I take a deep breath and step into Evergreen Spa thirty minutes before we officially open. I do my best to leave the turmoil of my personal life at the door. The familiar scent of rose and sandalwood coming from the diffusers greets me—a mix is supposed to be soothing, but today it feels like it’s mocking my chaotic thoughts. The gentle hum of music, designed to relax our clients, only adds to my bad mood. 

I keep my head down and make my way to the staff locker room, hoping for a moment to myself before the day’s appointments begin. 

For a moment this morning, before rolling out of my bed in my tiny apartment, I considered calling in sick. But I couldn’t do that to Janice and the others. When one of us is out on short notice, it causes issues for everyone. 

Thankfully, the locker room is empty. I love the people I work with, but I can’t stand the pitying looks they have been sending my way lately. I pull a bundle of neatly folded spa polos and scrub pants from my gym bag and store them in my locker. I hate doing laundry, but I love seeing the fresh stack of work clothes fill my locker at the beginning of each week. My attempts to forget about Jamie are disrupted when I’m greeted by a familiar photo taped on the inside of my locker door. 

Her face stares back at me from a happier time. Her red curls are wild and loose around her shoulders and her full lips pout at me while she vamps for the camera. I pull the picture down and stuff it into my gym bag. I should throw it away, but a part of me isn’t ready to let it go.

We were together for over a year; Jamie was my first real relationship. I don’t regret breaking up—things had gotten so bad towards the end—but it stings to know she’s already moved on. Our mutual friend, Gabby, let it slip that she went on a date last week, and it’s all I’ve been able to think about. 

It was my decision to end things, but I thought our time together meant more to her than it apparently did. On top of that, the friends who supported me through the relationship and eventual breakup now seem to be taking Jamie’s side, abandoning me for her fun, extroverted personality.

Jamie could be jealous, especially after I got my massage therapy license and started seeing clients. No matter how much I reassured her that nothing inappropriate happened and that even flirting with a client could get me fired, she would huff and pout whenever a new name came up in conversation. It’s hard to admit, but at first, I enjoyed the attention, maybe even fed into it a little. 

I have always been slim with the slight curves to match and I secretly loved that this gorgeous, vibrant woman saw me as some sort of temptress that everyone wanted. She would throw a fit and I would pull her close and eat her pussy until her temper tantrum passed. Things would be good again for a while, only for the cycle to repeat. 

It became exhausting to deal with her insecurities and constant need for reassurance. It wore me down until the love I had for her twisted into resentment. I stopped talking about work around her altogether and our sex life became nonexistent. While the breakup was a relief, letting go of my first love has been difficult. 

Frustration wells up inside me, and I slam my locker shut, the sound reverberating through the empty room. I lean my forehead against the cool metal, trying to steady my breathing. “Get it together, Eve,” I mutter to myself. I can’t let this affect my work. I’ve been at the small upscale spa since before I got my license, and it’s one of the few stable things in my life right now.

I pull on a polo shirt, run my hands through my chin-length black hair, and square my shoulders. Walking out of the staff room, I rehearse my usual greetings and small talk in my head. By the time I reach the front desk, I’m ready to face whatever the day throws at me.

Janice, our receptionist, is typing away at her computer. She looks up as I approach, offering a bright smile. “Morning, Eve. How are you holding up?”

I barely hide my cringe at her question. She means well, but she’s messing with my plan to forget about my problems. I give her a shrug and a weak smile. “I’m managing. Who’s on the schedule today?”

Janice takes the hint and lets me change of subject. She glances at her screen and starts listing off names. Most of them are ones that I recognize, regulars, and clients I’ve come to know well. 

There’s Mrs. Thompson, who always complains about her stiff neck but insists on talking throughout the entire session. Mr. Patel, one of my favorites, hardly says a word but always leaves a generous tip. Among a few new names, one client stands out - they booked a later appointment than my usual last slot. 

Janice sees my expression and begins to talk faster. “Jessica Marshall, I know you don’t like these late appointments, but she was a last-minute addition. One of your regulars recommended you to her, and she insisted on being fit into the schedule.”

I sigh, feeling a twinge of irritation. The last thing I need today is a demanding new client. 

Janice offers a sympathetic look. “I can call her and reschedule or see if someone else can take her.”

I shake my head, managing a small smile. “No, it’s okay. I’m just being a baby. I’ll handle it. Do you have any other information about her? Who recommended her and what services she’s interested in or any specific issues she’s dealing with?”

Janice glances at her screen and then back at me. “She was recommended by Laura Finch.”

I blink in surprise. Laura Finch is one of our regulars, a polite but hard-to-read woman in her late forties who I think works in finance. I’ve seen her a few times and always found her to be somewhat reserved. It’s surprising to hear that she liked my services enough to recommend me.

Janice grimaces slightly. “The only other thing I can tell you is that she was forceful and sounded stressed. She was very insistent on seeing you specifically.”

I take a deep breath, feeling a headache coming on. “Great,” I say, my voice tinged with defeat. I can already tell it’s going to be a long day. You never really know what to expect from a new client until they’re on the table in front of you. Entitled jerks are more common than I’d like, but Evergreen has always been good to its staff. Management steps in to mediate if a client crosses the line. I just hope today isn’t one of those days where that’s necessary.