Page 122 of Win Big

Laughter ripples through the morning air.

“Let’s resume.” I keep my voice calm, a half smile on my face. “One more time... exhale, fold forward... inhale, reach up.” I hold that pose for a few seconds.I am capable of anything.“Exhale, fold forward, and bring your hands to the board as we squat down and bring the right knee back.”

This time there are no smart-ass comments from the peanut gallery. I survey the group to see how everyone’s doing, including Harrison. His face more serious, he seems focused on the pose.

“You want two ninety-degree angles with your legs,” I continue, moving my knee and foot into the correct position and watching the others. “Good. Coming up into half warrior...” I lift my arms and stretch them out in front of me. “Shoulders back... inhale... and lift the arms up.”

I sense Harrison’s gaze on me. Which is weird, because almost everyone in the class watches me to see how I do it, but Ifeelhis eyes on me. I say the next words, just waiting for his reaction. “Lift your heart to the sun.”

He stretches his arms up and lengthens his torso, not making any jokes. How about that.

Sweet smiling Jesus, he has an amazing body. Although a bit tight. If we were in the studio, I’d be setting a hand in the small of his back, making adjustments to his pose.

We go through the rest of the class without incident. “Let’s finish up with a nice child’s pose.” I stretch my arms out in front of me on the board. “Let your body melt into the board.”

I follow my own advice, shutting out the rest of the class, particularly that one guy with the naughty boy smile and hotbody, letting my muscles relax, tension seep out of me. I focus on the gentle movement of the water beneath me, my breathing, the warmth of the sun on my back.

Class is over and we all paddle back to shore. This basin is quiet and calm, perfect for my classes. I’m so lucky that Taj has his paddleboard business here and I get to piggyback on to that.

I have another class in my studio at noon, so I head toward the change room so I can put on dry clothes and dry my hair. As I approach the change room, Harrison steps in front of me.

“I want to apologize again,” he says earnestly.

He has amazing blue eyes.

“I didn’t intend for that to happen, it was an accident, and I’m really sorry that we disrupted your class.”

“It’s fine.” I don’t smile, but I keep my tone courteous. “Forgiveness and letting go are an important part of yoga.”

He studies my face. “That’s very... generous of you. We were assholes.” He scrunches up his face. “Sorry.”

I have to smile now. “It’s okay, I may have thought that myself. But exhalation is the act of letting go.”

“Could I take you out for a drink... or dinner? To make it up to you?”

I blink. “That’s not necessary.”

“I know it’s not, but I’d like to.” His smile is genuine and open.

Getting hit on by customers is not usual, since my classes are made up of mostly women, although it has happened. I don’t dateanyone,never mind customers, and especially not men I don’t know. “I’m sorry, but no.”

“Oh.” His face clouds. “Everly said she thinks you have a boyfriend.”

What?“No,” I say before I can stop myself.

Shit.

His eyes brighten again. “Okay, then!”

“But I can’t go out with you.”

Disappointment tugs at his lips again. He opens his mouth to say something more, and I sense he’s going to try to persuade me. My fingers and toes tingle as adrenaline surges through my body, my stomach clenching. “I have to go.”

I bolt into the ladies’ change room and shut the door behind me. Fear has my heart leaping in my chest, and for a moment I wish I could lock the door behind me. There are other women in the room, though.

I am brave.

I lift my chin and smile, making my way to the locker in the back where I keep my things. My insides knotted, my skin clammy, I fake a calm that I don’t feel as I change into a pair of cropped yoga pants and a top. Then I head to the counter and mirrors along one wall to dry my hair.

---