Page 51 of Heartfelt Goals

“It takes a minute to get used to the heat, I hear,” Dustin said in a hushed voice. “My old physical therapist wanted me to try this back in Dallas, and I kept blowing her off, saying I was fine – but maybe there is something to this after all. It’s worth a shot.”

“Hey, if it helps things, then it’s worth trying… right?”

“Exactly,” he smirked and looked ahead. “I’ll just pretend I’m some fire-breathing dragon… or a lizard baking in the sun.”

And at the word ‘dragon,’ Laurel looked at him sharply.

“All right now everyone,” the instructor chose that moment to begin the class, and she could see the woman’s blurry form in the distance. “We’ve got some new faces, so welcome, and remember the rules… if you feel lightheaded, step outside quietly as to not disturb the other patrons.”

“Who are also sauteing in their sweat…” she whispered and heard Dustin’s choked snort. “Sorry.”

“Let’s begin with acclimating ourselves to the moment,” the instructor began. “Everyone, lie down in a prone position and feel the heat seeping into your body, into every pore, opening the ligaments that are eagerly waiting to get stretched.”

“I feel like Gumby… on a Texas sidewalk… in August.”

“Shhhh!” someone hissed nearby, and Laurel vowed not to say another word to this serious group of Yogas… eh, Yogis… um,Human Jerkys?

“Feel the warmth… relax.”

And to her surprise, Laurel felt herself relaxing somewhat – until she heard Dustin whisper beside her.

“I think I have grill marks on my butt cheeks…”

She turned her head toward him; her eyes met his, and that smile was everything. Forget the heat, forget the discomfort of the room, right now her mind, heart, and soul were frozen in that unexpected moment of camaraderie between them.

“Hi,” he breathed and held out a hand to her across the space between their towels.

“Hi,” she replied tenderly, melting in more ways than just the temperature that was slowly cooking her. Her hand crept out to his as he touched her hand, watching her with those eyes that haunted her dreams and fantasies. “Maybe this isn’t so bad…”

“It’s tolerable now,” he volunteered, his smile widening as she chuckled.

“SHHHH!” the instructor said. “Be in the zone, people, and that means silence.Tais toi– and when you are ready, everyone move into a seated position with your legs in front of you, toes pointed to the sky. Feel the heat, feel the energy…”

“Feel the grill marks,” Dustin muttered in a hushed voice as he leaned forward to stretch, smiling at her. She did the same and followed his moves as the class went on.

They were strange poses, intricate poses, and she kept seeing him flinch occasionally, but after a while, he seemed to be slightly better. She had no idea her husband was so flexible, and when he was doing the pigeon pose and dragon stretch, he was almost flat against the floor, his hips and knees allowing the movement – whereas she was pretty sure her inner thighs were about to revolt.

If she got down onto the floor as far as he did, something would ‘give,’ and it wouldn’t be pretty. The ambulance Kendall had joked about would be required – and as it was, she was feeling light-headed… only to hear finally that the class was over.

“Oh, thank heavens…”

“Yeah, that’s pretty intense,” Dustin agreed. “It’s not a lot of strenuous movement, but I felt the workout, and my hip actually feels okay right now.”

“You’ve mentioned your hip a few times – are you okay?”

“I’m starting to feel the plays, the hits,” he explained carefully, looking at her. “I know it’s a rough game, and I’ve got the bruises to prove it. I stretch all the time to prevent injury – and I think that is the reason I’ve been able to continue playing for so long.”

“I knew it was rough but…” she began and met his eyes. “I’d really like to see a game.”

“That’s why I’m bringing the tickets for you both – and we get four of them each home game, so you or Kendall can bring a friend.”

“Will we be sitting with the other wives?”

“I can ask or arrange it.”

“I’d really like to get to know some of them better.”

“Do you want me to find out when the next…”

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