The Reckless Collision

Chapter Twenty-Two

Molly's transformation was equally stunning. She'd kept her hair only slightly shorter but went for a bold silvery-gray color. The effect was ethereal—she looked like a modern-day fairy, and I couldn't stop admiring her.

Afterward, we moved to the manicure station. I stuck with my usual almond-shaped black nails, but Molly went all out, choosing chrome-silver to match her hair. It was only fitting. When the bill came, I waved her off and paid for both of us.

The Uber ride to Rozina's Beauty Spa took another twenty minutes. The building loomed large as we approached, its pinkish exterior framed by gray columns and plastered with bright advertising posters.

"Looks like they do hair here too," I said, pointing to a glossy photo of a woman with perfectly styled waves.

Molly wrinkled her nose. "Yeah, and the only hairdresser they had available last time was Ronda."

"Ronda?" I raised an eyebrow.

She grimaced. "Mason's ex."

The moment we stepped into the salon, I couldn't help but take in the modern design. The interior was elegant, with a blend of gray, black, and gold tones. Massive white and gold columns created an illusion that the ceilings were flying. Above us, chandeliers sparkled with an extravagance that reminded me of my grandmother's house. It was like stepping into a small slice of luxury, and for a brief moment, I forgot about everything else.

At the front desk, a blonde woman with a warm smile greeted us. Her name tag read Lori.

"Hi, I have two appointments for waxing, but I don't have the specifics. What are we doing today?" she asked in a polite tone.

I immediately motioned toward Molly. "It's just her."

"Sorry," Molly cut in quickly, glancing at Lori's name tag before tugging me off to the side. She leaned in close and lowered her voice. "Are you still on your period?"

"No," I said, frowning at the question.

"Good," she said, her tone smug. "Because you're getting waxed."

"I prefer shaving," I reminded her, crossing my arms.

"There are two very good reasons why you'll wax instead of shave," Molly said, lifting her hand and starting to count on her fingers. "One, you'll be stuck on a bus for almost a month. Opportunities to shave will be... limited." She ticked off her first finger, raising her second. "And two? Ray."

"What about Ray?" I asked, narrowing my eyes.

She raised an eyebrow, giving me a look that screamed really? "You're going to Paris, the city of love. Odds are, you'll have sex. Right?"

"Maybe," I said slowly, feeling my cheeks warm as the thought settled in. "Yeah, okay. You've convinced me. Wax it is."

We returned to the desk, Molly leading the charge. "Hi again, Lori. We'll both get a bikini and leg waxing."

"Perfect," Lori said, her cheerful demeanor unwavering. "Follow me."

She guided us up a set of stairs to the second floor and pointed us toward two plush chairs. "Once you're done here, come back, and I'll tell you all about our facials," she added with a wink before leaving.

After the spa treatments, we decided to walk to Venice Beach. Sure, it was five miles from the resort, but we figured the stroll would make up for skipping our gym sessions earlier that week. Before setting off, though, we stopped at Carl's Jr. for burgers and coffee. True to form, we topped it off with ice cream shakes for the road.

"Balanced lifestyle, my ass," Molly joked as we walked out.

Our eating habits had always been contradictory to our fitness goals. Molly, naturally lean and athletic, had fallen in love with the gym and yoga after I dragged her along for company. Me? I'd always been on the plumper side, and after Abby—after the miscarriage—it had gotten worse.