Two hours later, my sister groans. “Oh my god, what does she want?”

I shake my head, not moving an inch, and enjoying the cool ice mask in contrast with the hot stones being used as my legs are kneaded and pressed.

“Hello, Mother.” My sister’s tone is silvery and fake as hell.

“Where is Jameson?”

I tense, and there’s a slight pause, but then Monti laughs. “I knew you couldn’t possibly have anything to say to me that would warrant a phone call.”

“Is that why you ignored my last five calls?” My mother’s voice is distant, forever only half of her attention given, a pile of work in front of her that takes precedence, I’m sure.

“We’re at the spa,” Monti tells her. “I’d say you’re lucky I have my phone on me at all.”

“Your sister,” our mom clips.

“Mm, sorry. She’s currently being groped and shown what a man with very large hands is capable of, but—”

At that, the hands on my body—not at all hairy, thank you very much—fly off, and I shoot up right in time for my mother to cut her off with a snapped, “Enough.”

“I’m here, Mom.” I widen my eyes at my sister, flipping her off.

“You didn’t tell me you didn’t spend time with Anthony yesterday?” She doesn’t miss a beat.

I look to the masseuse, and he bows his head, he and his partner quietly exiting the room.

“Jameson!”

“I’m here, Jesus.” I tilt my leg, smoothing out a spot of warm wax. “And I did go to Anthony’s, but he got held up, so we had to cancel.”

“Well, he’s been trying to reach you for the last hour. He had to call me at work!”

“The audacity,” my sister whispers, making me laugh, and I throw myself back on the table.

“He was worried, he said he didn’t hear from you yesterday, I now assume he meant once you left, and when you didn’t pick up today, well, imagine the thoughts that must have ran through his mind, especially when he learned your car was stolen, and from your own garage.”

“Mom.”

“He must have been—”

“Mother, please, no need to lay it on thick.” I stand up, holding my robe together as I walk closer and try to take my sister’s phone, but she pulls it back. “I get it. If you’re calling to tell me to call him, I hear you. I will call him.”

“Why didn’t you tell him about your car?” She ignores me completely.

“Because I didn’t see him long enough to get to the whole conversation part.” Duh.

Is that not why she’s bitching?

“You could have texted him when it happened.”

Monti’s eyes snap to mine, but I keep my face blank.