Chapter 30


    Elizabeth made me pack a small bag for whatever she had nned for us this weekend. I stuck to the


    basic necessities and put a few athleisure clothes in the duffle bag as well. Braden sighed as he sat in


    my room and watched me.


    "Where on earth could she be taking you?" Braden wondered out loud. I smiled lightly as I turned to


    face him.


    "Are you that worried?" I asked. He nodded without moving the rest of his body.


    "I can understand her wanting a girls'' day, but the whole weekend?" He asked. I chuckled before I


    zipped my bag close.


    "To be fair, I haven''t been spending much time with Elizabethtely because someone always stops her


    so he can keep me to myself," I joked. He rolled his eyes before he finally stood. His hands held my


    arms gently as his bent at his waist slightly to meet my eyes.


    "Text me when you get there, or I''lle find you myself," he warned. I smiled lightly before I nodded.


    He pulled me into a hug before his lips met my own briefly. Honestly, I could kiss him all day, but I was


    trying to hold on to what little restraint I even had. Braden hesitated before bringing his lips to mine


    again. He pulled my body flush to his as his other hand went to my cheek. The sweet kiss turned


    aggressive quickly. I found my own arms wrapping around his neck as I craved more.


    "Phoenix! You almost ready?" Elizabeth yelled from downstairs. We broke away from each other before


    Braden sighed and ced a gentle kiss on my forehead.


    "I don''t want to be away from you," he breathed. My hand slid away from his neck and held the wrist of


    his hand that was still holding my cheek.


    "Think of it as practice. I''m going to be pulled back against my will at some point in time anyway," I


    reminded him. He hugged me again briefly before grabbing my bag for me.


    "Let''s go," he said quietly. We walked down the stairs and met Elizabeth in the living room. She had a


    suitcase full of things. She smiled when she saw us.


    "I was wondering what was taking you so long. We should get going before we miss our appointment,"


    she smiled excitedly. We went to the town car waiting out front. Braden loaded the trunk with our bags


    before his hand brushed against mine discreetly.


    "Don''t forget to text meter," he said softly as his mom climbed into the car. I nodded before getting in


    as well. Elizabeth was going all out for our girls'' weekend. She even hired a driver. The entire car ride,


    Elizabeth sang along to the radio, not giving me a chance to ask any questions. After the first hour, I


    dozed in and out of sleep. Elizabeth clearly wasn''t going to talk. It was a little over two hours before we


    finally pulled up to a massive building with a sign that announced we were at the Esmerelda Resort and


    Spa in Palm Springs. Elizabeth got out once the car was parked and stretched her limbs. I followed her


    lead and got out hesitantly as I looked at the scenery. The resort was stunning on the outside. I could


    only imagine what the inside looked like. Even in the future, Palm Springs was still a dream vacation


    destination if you wanted to rx. I never dreamed I would actually get toe and see for myself. A


    worker from the resort weed us at the car before taking our bags to the front desk as we followed


    behind him. After checking in, we were led to our room. It was a spacious room in an en suite style. We


    had our own rooms, a living area, and kitchen. Elizabeth smiled at me in anticipation.


    "So what do you think? I figured with your injuries finally healing up and things calming down at school,


    this would be something appropriate for just you and me. And I get to spend time with my daughter in


    "I''ve never been to anything like this before, but it looks amazing," I smiled back at her. She pulled


    something out of her bag before handing it to me.


    "Put this on and then we can head to the therapy baths," she smiled at me. I nodded before heading


    into my room and changing. After putting it on, I checked over the fit. It seemed to fit fine while still


    covering mydy-bits. Elizabeth had gotten me a simple ck and white striped bikini. Looking at


    myself in the mirror, I was hyperaware of the yellow and green splotches on my stomach and back. The


    bruising was almost gone now, but I was still pretty self conscious about it.my phone rang from the bed.


    It was a FaceTime request from Braden. I debated grabbing something to cover up before giving up on


    the idea and just answering the phone. The camera only captured the top of my chest up but he still got


    the picture.


    "What is going on? Why are you in a swimsuit? Where did my mom take you?" He asked confused. I


    smiled slightly at hearing him worry about me.


    "We''re at the Esmerelda in Palm Springs," I answered. Braden sighed and closed his eyes briefly as he


    pinched the bridge of his nose.


    "Well, I guess I should just be happy that you''re still in the country. Spontaneous trips are kind of my


    mom''s thing. Last year, she drug us all to France on a whim," he reasoned with himself.


    "Is everything alright, Phoenix. How does it fit?" Elizabeth asked through the door.


    "Fits perfectly. I''ll be out in a second," I yelled back before turning my attention back to Braden.


    "I''ve got to go. I''ll text youter," I promised quietly before I hung up the phone. I grabbed the robe out


    of the closet before wrapping it around my body. I set my phone in the pocket on the robe before I left


    the room while putting my hair up in a messy bun.


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    "Ready?" Elizabeth asked. I nodded and followed her through the resort.