Page 70 of The Holidays with Mr. Mitchell
TWENTY-SEVEN
Avery
The Sanctuaryon the Bluffs looked like Christmas had booked itself a luxury wellness retreat. White poinsettias lined the glass stairway like obedient elves, garlands shimmered along the balcony rails, and peppermint candles flickered against panoramic windows that framed the Pacific in cinematic glory. Even the ocean breeze smelled like expensive eucalyptus, cinnamon, and self-improvement.
“Well, what do you think?” Ash asked, clutching Jake’s hand as we walked in.
“I think this was the perfect idea to get away from all the bullshit of the last couple of weeks,” I said.
Laney peered around from Collin’s side. “It’s going to be the perfect reset to get you both through the rest of the holidays.”
“I talked to Cat this morning,” I added. “She said everything’s ahead of schedule, and I’m going to be blown away when I see the set on Monday.”
“Since you and Jim are finally back to normal again, did you actually break down and let him in on your little prank with the Scrooge set?” Ash asked with a grin.
“I hope to hell you didn’t,” Jake responded instantly, dragging his attention away from Collin and fixing it on me like I’d just confessed to tax evasion.
“I didn’t,” I said, laughing. “But considering that the last innocent prank landed us at this couples yoga session for emotional realignment…maybe I should’ve.”
“Nonsense,” Collin said. “The only reason that shit went sideways was because Jimmy can’t prank worth a damn.”
“Yeah,” Jake added. “Everyone knows you don’t stage a fight with your wife. He ignored the rulebook.”
“Well, I’m just glad it’s over.” I scanned the serene lobby. “He’s still not here yet. He said he had to visit a nearby site with Titus first.”
“So, the guy is already screwing up couples yoga?” Collin shook his head.
Jake smirked, “Thank God this thing starts with couples therapy before we start balancing together.”
My eyes widened. “Therapy?”
“Couples counseling,” Ash said brightly. “You start by clearing the toxic thoughts that poison your connection. Then you move into balancing poses, where you’re training your bodies to work together like your hearts and words do.”
“Full union,” Collin said, sounding way too enlightened. “I like this shit already.”
“Oh, God. Full union?” I repeated. “As in sex?”
Laney laughed. “Sounds like someone didn’t get enough of that makeup sex with her man last night.”
“Not sex,” Ash said. “It’s more like teaching your body and mind to dance again.”
“Sounds like you and Jake do this all the time,” I said, completely unsurprised.
“Sex is amazing afterward,” Jake said. “Trust me.”
“It’s the only reason Laney and I are here,” Collin added. “But trying to trust your ass during the holidays is pretty much how people wind up trending on social media these days, so there’s that.”
“Okay,” Ash said. “Men through those doors, and ladies are in the saunas over here,” she smiled at me. “Saunas and massages to loosen everything up and prepare for the session.”
“Ash, it’s a good thing we love you and all of your hippie ways,” I said, seeing her eyes transform into some form of meditational excitement.
After massages and saunas—both long overdue and very much deserved—we met the guys out on a breezy bamboo balcony. All of us were in matching white robes, looking like cult initiates waiting for enlightenment or some shit.
Jim had finally arrived, freshly shaven and smelling like confidence and sandalwood. “You smell so good,” I leaned into him. “I’ve missed you.”
“It must be the steam-room bergamot scent that those two idiots cranked up,” he said, kissing my nose. “And I missed you more. Sorry that I was late.”
“The wordsorryis the first mistake in all marriages,” a woman announced as she appeared from nowhere, wrapped in chiffon and purpose with black hair pulled into a bun tight enough to givemea headache. “Forgive me for listening in,” she smiled serenely, “but every couple that has entered my sessions discovers thatsorryis the seed of failure.”
