The Space Between Us(48)
Chapter Four
Summer came quickly, ending what could only be described as a tumultuous first year of college. Reeve was almost back to her normal self and although she wasn’t as outgoing as she used to be, she wasn’t a recluse anymore. I felt like I had my best friend again. Reeve and I decided to head home for summer vacation, but true to tradition, Asher traveled to his grandfather’s farm. We would have a few weeks at the beginning and end of break together, but he would be gone for the majority of the summer. His grandfather was getting older and needed a lot more help than he had in the years past, so Asher had a responsibility to go. I didn’t mind as much as I had before. Summers together just weren’t a part of our relationship. And I’d be lying if I didn’t admit the excitement that fueled our reunions wasn’t a big reason why I wasn’t totally crushed to see him go. I knew when he got back we would be crazy with need for each other. Plus one long summer of working hard in the sun always returned a bronzed and buff Asher. No, I didn’t complain. I just tried to return the favor and make sure I looked just as good for him. I was ok with him being gone, but goodbyes were never fun.
The day he left I tried to hold back my sad tears because I knew it didn’t help him, but I couldn’t stop the few tears that slid down my cheek. He kissed them away, whispering to me that he would miss me, that we would call each other every day. We would email, send letters, but I could hear in his voice he was just as upset as I was.
I looked up at him, his face blurred through the tears I refused to let go and watched as he leaned in to kiss me goodbye. I hated goodbye kisses. They were so sad and empty.
“I love you,” he said against my lips.
“I love you too.” I cried quietly.
“I’ll miss you.” I answered by kissing him again. Eventually he pulled away, kissed my forehead and walked away.
One month later I woke up to Reeve crashing through my bedroom door.
“Wake up!” She yelled as she jumped on my bed. I was startled enough to sit straight up in my bed and I felt my heavy ponytail whip around to the front of my face. I heard her laugh as I pushed my hair out of my face. “Time to get up. We’ve got stuff to do.”
“What the hell could we have to do at,” I looked over at my alarm clock, “eight am?”
“We’re going to get you pampered, all courtesy of your lovesick boyfriend.” My heart skipped a few beats at the mention of Asher.
“What?” I asked as a smile grew on my face.
“Yes. He is sad he can’t be here for your birthday, so he’s instructed me to take you out and make you feel wonderful.”
I cocked my head to the side and frowned a little. “Aww….” I said, feeling that warm gooeyness take over my insides. He was so sweet. “My birthday is tomorrow though,” I said, a little bit confused.
Reeve held up her hands. “Hey, I’m just following instructions.” She stood up and pulled the covers off of me. “Get up. You’ve got ten minutes to get downstairs and don’t wash your hair.”
“Ok,” I laughed.
Forty-five minutes later we were at a spa so exquisitely beautiful I couldn’t help but look around and gawk.
“Hi, we’ve got appointments for nine am. Charlie and Reeve,” she said to the receptionist behind her ornately beautiful hand-carved wooden desk. From that moment on it was one wonderful experience after the next. We had massages, manicures, pedicures, facials and the last stop was the hair salon.
“Uh, I’m not sure I want a haircut,” I nervously said to Reeve. She turned to the stylist attending to me and gave her a serious look.
“We’re on very strict orders from our benefactor for the hair. A slight trim, no more than a half inch, an extravagant wash complete with scalp massage, and a deep conditioning treatment. He wants her hair soft, shiny, and long. So seriously, don’t cut it much.” Reeve turned back to me and rolled her eyes. “He nearly made me sign a contract to make sure you wouldn’t come out of here with your hair any shorter.”
I didn’t bother telling her all the times he pulled it while we made love or how he used it to manipulate my body to position me. I just shrugged. “He likes it long.” And I liked keeping it long to make him happy. He’s always loved my hair. Changing the subject, I casually mentioned how all this must have cost him a small fortune. I saw Reeve try to hide a smile.
“He’s been saving the money he made from his grandfather to pay for your present. Don’t worry Charlie; he loves you and wanted to do this for you. Well,” she paused and the sneaky smile was back. “For us. I made him pay for me too, seeing as how I was forced to spend the entire day here with you.” I giggled along with her because I could totally see her weaseling to get her way.
When the entire process was complete, we both looked and felt amazing. My hair had never been softer and my skin was glowing. I was relaxed and happy. All I needed was Asher’s arms around me and everything would be perfect.
We got back into Reeve’s car and I listened to her endless rattling until I realized we were not headed towards our part of town.
“Reeve, where are we going? Home is the other direction.” She waved a hand at me like it didn’t matter.
“I just have one more errand to run. It will only take a minute, promise.” I sat back in my seat resigned to listening to her for as long as I was stuck in the car. Heaven forbid you reach to turn up the stereo or try to engage in conversation. When Reeve drove she wanted an audience, not a participant. I was so zoned out I never even noticed when the car stopped until Reeve opened her door and popped out. She walked around to my side of the car and opened my door too. I looked up at her, puzzled.