-out war over who makes your heart stop hurting." "Why did you tell me this?" "You deserve to know three of the hottest eligible bachelors in North America are ready to throw down for you. Look," her 1/5 11:51 mother pushed up on her forearms to look at her directly, "I'm not saying you need to do anything today. You're hurting and clearly you're not in good emotional or physical space to get into a relationship with anyone. However, having three hot men who want to make you feel good and spoil you as your heart is mending isn't a bad thing. Kyst already destroyed the possibility of you ever just being with one another. Maybe it's time to consider the possibilities of what the rest of your life can be like." "I can't choose between three best friends, Mama." She scoffed. "Imagine. If and when I'm ready, maybe Suki will be home, and we can hit the clubs or something." "Have you ever hit a club?" her mother was laughing. "Yes! We've gone dancing!" "Without your jealous possessive husband behind you?" "No." "There you go. You've never had a real ladies night out because he's always been up your ass. It's time to let go of the attitude he is the only one for you. There is a whole world to explore. I'm not saying today but do me a favor," her mother grinned at her. "What?" "When you're ready," she held her gaze, "when it feels like it's 2/5 11:51 time to experiment with your sexuality away the life of the wife of Kyst Kennedy, don't limit yourself. I want you to kiss at least three men and maybe do a bit more. Don't buy the car before you test drive it. Don't consider anything other than what makes you feel best. I want you to be selfish, Juniper. For the first time in your life be selfish and take what you want and if it's stealing kisses from a CEO, a lawyer, a PI or hell, if you go to a bar and make out with the bartender, I won't judge. I will judge you though if you settle down with one man too quick again. There is more to life than the shape of one cock." "Mama!" She shrugged, "just last week I met a new one, cock that is. Also, if you decide to join any dating apps, make sure you tell me which ones you're on. I don't want us each swiping right on the same men. The guy last week was in his early thirties. Stamina was okay but it was clear he needs a Mrs. Robinson to teach him some tricks." With that horrible thought racing through her head, Juniper lowered her head down to the hole in the mattress and stared at the floor with wide eyes wondering what craziness was coming out of her mother's mouth next. When the massage therapist came in to tell them they were ready to shower off, she was grateful to get out of the quiet space with her mother. At the next station the resident hair stylists washed their hair, 3/5 11:51 put deep conditioning masks in and then another woman gave them facials while they were the masks were permeating their scalps. By the time she was sitting in front of a mirror with the stylist asking her what she wanted to do to her hair she was exhausted and even the weight of her wet hair felt heavy. "Cut it." Her mother's head swiveled, "what?" Right now, it hung to the middle of her back, and she was watching the stylist play with it and couldn't stop thinking of Kyst and the way he liked to play with her hair when she was curled up on his chest. "I need to still be able to tie it up in a bun on my head when I'm working because I hate my hair in my face when I'm trying to work but if we take at least six inches off I think it would do me good." "Six inches is a lot." The stylist too her hand from Juniper's middle back to right below her shoulders. "Long layers," Maeve blurted out. "I've always wanted to tell you to put layers in your hair and frame out your face." "Do it." she waved at the stylist. "What if," the stylist realizing the woman in front of her wanted a change, "we put a bunch of pretty blonde highlights all through it. Your hair is a pretty caramel color naturally so I think some blonde will really make your hazel eyes pop and 4/5 11:52 ་་་ bring out those golden tones in them." "Do it." "Do we have time?" "Honey, Phineas Perez shut this entire spa down for you today. If you wanted me to shave you bald and find a way to make it all grow back, I'd be hard pressed to find a way out." The woman laughed, "the bonuses we are all getting is worth it." "He shut it all down?" she looked around and noticed for the first time how little customers were actually in the room. "He said you were the most important woman in the world right now and to make sure you felt that way." "That man is coming out swinging," her mother reminded her of what she'd overheard the night before. Juniper wondered what it said about her that she was more than flattered by the actions and shifted uncomfortably in her seat. The most important woman in the world. She wasn't sure whether to laugh or cry. 12