Ezra's Place to Tranquil Ocean Day Spa, Tuesday

[spin_kick_snap]

Jar of kimchi, festooned with a bow and in a cute gift bag? Check.

Pair of tickets for a day spa? Also check.

Super-modest bathing suit bought explicitly for this occasion? Triple check.

Look, between their sort-of fight, his trip with Dante, the trouble with Zeke after prom, and his upcoming exhibition, Kathy was betting that Ez was feeling a little frayed around the edges. And, well, sometimes the best cure for that was a little bit of pampering.

Here was hoping Ez felt the same way.

Knock knock.

[For him in the post!]

Comments

[spin_kick_snap]

Only one way to find out.

"If we go today, will you be able to relax and enjoy the pampering?" Kathy asked. "Or will you be on your guard and still feeling...however you're feeling?"

She didn't want to put a name to it on the not-so-off-chance she picked the wrong one.

[smilestopscars]

There wasn't a good name for it, anyway. Except perhaps 'off-balance'.

"I'm not sure." He wished he'd been more sure. "Could still be worth a shot."

[spin_kick_snap]

"It's your city, so you call the shots," Kathy said, tucking her hair behind her ear. "We can go and see what happens. Or you can save them. Go another time. Maybe bring Ada." She shrugged. "I got them because I wanted you to have a chance to relax over the shitshow the past..." She shrugged. "Year, basically? Has been? So it's up to you on what will make you feel better."

[smilestopscars]

"I guess we can see what happens."

He was reserving the right to cut it short, though. Not that he felt like spelling that out for her.

[spin_kick_snap]

He didn't have to. At this point, Kathy wasn't entirely sure how long she'd stay. If she didn't need a massage after that conversation, she might have bowed out anyway.

"Sounds like fun," she said lightly, checking her watch. "We should head out to the portal."

[smilestopscars]

Ezra wasn't even likely to go for a massage. Too on edge to relax into strangers' touches quite like that.

Luckily facials and other treatments were things that existed.

He shrugged his bag further up his shoulder, nodded towards the door, and replied, just as lightly, "And no more portals to Boston after this one, darling. I like driving."

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Kathy opened her mouth to explain her reasoning - and then closed it, choosing to just nod. "I admire your willingness to drive in Boston. I looked at some street maps and they're mad."

[smilestopscars]

"I've been driving there ever since I got my license," Ezra pointed out as he headed for the door. Although truth be told, he'd been driving in Boston a little bit before he should've legally been doing it, but that was Coterie stuff and didn't need getting into right now. "It's practically second nature."

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"I'll keep that in mind for next time," Kathy said. "And will try not to say 'I told you so' if we leave and you're half-melted from relaxation."

[smilestopscars]

Ezra snorted. You couldn't really tell how forced it was.

"I'll keep that in mind."

He locked the door after them.

[spin_kick_snap]

Kathy had some idea. Not out of any lack authenticity from him, but just knowing how forced her own lightness was right now. "Well, if that doesn't happen, then this trip will be a failure all the way around, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed," she joked. "Operation Pamper Ez Into Relaxation is a go."

[smilestopscars]

It wasn't going to happen. He didn't think it was, anyway, but he wasn't cruel enough to tell her that outright.

So instead, he just saluted her as he stepped off the porch.

[spin_kick_snap]

She was smart enough to figure it out on her own. Which was why she was tempted to tell him to just hold onto them. Go another day.

But hell, if he was willing to see it through, could she do any less? And, who knew? Maybe they'd luck into some fun along the way. Or something.

But since they were still putting up appearances, she shot him a cheeky grin as she walked by, pointing to the shimmering portal opening up at the foot of the driveway. "Good timing."

[smilestopscars]

"My timing's always impeccable," Ezra retorted, perhaps more on autopilot than anything else. Still, he caught up with her with a few quick steps, and offered her his arm, because how could he let her go through a portal without being escorted by a gentleman?

... A gentleman trying desperately to get and keep his wits together, but an gentleman all the same. "Shall we?"

[spin_kick_snap]

Kathy slid her arm through his, fingers resting lightly on his arm. "There's a restaurant in the spa proper," she told him. "What do you say, we start with that? I hear they have a triple-chocolate cake that's..." She discarded several descriptors, from 'orgasmic' to 'to die for' "...exquisite. Lunch first, then spa, then second lunch?"

[smilestopscars]

"That sounds wonderful." No, really, food sounded like a fantastic idea because it didn't require anyone to touch him and it was a pleasure in its own right. And maybe his nerves would even calm the hell down during that. "Good plan, darling."

[spin_kick_snap]

By no means could Kathy say she knew what made Ez tick, but she did at least have some insight into his personality. Enough, at least, to know that food was almost always a good suggestion.

"I thought I could tempt you with that," she said. "The menu made me regret being a vegetarian."

[smilestopscars]

He did love stuffing his face. "That just means more for me," he decided with an easy-looking smirk. You know, like her being a vegetarian meant he had to eat meat for two. That was entirely how that worked.

Anyway. He tugged her through the portal, and away they went.