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Amusement flashed in his eyes and a wicked grin appeared on his face. “Ooh, is that jealousy, Kessel?”
I shot him a glare, then focused my eyes back on my own mat, trying my hardest to ignore him… But I felt my face burning all the same.
“Alright class, we’re moving to side planks. Everyone turn to your right side,” Darla said.
Thank God, I internally responded. I’d get to face his back for a minute.
But of course, as soon as I turned to my right, I was staring straight at him, face-to-face.
A shit-eating grin slid onto his eternally boyish face.
“You’re on the wrong side,” I grumbled darkly.
“Foot’s fucked. Have to do this side twice,” he responded nonchalantly. “And there’s no reason to be upset.” His gaze trailed over me, and his eyes practically smoldered. I swear my entire body blushed. “I can flirt with you too. You look good, Kessel.”
My heart practically stopped. I forced myself to take in a deep breath and looked up at my arm instead of at him.
“Now, not many will be able to do this,” Darla continued, “But listen to your body. Lift your knee to the sky, then see if you can grab hold of your foot. Use your big toe as a grip if you have to. Extend your leg straight out and hold.”
Duke grunted as he held his cast and tried to straighten his long leg out. He was very obviously struggling and should’ve quit. I had no problem with this position, I could do it in my sleep.
“Listen to your body, Duke,” I repeated snidely, trying to stifle a giggle.
“I can do it,” he grunted. “Look.”
I snorted. “Right,” I said sarcastically. “I can just do it better, I guess.”
“God, you're still so competitive,” he bit back, but the look in his eyes told me it wasn’t a complaint. It was our kind of praise, and it made me want to try that much harder.
I breathed in, taking in his strong jawline. “So are you,” I returned.
The corners of his mouth quirked up. “Your competitiveness… It’s fucking lethal to me.”
“It’s fucking deadly,” I countered.
He held my gaze for a beat, then shook his head. “God, you always need the last word,” he complained. Then his body shook with laughter… and seeing him happy, seeing him laughing, I don’t know, it just overcame me too. Suddenly, we were both struggling to stay in position, trying hard to smother our giggles.
“Claire and Duke, you’re acting like middle schoolers. Am I going to have to separate you?” Darla asked in a warning tone.
My eyes found his, and I gave him my best told-you-so look as we moved back into downward-facing dog.
“It’s not me!” he whispered, aghast.
“It is to you… ‘You look good, Kessel,’” I mimicked him.
“Well, when you're in that position, what’s a guy to think?” he whispered in a husky voice.
I immediately dropped down.
“I win.” He smirked at me with fiery eyes.
My mouth dropped open in surprise. “No, that was cheating,” I argued. But as he continued staring me down with that smug look on his stupidly handsome face, hot fury started rising in my chest.
And… I have no defense for what I did other than the fact that I was momentarily blinded by annoyance… I pushed him.
He splatted to his side and immediately lifted his arms in innocence, clearly shocked I did that. “Kessel!” he burst out, forgetting we were supposed to whisper.
“Enough! Claire. Duke. Out!” Darla yelled.
