Page 90 of Love Unavoidable
On the count of three, she has the base people extend their legs straight up. And on a second count of three, the flyers extend. Only I can’t let go of Sadie’s hands. Not just because I like holding them, but also because I’m afraid to let go. Her legs can’t be more than three feet long, so it’s not like I’m high in the air by any means. I don’t feel stable enough to balance using just my core muscles with nothing to hold on to.
I start to sweat, the exertion of trying to hold myself up becoming too much. I glance down at Sadie who’s not broken a sweat and is barely breathing hard. Her legs are straight, knees loose and not locked, and she keeps trying to pull her hands from mine so I can “fly.” Only I won’t let her. I can’t. If she lets go, I will fall.
“Ethan,” she whispers loudly. “You need to let go of my hands.”
“I can’t,” I whisper back. “I don’t want to fall.”
“You won’t fall,” she says.
“I will. Please don’t let go.”
She giggles in response. “You’re being silly.” She wriggles a hand free from mine, so I grab her other hand with both of mine, throwing me off balance. She continues to gesticulate to the class and give tips and pointers as though I’m not balanced on her legs. Then uses me as an example of what not to do as I wobble on top of her feet. I can’t see where anyone else is having quite the same issues as I am.
I catch Brad’s eye—he’s “flying” as though he was born to do it.
Asshole.
Finally, Sadie tells the base people to lower their legs. I breathe a huge sigh of relief once I have two feet back on the ground. I’m assuming that we now get to switch, so I prepare to lay down on the mat.
“What are you doing?” Sadie asks.
“I’m getting ready to switch.”
“Oh no, everyone else is switching. But you are doing it again until you can let go ofbothmy hands.”
I laugh.
She can’t be serious.
“I’m serious,” she says.
Fuck.
“I’m not doing that, Sadie.”
“Stone? There an issue?” The chief asks me from his position in the front row.
“No issue, sir.”
I turn back to Sadie. “Fine, I’ll do it,” I mutter.
She smirks in return, then lies back down on the floor, and gets her feet in position. Continuing to talk to the class the entire time. My core muscles still hurt from the first time we tried this. I position myself how I am supposed to, and she lifts me into the air.
“Okay, Ethan, let go,” Sadie says.
I can’t.
“Ethan, it’s okay, I promise.” She whispers this time, but I still feel like the entire squad can hear her.
“Open your eyes,” she implores. “Look at me.”
I’d be stupid not to look at her. So I do. I gaze into her big brown eyes and she smiles. I get a little lost, just like a great big love-sick oaf. But it works. Because the next thing I know, I’m fucking flying.
I smile big. “I’m doing it!”
She smiles back.
We are smiling at each other. This is the best thing to happen between us in days. And just like all good things, this one comes to an abrupt end when I lose my balance and crash to the floor.
