"I agree with the saying, when life gives you lemons, make orange juice and leave the world wondering how you did it, don't you think so" Chuckling, I reach for my glass over the bar counter, taking a sip.
"I don't think that's how it goes" Gemma says tilting her head in thought. "It's more of when life gives you lemon make lemonade, and try find to find someone whose life has given them vodka, and have a party." I burst out in laughter, that's typically us. She laughs as well, clinking our glasses together.
"After this let's go shopping" She winks at me and I smile in agreement. After I talked to Krit, who's sweetly generous, he left for some work and some people took me to this five star hotel leaving me with a black card and his phone number.
The background hum of clinking glasses in the lobby bar and the low, jazzy music floating through the air gives everything a strange sense of ease, like time moves slower here. No wonder kelvin would always come here except he didn't for the last two years.
Before I know it, we've wandered through boutiques stores, street stalls, and a tucked away spa where she convinces me to let strangers massage my shoulders while she shops for perfumes. Here I am, lying down on the padded table, a towel folded neatly under me and my robe hanging off the chair by the corner in the massage room. I hear the attendant enter quietly. "You enjoy your stay so far, kha?" Her voice is gentle when she speaks. I hum, cheek pressed to the towel. "Barely started."
She pours oil into her palms, warm and slick, then starts on my shoulders with slow, practiced circles. "The lady you come with…she your girlfriend?" she asks, softly curiosity in her voice. I chuckle. "Her? No. We just met….. I'm straight." A pause. I can feel her glance over me, don't know why I added that part. "Oh," she says.
I close my eyes, enjoying the silence, just warm.
I feel her fingertips tracing lightly over my left shoulder. "You have tattoo," she says. My eyes flick open, breath still, I don't answer. "Mandala?" Her hand lingers. I feel her gaze on my skin, on the curves of the ink trailing down my upper arm but I don't say anything. Something seems different. The strength in her fingers increase as she moves down my back, is she supposed to go down there?
"Mmmh"
I gasp, startled, as my eyes land on her hands griping the exposed areas of my chest. "Agh," I moan again when she squeezes it. She places a kiss on my back and that's when I freeze. Hurriedly I sit up, pushing her away. "You…you what are you doing?" Her gaze lands on my tits, it doesn't shift.
My cheeks bloom scarlet. "I-I…I think I'm done, thank you" I reach out, catching her wrist lightly, already stretching out, before she can go on further. "Alright," she says gently, still smiling. I stare down at where our hands touch. Her skin is warm, soft, I'm still flushed so I let go. Flustered, I climb out of the chair, grabbing my robe as I run out of the room. Oh my God! Why did I do that? Now she doesn't believe I'm straight.
"Look at you," a familiar voice drawls. "Already having fun?" I look up to see Gemma standing near the entrance in a silk robe that slides right off her shoulder like it was never meant to stay on. I rush out past her, "You'll miss the good part" she yells making me turn crimson red, God she's crazy.
Changing into my clothes, I walk back to the lobby waiting for Gemma. I look around trying not to think about what she could possibly be doing in there. "You're new here?" I hear a voice sweet and smooth call out behind me. I turn around to see a lady draped over one of the velvet chairs like she owns the damn place. Shiny black curls pulled into a perfect ponytail with her oversized sunglasses pushed to the top of her head, designer purse casually tucked at her side like it nothing.
"First day out" I shrug. She looks down at her phone scrolling through it while sipping something iced. Her nails like candy, long, glossy, and expensive. She looks back up and smiles, like she was expecting me. "Well, you're lucky. I'm bored and in the mood to spend some money. Do you maybe want to come with me?"
I blink, crossing my arms. "You don't even know my name." She laughs, moving over to sit beside me and looping her arm through mine. "Even better, I get to guess."
"I'm here with someone, sorry" Not like I would just go out with a stranger, oh I just did that since the last few hours, but still I need to be careful.
"Come on, don't be such a baby," she presses, leaning closer to me. I shake my head pulling my hand away from hers. She takes out a few bills, waving it at me with a crooked smile on her Asian face. Dollars, pounds, euros and bahts. Does she carry that around? Crazy rich Asians!
"Stop bothering my girlfriend, she's not interested" I stand up immediately I see Gemma, thanking God for the third time. The woman frowns, then scoffs before strutting away. I click my tongue, "Let's go back, I'm tired" I lean my head on her, yawning.
"Alright, let's go" She turns her head, smiling in my direction. "So tell me," she says, smirking. "How far did you go?" I turn away, closing my eyes again. "Nothing happened, don't think too much"
"Don't say if you don't want to. Keeping the good stuff." She scoffs. She stretches as we walk out of the building, and starts talking again like we're lifelong best friends.
"So," she begins, "while you were in there corrupting innocent hands, I was out living. I met these two insanely hot guys, I swear to god, they don't know the good stuff they missed out on. We could still have had fun even if they were a couple, so boring." The valet attendant hands over the keys and she winks at him, sliding in.
"But I still got their numbers," she giggles, "Well, because I'm me." She pauses, then adds, "They told me about a party tonight at some cool bar, said it's queer, freaky, and has strobe lights that give you vertigo" I let out a soft laugh. She turns her head toward me. "We're going. Don't argue."
I don't. "Okay," I murmur, letting my muscles melt on the leather seat after all that gentle kneading of oil and pressure. "Take me."
She grins drifting out into the expressway, "That's more like it."