“We’ll handle it.”
“When?”
“After the challenge.”
“Dani.”
The instructor called for attention.
“We’ll talk,” Dani whispered.
Lola waved enthusiastically at me. I waved back despite myself. She held up the sign higher.
“Your girlfriend likes me,” she told Gloria loudly.
Several people laughed. Dani covered her face. I experienced an inconvenient surge of affection. Not for Dani. For the child. Entirely separate. The challenge began. The first poses were familiar. Seated twist. Back-to-back chair. Forearm counterbalance. Dani and I moved more smoothly than we had during practice. I counted. She followed. When transition required improvisation, I let her guide. We completed the first sequence without falling.
Blake announced our score. Second place in stability. First in communication. The audience-response number was suspiciously high. The next sequence included supported tree. I lifted my foot. Dani held my hand and waist.
“Relax,” she said.
“I am.”
“You’re smiling.”
“I am not.”
Lola called from the audience, “You are!”
I lost balance for half a second. Dani steadied me.
“Your family is disruptive,” I whispered.
“You waved.”
“She is a child.”
“You’re defenseless against children.”
“That is not true.”
“Lola, ask her to come to dinner.”
“Do not.”
Lola cupped her hands around her mouth.
“COME TO DINNER!”
The audience laughed. My face burned. Dani nearly lost her own balance from laughing. We completed the pose. The instructor moved us into the backward lean. Dani stood behind me.
Her hands settled at my waist after a quiet, “Okay?”
I gave permission and leaned back. The room receded. She held me with practiced steadiness. This time, I did not panic when the angle deepened. I trusted the support.
“Breathe,” she murmured.
I did. The audience became quiet enough that I heard the camera shutters. We straightened together. For a moment, Dani’s arms remained around me. The instructor called the next pose. We separated. The final sequence included a balance we had not practiced. One partner knelt on all fours while the other balanced across her back and extended opposite arm and leg.
