The formality affected me more than the touch. “Yes.”
Her palms settled at my waist. I leaned back slowly until her body supported mine. The position opened my chest and put her breath near my ear.
“Longer exhale,” she said.
I obeyed. Our bodies moved closer. In the mirror, her attention was soft and focused, with none of the public performance that usually protected us.
“You have me?” I asked.
I was asking about balance. It did not sound like it.
“I have you.”
For once, I did not check the time. Then the studio door opened. Blake entered with promotional shirts and stopped. I straightened too quickly; Dani’s chin struck my head.
“Practice is going well,” Blake said, reminded us audience response counted, and left delighted after Dani promised we would provide something to respond to.
I stepped on Dani’s foot. We reviewed two more poses and stopped before the most structurally irresponsible one. At nine oh-four, Dani closed the packet.
“We should save some mystery.”
For once, I agreed. Outside the studio, she held the door while I collected the mats. Her hand did not touch me. I noticed every inch between us.
Saturday’s partner-yoga challenge attracted twice as many spectators as the first event. Blake repeatedly reported that engagement was up and the comments wanted another kiss.
“No,” I said each time.
Dani stood beside me wearing a deep red sports bra and black leggings. Her hair was in a high ponytail. I wore the bright blue top. Blake had requested visual contrast. I had agreed because blue photographed well. Not because Dani had said I looked beautiful in it. The instructor gathered the couples in the studio. Mats formed four rows beneath soft lights. Spectators stood behind a low barrier near the mirrors.
Tessa, Rose, Gloria, and a little girl I assumed was Lola occupied the front. Dani noticed them. Her face lit.
“That’s Lola.”
“The child with the dinosaur sign?”
The sign read:
AUNT DANI: DON’T DROP YOUR GIRLFRIEND
“Yes.”
I turned on Dani.
“You told her?”
“Gloria saw the videos.”
“Does she believe the relationship is real?”
Dani’s smile weakened.
“I haven’t clarified.”
“This violates the disclosure list.”
“She’s eight.”
“That makes the deception worse.”
