Page 55 of Found By You

Standing, I adjust my pants higher. “Okay, but I don’t recommend doing this unless you completely trust your partner. You can get seriously injured if you try this without proper stretching and strength.”

Duke’s eyes widen. “What?”

“Relax,” I say. “Lay on your back, shoulders flat, legs up in a squat, feet together.” He reluctantly gets into position. I sit on his feet facing away from him, glancing over my shoulder and down at him. “Put your arms up straight, palms flat. You’re going to push me up with your feet until your legs are straight.”

“But—”

“Just hold firm, and I’ll do the rest,” I say calmly. “I trust you. Do you trust me?”

He huffs out an exaggerated breath, eyeing me warily. “Yes.”

I nod, and he pushes me up with his feet. I bend, letting my shoulders fall into his palms. “Bend your elbows.” He does, and I kick my legs up so only the top of my butt rests on the very tips of his feet. I extend one leg, bend the other, and point my toes. Arms extended to the side, I throw my head back and come face to face with Duke while hanging upside down.

His gaze never leaves mine, and for a moment, I’m suspended in time. The two of us. Here. Now. I take a deep breath and know he’s doing the same. We’re in sync, him and I. Two souls connected by a thread of pure trust.

“Holy shit.”

“We are not trying that, Tanner.”

“Now bring your legs to bend slow, and push my shoulders up with your arms,” I tell Duke. I’m back on my feet a moment later to the sound of applause.

“That was like…some fancy trust fall.” Cassidy turns to Butch.

“No.”

A breathy laugh escapes me. “Like I said, it takes a lot of core strength and trust to do some of the more difficult poses. But thank you for coming tonight. I hope you all enjoyed your time and feel a little more connected.”

“I feel connected to this mat,” Clayton grumbles. “Butch, help your old man up.”

Butch and Duke each grab a hand to hoist their father to his feet. I say goodbye to everyone on their way out, while Butch and Cassidy linger.

Duke helps me wipe down the mats and roll them up for the night.

“Thank you.”

“For what?” he asks. “Helping you clean up or for forcing me to join the class?”

“Both.” I smile. “What’d you think, though? Did you like it?”

“Yeah, my back feels amazing,” he says. “But I’m not gonna lie, you scared me with that last one. I knew I wouldn’t drop you, but you didn’t need to tell me if I fucked up, you’d get hurt.”

I put on my socks and boots. “You needed to be aware of the posing danger. Advanced is called advanced for a reason. I’ve only ever done that pose with other instructors, never a newbie.”

“Is that supposed to make me feel better?”

“You did great. That pose was perfect. I can’t wait to see the picture someone took.”

“That was me,” Cassidy sings, waving her phone in the air.

Duke pulls on his shoes and hoodie, grabbing my coat and purse for me while I tug on my lavender sweater, and take the phone. The picture is stunning. My favorite part might be how cute my bump looks—and the big smile on Duke’s face.

Butch tips his head to his brother. “Did Ma talk to you about the cabin yet?”

“No,” Duke says warily. “What is it now?”

Butch scratches his beard, glancing over at me before he says, “Beau’s rentals have been getting a lot of attention for bookings with all the snow on the mountain this season. And, uh, he went ahead and opened the availability online before checking with Ma.”

“Shit,” Duke hisses. “Did she call him?”

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