Page 76 of The Holidays with Mr. Mitchell
Avery exhaled softly. “Damn.”
“It only gets better from here, kids,” Jake said, taking another drink.
Collin eyed his best friend. “All right, I’m on board again, but I better not die of heat exhaustion during this nexttherapysession.”
“You’ll be fine,” Laney offered her husband a smile.
Collin smirked at her, “I’m doing this for you, you know?”
“Your selfish bastard ass is doing this for yourself,” Jake added. “Don’t lie to your lady like that.”
“Touché,” he added.
“So, what’s next?” Laney asked.
Ash brightened. “TheFire Chamber!It’s the most amazing thing, and it’s built into the cliffs. Heated basalt benches, essential oils, and Himalayan salt steam. It’s a full sensory immersion.”
“Translation,” Collin said, “a sweaty cave, yes?”
Jake smirked. “A sweaty cave that’ll change your life, buddy.”
I leaned back, amused. “You and Ash sound like a fucking brochure for this place.”
“You all laugh at it,” Ash said, “but when you’re in that room and your heartbeat syncs with your partner’s, you’ll understand.The body suddenly remembers what true connection feels like. You breathe together. You move together.”
I smirked. “We shall see is all I’m going to say.”
Avery laughed, leaning close enough that her shoulder brushed mine. “You know she’s probably right. Look at Ash, she’s glowing already.”
Ash raised her glass. “And it’s time we all get matching glow-ups.”
Jake stood, taking her hand. “About damn time, baby.”
Collin groaned. “I can’t trust the two of them,” he said while Ash and Jake acted like newlyweds on their honeymoon.
“Consider it a field study,” Jake said over his shoulder as we all prepped to finish our drinks and leave.
Laney laughed, “Come on, Collin. Live a little.”
“I was living just fine,” he said. “It’s my prankster of a best friend who I can’t trust not to kill us all with some bizarre shock therapy to our nervous systems.”
I finished the last of my drink, set it down, and looked at Avery. She was still smiling softly, and it struck me how just twenty-four hours ago, we weren’t anywhere close to this place in our hearts. I’d ached to have her back in my arms, and now I did, seeing her laugh as we took this day to do silly shit with our friends and family. I honestly didn’t care what we were doing so long as I was with her.
“You planning to test his theory later?” Avery asked, pulling me out of my thoughts while we walked through the cave.
“Thoroughly,” I said, offering her my hand. “And if those two nuts up there are correct, I’ll gladly offer them an apology for doubting this experience.”
She slipped her fingers into mine, eyes glinting as we followed the others out of the Snow Globe Lounge and down the frosted hallway.
The air grew warmer with every step, scented with sandalwood and citrus, a soft hum of music pulsing under the floor. Ahead, a faint orange glow shimmered through the mist of firelight, bending across stone walls.
Avery glanced back at me, her smile deepening. “This shit better work,” she chuckled.
“We’re about to find out, gorgeous,” I said, guiding her inside.
And as the steam swallowed us, I had a feeling Jake might be right.
The corridor curved downward into a tunnel of glass and stone, lit by low amber sconces that pulsed like candlelight beneath water. The deeper we went, the warmer it got. By the time we stepped into the fire chamber, my robe felt too heavy, and the air shimmered with heat.
