Page 47 of Make Me Want it Too

It looks like almost everyone is already down by the water, sitting cross legged on mats arranged in three rows of concentric half circles. Standing at the center is a tall, willowy woman with her silver hair in a French braid.

As we get closer, it looks like we’re still missing Zayne and Dane and…Margot.

“Mace!” Bex runs up to me, pink cheeked and bright-eyed in a bright pink crop top and short shorts. “Are you ready? We’re going to be all healthy and then get mimosas after and hang by the pool. They opened it for us.”

“Uh, sure.” Orange light streaks across the water and through the trees as the sun finally spills into the sky. “I may need a nap before booze.”

Bex pushes out her bottom lip. “Livvy, you’ll drink with me, right?”

Livvy gives her a thumbs up as Noah yawns on his mat behind her in black sweats and a hoodie.

I avoid eye contact with Spencer, who’s talking to Jake, sitting on their mats on the far right side of the semi-circle. I have the uncomfortable nagging feeling that he’s looking at me, though.

Zayne and Dane come strolling down the grassy hill toward us a few minutes later. Zayne is wearing sunglasses and holding a to-go coffee cup. He lifts his glasses up to rub the bridge of his nose, then, with a sigh, he points at Jake. “I love you, but don’t ever ask me to get up before the sun again.”

The instructor clears her throat and in a drawn out, soothing timbre says, “It looks like most everyone is here. My name is Sharon and I’m honored to be guiding you this morning. Choose a mat, get comfortable, and we’ll start with some breathing exercises.”

“Is it okay that I brought my own mat?” Wood asks.

Sharon beams. “Ah, an experienced yogi. Would you like to come up front to help demonstrate?”

“Sure!” Wood looks over his shoulder to me and beckons me over. “Come up front with me.”

My chest blossoms with heat immediately and I can feel the flush traveling up my neck to my cheeks. I shake my head.

He nods, giving me a little half-hearted smile then goes up, front and center, and plops his mat down.

Why do I feel like I let him down?

Maybe I should just go up there and?—

“I’ve done yoga a bunch of times. I’ll come up front too!” Margot comes bouncing past me, her blonde high pony swaying side to side.

And then that’s it. She’s up front next to my fake boyfriend and I’m in the back between Livvy and Zayne, who giggle every time they can’t hold a pose.

I’m trying to pay attention to Sharon, but I can’t stop staring at Wood. Margot keeps talking to him. Aren’t we supposed to be quiet and calm and hecking relaxed?

He’s whispering back to her. I can’t hear what they’re saying.

He’s probably telling her how good her butt looks in her extremely tight yoga pants.

Okay, I know he’s not saying that. But he’s probably thinking it. Even I’m thinking about how nice her rear looks in those things. Now I’m wondering what my bottom looks like in my yoga pants and wishing I’d checked it out before we left.

It’s a painful hour—and not just the yoga part.

I’m probably the worst one here—except for Noah, sitting on the other side of Livvy from me—he gave up about halfway through and looks to be meditating in child’s pose. Meanwhile, it feels like we’ve been holding this warrior pose for approximately forty-seven minutes. My legs are shaking, and I think they might give out.

Even Spencer seems to be excelling.

But I’m not looking at him. Much.

Mostly, I’m watching Wood and the way I’ve never seen muscles bulge like that. Every once in a while, he looks back at me. He gives me a quick smile and a little wave, and his genuine happiness makes me smile, too.

I find myself wanting him to keep looking at me. My heart beats a little faster each time, like I have his attention for real. Like it could be real.

It’s probably just the kiss from last night—my body is starting to associate Wood as a source of dopamine, and it wants another hit. That’s it. Just chemical. Physical. It’s natural.

And I am definitely not fixated on how Margot seems to be arching her back unnaturally with every pose, either pushing out her boobs or her tush. Sometimes, impressively, both.

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