His shower is breathtaking, with ceramic tile in shades of gray, blue, and green, and three shower heads. Three sides are tile and then the final side that includes the door, is glass. It’s at least six by ten. Maybe more.
Then there’s the bathtub. A huge freestanding modern claw foot tub that’s deeper than anything I’ve ever bathed in. There’s artwork on the walls, a floor stand with plants in one corner, and a long counter that runs the length of one wall. And I don’t even know where the toilet is yet.
“You like?” he asks quietly. His tone tells me he’s not looking for compliments but rather genuinely wants to know what I think.
“It’s stunning,” I say warmly. “Really beautiful. And I can’t decide if I want to take a shower or a bath.”
“Up to you.” His smile is laced with humor. “But go ahead and unpack your toiletries or whatever. Make yourself at home. I’m going to?—”
“Wait—you’re not showering with me?” I ask in confusion.
His expression turns dark as he slowly shakes his head. “There’s zero chance I’ll be able to keep my hands off you if we’re both naked, and while I’m not particularly shy, I don’t think we need Lindy and the others listening to you scream my name.”
My mouth falls open, and then I snap it shut.
“Understood. I still may never come out.”
“Take as long as you like. I’m going to throw in a load of my laundry since I’m traveling tomorrow, and then I’m getting online to see if there’s any information about cars that were abandoned on the highway.”
“Oh. Right. Thanks.” I’d almost forgotten.
He walks out, softly closing the door behind him and I look around for a moment.
This is the bathroom of my dreams. Something I was aspiring to when I was acting. I gave up all those dreams once I got pregnant and now it’s a reminder of just how much I gave up. How much Joey’s dad cost me.
Maybe I should have fought him.
Maybe I should have taken him to court anyway.
But I don’t know what I would have done if he’d followed through with his threat to take full custody. He could prove I didn’t have reliable employment at the time. He could point out how Ididn’t have much of a support system. He could show the court that he was the better option, despite his schedule as a professional athlete. He could afford nannies and the best of everything while I was barely scraping by.
His wealth and success intimidated me and now I’m involved with someone similar. Except West is nothing like Tony.
I’d bet my life on that.
And I’m not the scared, desperate woman I was four years ago. I have a good job and have created a stable, loving home for my son. No one can take that from me.
The water is hot and steamy, and though I brought my own shower gel, I use West’s because it smells dreamy. Like him. I close my eyes as the water sluices over me. I don’t want to think about anything except how good this feels. Five minutes of complete bliss before I have to step back into my role as a single mom living paycheck to paycheck whose car may send her spiraling into more debt.
I don’t know how long I stay under the warm spray but I finally rinse the conditioner out of my hair, scrub my face with the special product I use, and then reluctantly turn off the water.
Someone—probably West—has left two soft, fluffy towels on a small table next to the shower and I grab one with a happy sigh.
My post-shower routine varies. Sometimes I take my time to moisturize and go through a skincare routine that used to be mandatory. Now I can’t always afford the products and some days I just don’t have the time. Today, I think I do. So, I allow myself the luxury of pampering myself. Self-care is something I don’t indulge in often. I can’t, not with Joey demanding my attention, working long hours, and all my other responsibilities.
By the time I make myself feel human again, get dressed, and dry my hair, I realize it’s been an hour. I hurry downstairs to check on Joey and find him in the kitchen with Jayne and Lindy.
“Hey.” Jayne looks up with a smile. “Hope you don’t mind but I gave them a snack. All that running around made him hungry.”
“I don’t mind at all, thank you so much. I didn’t realize how much time had passed. I got a little carried away in that shower… it’s incredible.”
Jayne grins, pushing her glasses up on her nose. “Yeah, the tankless water heater is awesome too—we never, ever run out of hot water, no matter how many showers we take.”
“That sounds like heaven,” I murmur.
“Serena.” West comes in from the garage. “Bodi, Vik, and I are going to go look for your car. There’s no reason for you to go. It’s not like you can help push it or whatever. We’re hoping maybe we can tow it if I can’t get it started.”
“Are you sure?” I ask.