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Chase
Afteracolorfullunch consisting of beans, rice, and salad, and greeting couples with names like: Forest Child, Kundalini, and Shakti, we decided on a hike through the lush forest.
Apart from a desire to breathe fresh air while appreciating natural beauty—and by that, I wasn’t just referring to ogling Ivy—the hike was my way of avoiding the aura-cleansing session. I feigned color blindness for not attending. Ridiculous as that sounded, my bullshit excuse didn’t mute softly spoken Aadhar from explaining the enlightening virtues of prismatic observation.
Ivy stood behind him, wearing a perplexed cross-eyed frown. I had to suck back laughter while mumbling something about nature being a great way to balance my chakras. Then, with Ivy’s hand in mine, I made a dash for the door.
When we were outside, I said, “Why do I feel so guilty?”
Ivy shrugged. “Like all religious types, they’re out to convert.”
“The only religion I subscribe to is that of beauty and nature.”
She squinted in the sun and shook her head. “You’re full of shit.”
“Just like you are,” I said, pinching her ass.
Two miles into our walk, we both sat slumped on a log.
“We should have had a big breakfast.” I regretted not ordering a fried breakfast at the diner we’d stopped at for a coffee before arriving.
Ivy nodded with a sigh as she rummaged in her backpack. “Look what I found.”
“Unless it’s a hot dog or a hamburger, count me out.”
She brought out a block of chocolate. “Even this?”
“Go on then. Even though I could kill for some greasy, artery-clogging food, a sugar hit will do.”
“I always carry some around for moments like this.” Her delightful smile made her so pretty, I wanted to squeeze her cheek.
I loved how we laughed at life and at ourselves. If I pointed out her lipstick had smudged or her top was stained, she would giggle instead of acting horrified, like most of the girls I knew. Pretty women were sometimes too caught up with their looks. Ivy, the most beautiful girl I’d ever dated, didn’t fuss about how she looked in the morning, which was when I found her the most ravishing. Make-up free, her beauty blew me away, especially her wide blue eyes that seemed to be filled with either wonder or mischief.
“Let’s get back for dinner.”
“I think there’s a chakra dance. And later on, Tantra.” She raised an eyebrow.
“What happens in a Tantra session?”
“It’s all about touching and staring into each other’s eyes and delayed gratification.”
“More of that,” I said dryly.
Ivy laughed. “My God, what would you do shipwrecked on an island?”
“I’d go fishing and wait for the fruit to rot.”
“Huh?” she asked.
“That’s how alcohol is produced. Fermented fruit. Which, I guess, is delayed gratification too.”
“You’re a lush. That’s one thing that this weekend has revealed.”
I nodded slowly. “I am. But…” I held up a finger. “I’m willing to change. But slowly. Not so quickly. And I’m not giving up meat. Or coffee. Or alcohol. And definitely not sex.”
“Then what’s left to change?”
I held my chin. “Mm… let me get back to you on that.”
