Total pages in book: 126
Estimated words: 116231 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 581(@200wpm)___ 465(@250wpm)___ 387(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 116231 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 581(@200wpm)___ 465(@250wpm)___ 387(@300wpm)
“I would be more excited if I knew where we were staying,” I state, getting into the elevator and then pressing the lobby floor.
We get in the car, stopping for coffee before he puts the address in the GPS, and I see it’s about two and a half hours from here. The drive up is so peaceful and serene, neither of us says anything, but it’s not uncomfortable. I fold my leg under myself, and he leans over and drapes his arm over me, while I hold his hand with both of mine. The window is cracked open a bit as the wind comes in and makes my hair fly around my face. The sun keeps us just warm enough.
We drive through the gates and under the sign that says Wellness Sanctuary. “Um.” I look over at him. “What is this place?” I ask as we drive down the road with trees, hills, and so much greenery all around us. The gravel crunches under the wheels as he pulls into the parking lot. We both get out of the SUV, and I put my hand over my eyes to see the big L-shaped old house. There is a sign at one of the doors that says Welcome. There is not a sound to be heard besides the crunching of the rocks under our feet.
Stepping into the lobby, I see a desk on one side and then it opens up completely in the middle where there are tables and chairs scattered about. Then there are a couple of couches that face the windows in the back. “Hello,” the woman behind the counter says, “welcome to Mindful Moments.”
“Hi,” Knox replies, “we are checking in.” I look around, seeing people walking in the distance.
“We have you here for two nights. Leaving Wednesday morning,” she says. “We have your itinerary ready for you.”
“Itinerary?” Knox asks, confused.
“Yes,” she confirms, handing him the sheet of paper and I walk next to him to look at it.
“Is that 5:00 a.m. wake up?” I ask and then the girl behind the desk smiles and nods.
“It’s called the sunrise hike.”
“Yeah,” Knox says, “I think there is a mistake. We’re here to rest and rejuvenate.”
She nods her head. “That’s correct.”
“How are we resting if we are up at 5:00 a.m.?”
“It’s lights out at nine,” she mentions. “Our days are pretty full, so by nine you are ready to call it a night.”
“But this is a very full schedule.” I scan it seeing that every single hour is accounted for.
“Is that a four-hour hike?” I ask of the second day from eight to noon.
“It’s one of the smaller hikes, but it’s very rewarding,” she states.
“You said we would be resting,” I mumble to Knox. “This looks like I’m going to need a vacation after this.”
“Okay, where is the restaurant?” Knox asks.
“There is none,” she says. “It’s three meals a day with two snacks. All meals are served at specific times. We are happy to say it’s vegan and plant based.” I grab Knox’s arm. “If you would like, we have apples that you are more than welcome to have.” She points behind us to the plate of green apples. “You have a meditation class in an hour,” she says. “We can get you to your cabin and then you have to meet up with everyone at the scheduled spot.” She hands us a paper map of the resort. I put my hand in front of my mouth when I see Knox’s face. “You do have one of the off-site bungalows. We will have someone take you up there and bring you back, but that is only for today.” She steps away from us, going to an office on the side and we see her pick up a walkie-talkie.
He looks at me. “What did you sign me up for?”
“Me?” I look at him, pointing to myself. “You were the one who wanted to get away.”
“I won this at the event.” My mouth opens. “This is that retreat.”
I put my hand in front of my mouth. “This is the three-day, no phone, transformative wellness experience?”
“What the fuck does that mean?” He runs his hands through his hair.
“It means,” I look around, “that for the next two days, we’re going to be very one with each other.” I sigh. “And I don’t mean physically.”
twenty-seven
Knox
The alarm rings from the bedside table clock and I stir, as Kylie groans from beside me. “I hate you,” she mumbles as I hit the clock, but it still blares. “Turn it off.”
“That’s what I’m trying to do,” I tell her, “but it’s not working.”
“Throw it out the fucking window,” she groans, and I am about to do just that when I press down the little silver button.
“It’s time to get up.” I slap her ass over the white cover.
“I’m not going, tell them I’m sick,” she whines, and I roll into her, taking her into my arms. “Get your dick away from me.”