Page 40 of Losing Sleep
As we’d hiked, I’d watched Kylie glue herself to Grey’s side. She regularly used rocks, roots, and branches as excuses to touch Grey, grabbing his arm to keep from tripping, brushing his fingers when he’d held a branch back so it wouldn’t hit her. I swallowed, remembering Tory’s insights from this morning and not sure how much I should share.
I shook my head. “It’s nothing.”
“If it was nothing, you wouldn’t have paused, not to mention you’re going to nibble a hole in your lip,” Grey persisted.
“Fine, but take it with a grain of salt. I was just people-watching, so it might mean nothing.”
“Now you’re making me nervous.”
We started hiking again, not wanting to draw attention as everyone else waited for us in the parking lot.
“Kylie doesn’t want to just be your friend.” I said the words quickly, glancing at Grey’s face while I spoke, watching his reaction.
His face tightened as he processed the words and then shook his head.
“She and I have talked. She knows I don’t feel that way about her. We’re good friends. That’s it.”
I shrugged. “Friends or not, I don’t think the two of you are on the same page with that assumption.”
Grey shook his head, not commenting as we finished the hike.
I almost regretted sharing my observations, my anxiety from earlier starting to gnaw at my belly. Had I misspoken in telling Grey my thoughts? Yet, I knew he’d be the first one to tell me to speak my mind, which was exactly what I’d done.
I slipped into Tory’s car, only half listening to the discussion around me as Tory rambled on about other hikes we could do. I was too busy thinking about what I had seen when we got to the parking lot. Trent and Tory had been standing next to Tory’s car, Trent’s arms wrapped around her from behind. Brad had been a few steps away, making Tory laugh with something he’d said, Trent glaring daggers at him from over Tory’s shoulder. Alex had been leaning on the other side of Brad’s car, head ducked down, looking at his phone. And separate from the group, watching the trail like a hawk, had been Kylie. I’d watched as instant relief, followed by concern, had flitted across her face before she’d sidled up to me, asking my thoughts on the hike and positioning herself between me and Grey.
Just friends. That might be what Grey wanted, but Kylie clearly had other plans.
Chapter Twenty
While the hike hadbeen relatively level, my muscles smarted from my sudden increase in physical activity. I did yoga almost daily, but it worked my muscles differently than walking mountain trails and jumping into rivers, and my hips were making me well aware of that fact by the time we got back to the cabin.
As if reading my mind, Grey said, “Hey, Audrey, could you show me some yoga to help my back? As great as The Cave is, that mattress downstairs has seen better days.” He rubbed his lower back with a wince as we entered the cabin.
I ducked my head, heat stealing into my cheeks as all eyes turned to me.
“I could use a bit of stretching too,” Brad chimed in. “That’s how I know I’m getting old. I used to have to do a crazy workoutfor my body to hurt. Now I just have to drive a car for several hours.”
“I’m not a yoga instructor or anything,” I stammered, surprised to find the entire group watching me and nodding with interest. While it was a dream of mine, I’d yet to take the plunge to start my certification.
“You might as well be,” Tory said, giving me a hip bump as she walked past. “I think you spend more time in yoga classes than sleeping.”
“I can pull up one of my favorite videos.” I attempted to defer, waving my phone. Service was terrible, but maybe if I was lucky I would have just enough signal to get a video to play. I wasn’t sure how I felt about teaching my first yoga class in front of this new group of friends.
“Come on, Audrey! Show us your moves.” Grey gave me a gentle nudge of encouragement, waving me towards the living room.
I looked around the group of eager faces and nodded slowly. I could do this. I’d jumped into the Firehole and tried root beer milk. Teaching a yoga class, taking that first step towards my impractical dream, was nothing in comparison.
“Fine. I can show you some of my favorite poses, but remember, I’m not an instructor. This is just a hobby.”
“For now,” Tory said with a knowing smile. “I still think you should become a yoga instructor, make it a career. It would beat that stuffy office job.”
I shook my head, ignoring her comments as I considered where our whole group could fit for a yoga session.
While the basement had more room for everyone to stretch out, the upstairs living room was where we landed. I worried the cement flooring of the basement would be too hard and uncomfortable to move on. The guys pushed the couches and recliner back into the dining area and hallway, giving us a bitmore space to work in while I snagged my mat from Grey’s car. Brad, Alex, Grey, and Tory spread out in the living room, leaving space for me at the front of the group.
Trent settled on one of the couches in the kitchen, phone in hand. He scowled when he noted Tory was settled next to Brad on the carpet.
Kylie came down the hall, pausing when she saw us scattered around the living room. “Looks like I’m missing the party.”
