Chapter 81: Massage

Sara’s expression changed slightly.

“For who?” I smiled.

“Exes.” That got her attention immediately, and she asked, “I thought you were too young and too busy for relationships.” I reminded her, “I said I’m too busy for one now.

I didn’t say I’ve never dated anyone.” She immediately asked how many, but I only replied, “Not important.”

Sara narrowed her eyes.

“That means more than one.” I looked toward her feet.

“Do you want them to stop hurting or do you want to keep questioning me?” She smiled.

“Both.” I shook my head.

“Pick one.” After another moment, Sara turned slightly and placed her feet across my lap.

Her dress shifted when she moved, so she adjusted it until she was comfortable before leaning back.

I spoke silently in my mind.

“Research Assistant, can you make a massage skill?” The answer came almost immediately.

Possible.

Common Skill.

I told it to make it, and the knowledge settled into my mind a moment later.

It was simple compared to most of my skills, but now I knew exactly where to apply pressure and what areas to avoid.

I started with one foot and pressed carefully near the sore area.

Sara suddenly gasped and moved her leg.

I stopped and asked, “Too much?” She shook her head.

“No. I just wasn’t expecting that.” I nodded.

“Then relax.” I started again, this time more slowly.

After less than a minute, Sara stopped watching what I was doing and leaned farther back against the couch.

She looked down again after a while and asked, “Where did you actually learn this?” I answered, “I told you. Experience and I’m a quick learner.” Sara gave me a doubtful look.

“You’re too good for that answer.” I smiled slightly.

“Then you’ll have to keep wondering.”

While I continued, I thought about how the day had gone.

Shopping, lunch, a movie, and now an arcade.

None of it had really been a date, but I knew all three of them would probably remember today whenever they went on an actual one later.

That worked for me.

I wanted Sara and Emily close before their abilities manifested.

Being friends would help, but a crush could make someone think of you differently.

I wasn’t going to force anything or tell them how to feel.

I wanted them to choose me themselves when things eventually became complicated.

If today made that a little more likely, I didn’t mind.

I moved to Sara’s other foot before asking, “What are you planning to do after college? Work or higher studies?” Sara looked at me, probably surprised by the sudden change in subject.

“Probably higher studies.”

“What’s your major?” I asked.

Sara answered, “Genetics and molecular biology.” My hands paused for a moment.

Of course it was genetics.

The girl with an inactive X-Gene was studying something directly connected to what was hidden inside her body, and she had no idea.

Sara noticed me pause.

“What?” I continued what I was doing and said, “Nothing. I was just thinking that I might need someone in that field eventually.” That caught her attention.

“For what?” I answered, “I’ve been thinking about building a medical and biological research division. Genetics, regeneration, diseases, genetic disorders. Things like that.”

Sara looked at me for a few seconds before asking, “Are you trying to hire me?” I smiled.

“Not now. Maybe later.” She laughed.

“You barely know me.” I replied, “That’s why I said later.” She shook her head but was still smiling.

“You think about work even here?” I nodded.

“Sometimes.” I then asked, “What part of genetics actually interests you?”

Sara thought about it before answering.

“Probably how small changes can affect the whole body. Traits, mutations, things like that. I haven’t decided exactly what I want to specialize in yet.” That answer almost made me laugh.

She really had no idea how fitting it was.

I was about to ask another question when I heard the basketball machine stop behind us.

A few seconds later, Gwen walked over.

Her eyes moved from me to Sara, then down toward Sara’s feet resting across my lap.

She looked back at me and asked, “What are you doing to her?”

Gwen looked pissed.

Oh boy.

I hadn’t expected her to be this angry, but maybe she had already been annoyed for a while, and seeing Sara with her feet on my lap was simply the last straw.

I kept massaging Sara’s foot and answered, “I’m massaging her feet.” Gwen looked down at Sara’s feet before asking, “Why?” Emily had noticed Gwen walking over and joined us by then, so all three of them were looking at me.

I nodded toward Sara’s heels beside the couch.

“She was uncomfortable, so I checked her ankles.

The straps made them red.” Sara lifted one foot slightly and added, “He’s telling the truth.

They were hurting.”

Gwen looked at the red marks, and she calmed down a little, but I could tell she was still annoyed.

I thought about it before saying, “If your feet hurt too, I can do yours after Sara.” That worked immediately.

Gwen looked at me and asked, “Really?” I nodded.

“You’ve been wearing heels for just as long.” The remaining irritation disappeared from her face as she answered, “Okay.”

Sara looked between us with a small smile but didn’t say anything.

I finished her other foot while Gwen and Emily sat nearby.

A few minutes later, I let Sara’s foot go and said, “Try standing.” She stood and moved her feet a little before looking at me.

“That’s actually much better.” I pointed toward her heels.

“Leave those off until we’re leaving.” Sara sat back down and replied, “Wasn’t planning to put them back on anyway.”

Gwen was already removing her own heels.

She moved into Sara’s place and put her feet on my lap without needing me to ask again.

I started with one foot, and it was easy to tell she wasn’t as sore as Sara.

Her enhanced body probably helped, but wearing heels for hours had still left some tension.

While working on her foot, I remembered my earlier conversation with Sara.

“I was talking to Sara about work.” Gwen looked toward her and asked, “Work?” I nodded.

“I’m thinking about hiring her later. She’s studying genetics and molecular biology, so she could fit into the research side.”

Sara looked at me from the other couch.

“You said maybe.” I glanced toward her.

“I said maybe later.” Sara shook her head but didn’t argue further.

Gwen thought about it for a moment before saying, “Oh.” I pressed another sore area on her foot, and she suddenly stopped talking and tightened her fingers against the couch.

I looked at her.

“Hurts?” Gwen quickly shook her head.

“No.” I raised an eyebrow.

“Then what?” She gave me a look and said, “Just keep going.”

Sara smiled but managed not to say anything.

I continued, and after a moment Gwen returned to the conversation.

“Sara working there would be okay. When the labs are finished, we could work together.” Sara looked toward her.

“We?” Gwen nodded.

“Chris wants me to help with the science division eventually.”

Sara turned toward me.

“You already hired her?” I answered, “Technically.” Gwen added, “I’m his secretary right now.” Sara stared at her for a moment before asking, “You?” Gwen narrowed her eyes.

“Why did you say it like that?” Sara quickly replied, “No reason,” while Emily tried not to laugh.

Gwen ignored them and looked back at me.

“You can make space for genetics when you build the labs.” I nodded.

“I was already thinking about it.” Sara looked between us before saying, “You two are planning my workplace before I’ve even agreed to work there.” I smiled slightly.

“We’re planning a possibility.”

I switched to Gwen’s other foot while she and Sara talked a little more about the labs.

Sara explained that she hadn’t chosen exactly what part of genetics she wanted to focus on yet, while Gwen said there would probably be plenty of room to decide later.

It was strange listening to them talk about mutations and genetics when neither of them knew how closely it connected to both of them.

A few minutes later, I finished and let Gwen put her feet down.

She moved them slightly before smiling.

“Okay, that’s much better.” Sara nodded.

“Now you understand.” Gwen gave her a look but didn’t argue.

I turned toward Emily, who had been sitting quietly nearby.

She noticed immediately and asked, “What?” I looked at her heels before saying, “You’re the only one left.

Do your feet hurt too?” Emily looked down at them for a moment before admitting, “A little.” I moved slightly and said, “Then come here.” She still hesitated and looked toward Gwen, then Sara.

Gwen only shrugged, while Sara smiled and said, “Just be ready when he finds the sore part. I nearly kicked him.”

Emily looked at her.

“That doesn’t make me want to do this.” Sara laughed.

“I’m telling you because I wasn’t ready for it.” Emily looked toward me again, and I said, “You don’t have to. You can keep wearing the heels.”

She stared at me for a moment before finally removing them.

“Fine.” Emily sat down beside me while Sara watched with an amused smile, and I moved enough to give her space.

At this point, I’d somehow become their masseur in the middle of an arcade.