Chapter 31


    I closed my eyes as I rxed in the therapy bath with Elizabeth. It was more like a giant jacuzzi in a


    steam room with essential oils and epson salt in the water. But it was still rxing nheless.


    "I have a question for you, Phoenix," Elizabeth said as her eyes stayed closed.


    "Is Braden really staying away from Tara at school?" She asked.


    "We both want nothing to do with her. She''s maniptive and two-faced. Luckily, Braden can see that


    clearly now," I answered. I thought a moment before I picked up my head and looked at Elizabeth''s


    Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    rxed figure.


    "I have a question too. Why did you really tell Braden to im me as his fiancé?" I asked. She smiled


    slightly before sitting up to look at me.


    "Besides protecting you from those horrible kids, I said because I actually liked you. I knew I liked you


    shortly after meeting you, and I knew if Braden actually took the time to get to know you, he would like


    you too. I knew my interest in you would make him curious. He''d want to know more, and at the same


    time, he''d be getting to know you. Now that he''s gotten to know you, he''s more protective of you than I


    am. Because you''re actually together now, right?" She asked smugly. I turned heat red as I stammered


    for the right words to say. Elizabeth chuckled and sunk a little deeper into the water.


    "I knew it. I have for a while actually. Ever since your ident at the beach, he''s been different. Not


    that I didn''t see it even before then, but I can tell he really cares about you, and that makes me happy


    because you''re a good girl, Phoenix. I really hope you legally be my daughter-inw one day,"


    she smiled sweetly. I felt guilty for giving her false hope. I saw now, why Braden pretended not to care


    on the beginning, but it was toote now. When I eventually returned to my own time, I wouldn''t even


    know what Braden would be able to tell his mom to sooth her broken heart. I was yet again reminded of


    why it wasn''t a good idea to get too involved. Too bad it was way past the point of being toote to fix it.


    I sighed heavily before I closed my eyes and leaned my head against the edge of therge tub again.


    "I''m sorry, Mom," I breathed quietly. I briefly debated whether or not to tell Elizabeth that I might


    suddenly disappear, but she would be too suspicious of that. Elizabeth wasn''t stupid; she would know


    something was going on. I tried not to think about it too much as I let the hot waterspout my bruises


    and ribs.


    "Mrs. Park, we''re ready for your two person appointment," an resort worker came to inform us.


    "What''s the appointment?" I asked curiously.


    "Swedish massage," Elizabeth answered. From my knowledge of massages, I didn''t think it was a good


    idea for me to get one as well.


    "But... my ribs. George told me to avoid hitting and pressures on them for now," I reminded her. She


    sighed, looking mad at herself as she wrapped her robe around her body.


    "That''s right. Ipletely forgot," she reprimanded herself.


    "It''s okay. This seems to really be helping so I''ll stay in the bath for a while then probably go look


    around," I said quickly. With any luck, I''d be able to call Braden back. She agreed and waved at me


    before heading to her massage. I released a breath before going back to rxing in the hot water. I


    wondered what Braden was doing at the moment. Was he waiting on me to call back?


    "Not bad at all," a voice pulled me out of my thoughts. I peeked up to see someone hovering over me in


    swim trunks.


    "I''m not asleep, you know?" I alerted the stranger. He backed up and chuckled awkwardly as his hand


    rubbed the back of his neck.


    "Well, that makes this awkward," he smiled sheepishly.


    "I''m Torin," he introduced himself.


    "Phoenix," I said as he got in the tub I was in.


    "Cool name. What brings you here?" He asked.


    "My mom wanted to have a girls'' weekend. You?" I answered.


    "Onest hurrah before I transfer. I live here now, but my dad is moving us to San Diego," he


    exined. I pulled my head up to look at him.


    "Interesting. That''s where we''re from. What school are you transferring to?" I asked.


    "Saint James," he answered. I chuckled as I shook my head. That ce was bing a ma.


    "That''s where I go," I noted.


    "What a coincidence! What''s it like?" He asked.


    "Are you going to be there on a schrship?" I asked. He shook his head.


    "Then you''ll be fine. That school relies heavily on a money making hierarchy," I exined.


    "Why year are you?" He asked.


    "Third year," I answered.


    "Oh, a junior. I''ll be a senior," he said. From there, Torin and I had a rxed and simple conversation as


    we soaked in the therapy bath. My attention was finally diverted when I heard my phone ding. I got out


    and walked over to my robe and checked my notifications. I had three missed calls from Braden and a


    text from Elizabeth telling me that her massage was finished.


    "Ouch, what happened there?" Torin asked as he saw my torso.


    "I got beaten against some rocks in the ocean," I answered easily without looking up from my phone. I


    texted Elizabeth and Braden back before putting my robe on.


    "I''ve got to go, but I have a feeling I''ll run into you again soon," I said as I gave him a smile.


    "See you at school," he joked. I nodded before going to meet back up with Elizabeth. We got our nails


    and toes done, facials, went to the steam room, and just enjoyed being pampered for the rest of the


    day. Our weekend turned out to be super fun and rxing. I used the time to get my mind off of


    everything that was troubling me. We went on a hike, soaked in weightless pods, rxed by the pool,


    and just had a rxing weekend. I didn''t realize it at the beginning of the night, but I really needed it.