Page 28 of The Dating Ban
She gives me an innocent look. “Oh, nothing. Just that she was very happy to see you.”
I shrug. “She’s friendly.” The thought of Safiya being interested in me is laughable. I think she is even dating the guy who owns the yoga studio.
Ivy raises an eyebrow. “Theo, she was flirting with you.”
I snort. “What? No, she wasn’t.”
She lets out a laugh, shaking her head. “Oh my God, you’re one of those.”
I cross my arms. “One of what?”
“The oblivious ones! The ones who have beautiful women flirting with them and just do not see it.”
I scoff. “I think I’d know if someone was flirting with me.” Of course I would. It’s just been a while since… come to think of it, I’m not quite sure when a woman last flirted with me.I need to get out more.
She snorts. “Would you, though?”
“Yes!” I insist.
“Okay, let’s examine the evidence. The way she smiled at you? That was flirting.” She holds up one finger. “The way she praised you? Flirting.” A second finger joins the first one. “And the way she kept glancing between the two of us, as if checking if I was a threat? Definitely flirting,” she grins triumphantly holding up three fingers as prove of her absurd theory.
I shake my head, utterly unconvinced. “You’re reading into things.”
Ivy sighs dramatically, looking to the ceiling pleading for patience. “Wow. Men really do live in a different reality.”
I smirk. “Or maybe you see things that aren’t there.”
She rolls her eyes. “Sure, Theo. Keep telling yourself that.”
I chuckle, “Well, even if she was flirting—which she wasn’t—I wouldn’t have noticed because I was too busy making sure you didn’t back out.”
Ivy scoffs. “Oh, please. I was totally committed.”
Just as Safiya is about to start the class, a little voice rings out from across the studio.
“Daddy! Ivy!”
I turn toward the kids’ section, where Lucy is standing on her mat, arms flailing enthusiastically. When she sees she has our attention, she gives us a giant, proud wave.
Ivy waves back. “Looking good, Lu!”
Lucy beams, then immediately flops into what I assume is her version of a stretch.
I shake my head, chuckling, as Safiya claps her hands to gather our attention.
“Alright, let’s start in Tadasana—Mountain Pose.”
Ivy follows my lead, straightening up, feet firmly grounded, arms relaxed at her sides. She exhales slowly, looking surprisingly serious about this whole thing.
“Nice,” I say quietly.
She flicks me a glance. “Don’t patronise me, Theo. I can stand just fine on two feet.”
I chuckle. “Impressive stuff.”
She gives me a withering look before Safiya moves on.
“Now let’s shift into Vrksasana—Tree Pose. Find your balance, press one foot to your calf or thigh, and focus on a fixed point.”
