Page 27 of Y'allywood Billionaire

“We’re out,” Emily says, and she and Eric head back to their seats around the campfire.

“Me too,” Lydia says. “Have fun.” And she joins Emily and Eric.

That leaves Billy, Skye, Maddox, and me for soul-cleansing yoga.

After Maddox and I sit in front of one another, knees touching, Billy says, “Now, say, ‘My soul aches for…’ and fill in the rest. Share something special with your partner.”

Maddox whispers, “My soul aches for beef burgers.”

I squeeze my lips together to stifle a laugh. “My soul aches for never-ending pasta.”

“Our next position is facing cobra,” Billy announces.

“Sweet Jesus,” Maddox mumbles.

We lie on our stomachs, facing our partners, and when Maddox and I lift our heads into cobra, we’re nose to nose. I try not to laugh when I whisper, “This close, you look like a bug.”

Billy tells us to say, “Someday, I dream of…” and fill in the blank.

I stare at Maddox, as I’m supposed to. I decide to be honest when I say, “Someday, I dream of producing a movie.”

Maddox blinks. “Wait—was that one real?”

“Yes.”

“Oh.” He stares at me, which I guess he has to. He says, “That’s surprising. Anything in mind?”

“Yes.”

He stretches his neck higher into cobra. “This is too good. Tell me what it is.”

“Tell me what you dream of first.” I stretch higher too.

“Me too. I used to own a production company. So, someday, I dream of producing something Oscar-worthy,” he blurts.

“Really?” I smile, my cheeks starting to quiver from holding my position. “That’s not surprising. I’d like to produce a period drama.” I’d love it to be Grams’sLords of Lairebiography. It’s a fascinating read so far, and right now, the story is untold.

Maddox struggles when he says, “I didn’t take you for a history buff. But then again, you always surprise me.”

“Release!” Billy cries out, and all of us flop our heads to our mats.

Billy tells us to go into downward dog, and I go into the position, butt in air, before Maddox goes into it over my back. So, he’s doing me doggie style—clothed. And I will admit, my sexual chakra is igniting.

I’m also shaking, sweating, and in pain. Something about that combination lowers my inhibitions, and I’m honest when I follow Billy’s command and say, “I’m most afraid of disapproval.”

Maddox is huffing and puffing. He whispers, “I’m most afraid of failure.”

Maddox’s admission hits like a blow. Madman Maddox The Invincible has a fear. Which is nothing more than that because he’s anything but a failure. Then again, I’ve never lived under theshadow of two parents who have accomplished it all. That bar is impossibly high. Emotion bubbles inside me, and it’s not lost on me that Billy’s painful yoga trick is opening something up. He calls it chakras, I call it pent-up feelings.

With yoga done, the night grows cool, but the campfire is hot, and the company is warm and inviting. The night is helping me shake off the nerves that constantly plague me these days. Everyone is so low key, it’s impossible not to be at ease. Which could be dangerous, as we could slip up the more relaxed we get.

But here, no one’s a stranger. I wonder if they all know how lucky they are to have each other and all the fond memories of nights like this.

It’s also pretty cool to see Maddox away from work, away from the cameras, and just completely himself. There’s no arrogance, no smirking. There’s a lot of smart-assery, but it’s with love, and somehow, it fits perfectly when he’s hanging out with his dad and cousins who all clearly adore each other.

When midnight approaches, Skye gives us each a white battery-operated candle—which wouldn’t be so weird, except they’re dollhouse-sized.

I take it between my two fingers, hoping I can keep a hold of it.

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