"You're so mean. You're seriously the hottest, meanest yoga instructor I've ever met. No wonder you're so popular in LA."
Feigning offense, I laugh with him. Work has been good lately, but hearing it put like that makes me realize how far I've come.
Gary stands and offers me a hand up. I don't need it, but I take it anyway.
"I can see why Vince likes you so much," he teases. "He thinks you're hilarious, though I don't see it. Quit bullying me."
"I'm not bullying you. I'm coaching you." I avoid eye contact, pretending to pick at my fingernail.
"Hey," Gary continues, narrowing his eyes, "something's weird. What's weird?"
I don't answer.
"Okay. Something's definitely weird."
I gather my things and start rolling up my mat.
"You're not telling me something. Is it because I mentioned Vince? I know Relay is over, but you guys are still talking, right? Did you confess your undying love or what?"
I laugh nervously. "Something like that."
Gary drops his mat and runs toward me, his mouth agape like a child on Christmas morning.
"No way." He grabs my arms, shaking me until my hair falls into my eyes.
"I'm mad at you for not telling me this sooner," he declares. "You made me do planks instead of spilling this tea?!"
I stare blankly at him, so he lets go and picks up his mat again. "We need coffee. Now. You're telling me everything."
The bell above the coffee shop door chimes as we step inside, the rich aroma of roasted beans enveloping us like a warm blanket. Gary leads me to a corner table, his eyes alight with anticipation as if he's just scored front-row tickets to a boxing match.
"Alright, spill," he says, leaning forward with his elbows on the table. "Every last drop."
I wrap my hands around the warm ceramic mug, the heat seeping into my palms as I stare at the dark liquid swirling within. "Where do I even start?"
"The beginning is usually good," Gary says dryly, taking a sip of his cappuccino.
I take a breath, the story tasting bitter on my tongue even before I speak. "So, Ted... it's never what it looks like from the outside."
I trace the rim of my cup with my finger, watching the condensation bead up. "He's... charming, at first. All confident smiles and expensive cologne. But underneath..."
I shake my head, the memories washing over me. "He makes these little digs about my waistline, my job, my friends. Nothing obvious enough to call him out on, just enough to make me feel small. He has this way of turning everything around so I feel like I'm the one being unreasonable."
Gary's coffee sits untouched as he leans closer, his expression shifting from amused to concerned. "Andy, why didn't you say something?"
"Because I'm an idiot," I laugh humorlessly. "Because I think maybe I'm being too sensitive. Because I've been alone for a long time and don't want to be alone anymore."
I glance up at Gary, whose eyes have softened. "But last night... that dinner... it wasn't little digs anymore."
The memory of the restaurant makes my stomach clench. "Vince organizes this double date, not knowing I've already tried to break up with Ted. So there we are, me and Vince, Sam and Ted..."
I pause, the words catching in my throat. "Ted is being awful all night. Making jokes about my attention span, about my medication... and then..."
I close my eyes, seeing it all again. "He just announces it. That I have feelings for Vince. To the entire table. In the middle of this fancy restaurant where everyone can hear."
Gary's hand covers mine on the table, his touch gentle. "Shit, Andy."
"Sam gets up and leaves. Vince storms out after her. And I end things with Ted for good."
