Page 10 of Unworthy
My mistake, no offence
Heath
“Are you sure you want me to come to the pub?” Penny gave me a confused smile, and I frowned.
“Of course,” I told her. “Why would you think I wouldn’t want you to come?”
She bit her lip and looked to the side, then gave a small shrug. “No reason I guess. I just… never mind. I could use a glass of wine.”
I smiled at her and took her hand in mine for the short walk to the Pig and Whistle, ignoring how wrong and awkward it felt. As soon as we arrived at the pub, I let go of her hand to open the door and somehow just couldn’t bring myself to take it again. I justified that in my mind as simply being respectful to Penny in front of my friends, but I knew that was just bullshit. We all sat at our usual tables. Penny was great, her quiet confidence and maturity shining through. She looked beautiful but understated in her sports outfit. Not like… damn it! I needed to stop letting my mind wander where it shouldn’t.
I began to relax. Maybe I just needed to spend more time with Penny? Surely then I’d start feeling something. Just as I’d convinced myself that was the case, the hairs on the back of my neck stood up as the pub door opened and some instinct had me turning to look. Her hair was still damp, but what had dried was in a disarray of messy blonde curls. There was nothing overtly sexual about her outfit. Her jeans were ripped but hung loosely off her hips, and she had obviously just thrown her t-shirt over her bikini, which was clearly visible underneath. Her hair fell in her eyes as she laughed at something the tall, long-haired man with her said, and she reached up in a fluid movement to pull the mass of it back into a messy bun on the top of her head. The long-haired man’s face went a little slack as he watched that process. I felt my jaw clench as this dickhead focused on Yaz’s chest while she was scanning the bar, completely oblivious.
I wasn’t the only one noticing his leering. Another of Yaz’s friends called Dee was also with them – I’d met her a few times before. She had the same water sports-obsessed, laid-back attitude as Yaz. But Dee didn’t look so laid-back now, however. She was scowling at the long-haired guy like he was a piece of crap on her shoe. Eventually Yaz’s eyes fell on our group and she smiled. Not at me, though. As was becoming a pattern now, she avoided eye contact with me completely.
“Hey there, beach-touch losers,” she said, ruffling Teddy’s hair as she pulled a chair out to sit. “You all remember Dee, and this is Bodhi, my soul brother and new business partner in crime.”
“Hey, all,” Bodhi said, taking the seat next to Yaz and pulling it so close to her he had to drape his arm over the back of her chair. Dee pulled up a chair on her other side and gave Bodhi another brief contemptuous look before smiling at the group. All three of them were sporting ripped jeans, surf t-shirts and flip-flops. Dee was dark-haired with a pretty, freckled, make-up free face. Bodhi’s hair was the male version of Yaz’s, with blonde streaks and a natural wave to it. He was tanned and lean. The bastard looked like he’d just stepped out of a surfing magazine. He and Yaz could be models for Billabong. My gaze dropped to where my hand was holding my beer and I realised my knuckles were white.
“What business?” I snapped. Everyone’s eyes flew to me at my sharp tone. Mia was frowning.
“Yaz started a well-being business a year ago, Heath,” Mia said. “She’s got a studio down at the harbour.”
“Well-being? What doesthatentail?” I could hear the condescension in my tone and hated myself a little for it.
“Yoga, reiki, acupuncture… that sort of thing,” Yaz mumbled, still avoiding eye contact with me. “Dee’s a qualified dietician, so she runs groups and individual coaching as well. We try to be as holistic as possible. We use the studio in winter, but in summer we’re mostly on the beach when we can be.”
“I thought you just taught a bit of windsurfing down there?” I said. I’d seen Yaz teaching before and just assumed it was the odd summer job she picked up.
Yaz shrugged. “To me the sea is part of well-being. I’ve been a qualified instructor for years, so it made sense to make it part of the business. A lot of my clients do yoga as strengthening for water sports, so they come to me for both.”
“Yaz won’t admit it, but she’s the best teacher out there,” Dee put in. “She’s helped my windsurfing no end. I’d have never learned a heli tack if it weren’t for her.”
Yaz smiled at her. “You were killing it out there, hun. You didn’t need me.”
Dee rolled her eyes. “Killing it, my arse! I could barely get in the harness before you took me out.”
“Well, it’s all spiralled a bit,” Yaz said, addressing the group again. “And I was having trouble managing it all as it was, hence, Bodhi. He’s been a lifesaver.”
“It’s so good to meet you, Bodhi!” Mia (the traitor) seemed way too enthusiastic about this new dude. “Yaz has told me so much about you. I hear the business is really picking up.”
Bodhi gave Mia a lazy smile. “You must be Mia. We’re doing alright, thanks. The weather helps and Yaz draws quite the crowd.” As he said the last, his hand that was resting on the back of Yaz’s chair reached up and shook her messy bun. Yaz laughed and elbowed him in the ribs. I had to release my beer, as I was in danger of shattering the glass. He touched her hair. A red mist descended over my vision and for a moment I thought I might be in real danger of shoving the table out of the way and punching this smug fucker right in his overly tanned face.
“Shut your pie-hole, you cheesy badger,” Yaz said as his fucking hand settled back into its position behind her. “You’ve plenty of admirers down there yourself. And anyway, we’re popular because of our holistic approach and the standard of our teaching and equipment. Those new sails we bought last–”
“I bet,” I couldn’t help muttering into my beer, and Yaz fell silent.
“Something to say, Heath?” she asked. She was giving me eye contact now, but definitely no smile. I felt an unreasonable surge of anger.
“Any idiot can see you aren’t winning clients with superior teaching techniques and fancy sails.”
Yaz’s face flooded with colour and her eyes flashed. “Oh really? Don’t hold back, Heath. Tell us why our business is becoming more successful than any other on the harbour.”
I rolled my eyes. “If you think that any bloke in a five-mile radius is bothered about how capable a teacher you are or how high quality your sails are with you standing out there in a bikini top and cut-offs, you’re delusional. Tits and arse, that’s what’s selling your lessons and you know it. I’m sure pretty boy here draws in some birds as well, but don’t delude yourself that your reputation is based on talent alone.”
Silence fell on the group, broken by Bodhi’s sudden burst of laughter. “Well, if it brings in the business, then I’m all for it.”
I shifted uncomfortably in my seat. Yaz was staring down at her drink, her mouth drawn into a tight line. I didn’t like her expression or the fact I’d been the one to put it there. Max sighed and shook his head. And Mia was glaring daggers at me. I cleared my throat.
