Page 9 of Stick Break
“Do I need a blanket too?” Jesus, I can’t believe I’m about to do yoga. But the doctor did say I needed to follow the ‘rice’ method. Rest, ice compression and elevation, which I’ve been doing. Yoga with gentle stretching by a certified instructor would definitely help. I just didn’t want to seek out a yoga studio. Didn’t want to draw any attention to myself. But not that Charly and her skills fell into my lap, so to speak, I should take advantage of her…it…I mean it. The yoga. I’m not, and never have, taken advantage of anyone.
“You don’t really, uh, sunbathe in the nude do you?” I ask.
She cocks her head in challenge. “Is it on the list of ‘can’t do’ rules?”
“No. Actually, I just don’t want you drawing any attention to yourself.”
Or me.
I node toward the back of the cottage. “There’s a quiet spot on the back deck. It’s fenced back there. Private. Probably a good spot.”
“Sound perfect.”
We step outside and a warm breeze washes over us as I lock up making a mental note to get her a key so she can come and go as she pleases. I’m not about to keep her captive inside. We walk down the small walkway, cross the street, and step onto the beach. Warm sand squishes between my toes and I pull my hat down low as we walk toward the water. The beach is pretty quiet this time of morning, and usually later in the evening, when I do my nightly walking.
“Have you even been to Haven beach before?” I ask.
“No.” she looks around. “it’s beautiful here, though. You live in Boston, right?”
I stiffen and she holds her hands up. “Just making conversational and for some reason I assumed you lived there because that’s where Paisley and Gunter live and you know them.”
“Right. I do live in Boston. I’m from California though.”
She smiles, some warm memory drifting across her face. “Do you miss it?” she asks.
“My family is still there, so yeah, I miss it. I was actually living in Chicago before moving to Boston last year.” Shit, why am I telling her so much.
“Do you like Boston?”
“I do. I have friends there. You ever been?”
“No.”
“I think you’d like it. Maybe not the cold winters though.”
She chuckles. “Probably not.”
We make our way toward the water and a soft strumming sound reaches our ears. She instantly turns, like she’s seen a ghost but then her body relaxes when her gaze lands on a man sitting alone, strumming on his guitar. She watches for a moment, and my throat tightens at the longing, and then hurt that moves across her pretty face.
“You play?”
She snorts out a laugh. “Feels like a lifetime ago.”
“Do you want to move further down the beach, so we don’t hear it while we stretch.”
Actually, it is kind of soothing. I’m okay with it if you are.”
I am.” I glance around. “This looks like as good a spot as any.” She nods and I spread out the blanket. “How did you get into yoga?”
“I used to do dance lessons as a kid, and stretching was a big part.” She grins. “That’s how I knew you had good moves.”
“Well then, if you’ve seen me dance, then it’s only fair that I see you dance.”
She huffs out a laugh, as she widens her feet and lifts her hands above her head. “I’m not sure that’s the rule at all.”
“My cottage, my rules, Goldie.”
Rolling her eyes, she puts her hands on my arms and then instantly pulls them back. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to touch. I was just trying to position you.”
