Sophie
I rub my eyes. Staring at the screen for so many hours always gives me dry eyes. What I’d give now for a decent cup of coffee.
“Looks good,” I smile at Eric and stifle a yawn. Sleep hasn’t been coming easy for me.
“Good?” Eric grimaces. “It looks bloody fantastic, Soph.”
I chuckle and nod.
“You’re right, it looks amazing.”
Truth is, every time I see Todd on screen, my insides feel like they’re being ripped out and stomped on by a heard of wild elephants.
“Just like you to be modest. You should be very proud; you’ve done an amazing job pulling this off.”
If that’s true, then why don’t I feel more elated? Oh. Because my heart’s been smashed into a million pieces, because I feel miserable and because the man I love toyed with me—pretty much like a cat toys with a mouse—before he betrayed me.
Prick.
Maybe if I think of him in less than flattering terms, I’ll start to feel better. Trouble is, every time I see the movie or talk about it, I’m reminded of Todd and what we shared during the making of it.
“Earth to Sophie, are you listening to me?”
“Sorry, Eric,” I smile and shake my head.
“I’m sending it off now to the board for a rating. It’ll be interesting to see how it will fare for the Oscars.”
I shake my head. Oscars. I’m just pleased the film is made, and everyone did a great job. My fingers play with my clapperboard charm.
“Let’s see what the god’s will do with it,” I joke and head for the door.
Alice is already waiting for me.
To celebrate we’re having a girl’s day at the spa—and not just any spa. No, Alice booked us in at Stars’nShine day spa.
“You coming with me?” Alice asks me as she gets into her car.
“See you two beauties later,” calls Eric and drives off.
I flop into the passenger seat of Alice’s car and sigh.
“You heard from Todd?”
I shake my head.
“I don’t want to hear some lame-ass story, so I’ve blocked his number from my phone.”
Alice eases the car through the mid-morning traffic, swearing at someone who cuts her off.
“Probably a good thing,” she replies, and I shake my head to get rid of those memories of Todd and me that are taking over my thoughts, memories that stalk me day and night.
By the time Alice parks her sports car in the car park, I’m already regretting agreeing to this. I don’t feel like pampering myself. I just want to crawl into a hole.
“Come on, sourpuss,” Alice punches me gently in the arm. “Time to indulge in all that Stars’nShine has to offer.”
With a sigh, I get out of the car.
Fifteen minutes later, we are sitting in a darkened room, wearing nothing but a fluffy thick bathrobe. Our faces are covered with a thick white paste. Gentle music is playing in the background. A petite woman is preparing a foot spa for each of us.
First, she massages our feet, and then she lowers them into the warm water.
Soon enough, I’m relaxing into the plush leather chair. The woman now presses some buttons and the chair starts to vibrate, giving me a back and butt massage as my feet are enjoying their own pleasures.
Alice sips on her iced mint drink and licks her lips.
“This is the life,” she sighs and looks over at me.
I chuckle.
“You look like a fright covered in white.”
She rolls her eyes.
“You don’t look much better, my dear. Wait till they take this stuff off you, you’ll look and feel ten years younger.”
Laughing is a little difficult right now, but I do it nonetheless.
“I think you’re exaggerating, but I hope I do feel better.”
Alice glares at me—at least I think she’s glaring, it is a little difficult to tell with this facemask.
“You have to snap out of it, Sophie,” she starts, and I brace for the lecture. “Todd isn’t the only man in town. You wait. Your film will be an instant hit and the men will throw themselves at your feet. You will have your pick.”
I doubt it.
“I guess.” I try to sound convincing.
Thing is, I don’t want the pick of the bunch. I know who I want, and his name is Todd Alexander. My brain and my feelings just don’t want to see things eye to eye.
My sensible part is telling my heart to simply forget about Todd, good riddance to him. Unfortunately, my heart won’t listen. My heart wants to pine for Todd.
Perhaps it’s just human nature to want something we know we can’t have.
“Sophie,” Alice voice rouses me from navel gazing. “Eric thinks we’re in with a chance for at least one Oscar.”
“Eric, the optimist,” I say.
“And Sophie, the pessimist?”
I shake my head.
“Realist?”
“Rubbish.”
Our beauty consultant comes back into the room and asks us to follow her.
We leave our cave of relaxation (I think that’s what it is called), and now enter the room of calmness.
More relaxation music is playing in the background and candles are along one of the walls. My sense of smells picks up hints of cinnamon, vanilla and something citrusy.
“Please lie here,” says our consultant and points to two tables.
I take off my dressing gown and lie face down on the massage table.
Someone drapes a towel over my backside, and then a set of strong hands massage my body. I close my eyes and surrender to the pleasure of the massage.
In my dream-like state, I’m imagining Todd rubbing my shoulders, running his fingers along my spine, before ripping the towel off me and kneading my ass.
“You ok?”
I open my eyes. Have I really just groaned?
“Fine.” I say quickly and feel a delicious warmth in between my legs. Luckily, my face is hidden in the hole of the table and no one can see how red my face is.
“You’re very tense,” my masseur says.
“I’ve had a lot of stress in my life lately.” I reply and curse my imagination.
“I’ll make you feel better,” she says and keeps digging her fingers into my tense neck and back.
By the time we leave, I actually feel a little better…emphasis on a little.