Page 27 of Rebel Secrets
I nodded as I went to pick up the tray.“My presence has been requested.A command performance.”
Rain watched me with a steady gaze.“Would you like an emotional support friend to accompany you to wherever you’ve been commanded?”
I put the tray back down and took the hug Rain was offering.It loosened my jaw just enough that it wasn’t threatening to crack anymore.
“My cousin’s getting married.Mom’s taking me shopping for the appropriate dress.”
“That doesn’t sound too bad?”
Flopping down into one of the armchairs we’d pulled into the circle, I sighed and let my head fall back against the cushioned back.
“It’s not.It’s just…”
Rain took the seat opposite me, her steady gaze grounding me as I tried to stop from spiraling.I took a few deep breaths and blew them out, like I was in yoga.Definitely not skipping class tomorrow morning.
“I hate when I get like this.She’s not a bad person.She loves me and I love her.It’s just…I feel so bad that I can’t be the daughter she wants me to be.”
“You are who you are, Erin.You and your mom are different people.”
“I know that in here,” I tapped my head, “but there’s still that little girl in here,” now I tapped my chest, “that just wanted to go to public school and play soccer and, yeah, I know how pitiful this sounds.I’m twenty-nine fucking years old.I need to get over it.”
Rain nodded.“Yeah, you do.But we all want our parents to love us for who we are and not who they want us to be.Maybe you just need to show yours who you really are.”
ChapterNine
Rebel
“Namaste,everyone.Be gentle with yourselves today and every day.Be mindful.Be kind.Go now and have a good day.”
Pushing up off the floor, I rolled up my mat and headed for the wall to my water bottle.
When Kaden had told me about the yoga classes in town, I’d told him to go fuck himself, I wasn’t falling for that prank.
“Seriously, man.Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday morning, Missy Jane holds classes at seven in the all-purpose room at the church on Main.A few of the guys and I went to a couple classes because Rain and Erin begged us to support the class so that Missy Jane would keep holding them.The whole damn team showed up.You know how persuasive your sister is.And Erin just wears you down until you give in.”
“Who the hell’s Missy Jane?”
“Oh yeah, forgot you’ve been gone.She’s the dentist who took over Doc Swisher’s practice.”
I hadn’t been expecting much when I showed up this morning.I’d started taking classes in Reading when Coach had suggested it to help with conditioning, and it’d become part of my morning routine.Roll out of bed and do a three-mile jog then another twenty minutes of yoga to keep loose.
When I’d left St.David last year, no one had been teaching yoga.In Reading, several members of the Redtails actually paid a local instructor to lead a class once a week for us.
Since I found it helpful to have an instructor to follow, I was happy to hear about the local classes.But there were a hell of a lot more people here than I’d expected.Half the team, a good amount of the Angels Dance Team, several older women I recognized from some of my mom’s clubs.And a couple of younger women I didn’t recognize who smiled at Kaden and I as they walked out the door.
For a second, I’d held my breath, hoping they wouldn’t approach.I didn’t want to talk to anyone this early in the morning, much less make small talk with women I didn’t know.And be a decent human about it.
Of course, my sister didn’t give a shit about my personal boundaries.
With Erin following in her wake, Rain stopped at my side, stuck her finger in my waist and smiled at me.
“Hey, I didn’t know you’d be here.”
“I didn’t know I had to give you my schedule for the week.”
Rain’s nose wrinkled just before she stuck her tongue out at me.Which of course meant I had to pull her ponytail.Some things you just had to do.
Rolling her eyes, she slipped her arm through mine as we started walking toward the exit.
