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I grabbed a yoga mat from one of the extras in the back and tossed it to him. “You’ll be fine.”
“Why do I not believe you?”
I laughed as a few more people filed in. After greeting my regulars, I stepped in front of the room, taking my usual spot at the top of my orange mat. That was when I spotted Jason, his tall form ducking in while I began my introduction.
“Good evening and welcome. This is an all-levels Vinyasa flow class.” I raised my brow at Jason in question. “I’m surprised to see so many new faces.”
He replied silently by tipping his chin toward my mom and quietly removed his sneakers then found an open space in the back with one of the extra mats.
I refocused and brought my hands to my heart, determined not to give him any more attention than necessary. If he wanted to waste an hour trying to impress my mother, that was his prerogative. “I invite you all to start by planting your feet firmly on the earth, breathing deeply, in through your nose and out through your mouth.”
I began the class with some cleansing breaths then moved through sun salutations. In the front row, my mom easily transitioned from one pose to the next, while Frank grunted with every exhale. During the more advanced moves, I took some time with each student for support or gentle correction, although it took a minute to get Frank unstuck from reverse warrior.
“I thought you said this would be easy,” he rasped, finally standing upright.
I’d never laugh at any of my students, but I needed to bite my lip to keep a straight face. “I never said easy.”
He wiped sweat away from his forehead. “I don’t think I’m going to make it to Saturday. I may have a heart attack before then.”
“Don’t worry. I’m first aid certified,” I whispered, patting his back, then continued instruction on to the next pose. “Nice long inhale, and on your exhale, slowly transition into side angle pose.”
Everyone followed the direction except for Frank, who bent to touch his toes, only getting halfway there.
“If you’re feeling good today, you can always extend out into half-moon pose.”
A few of the students moved onto one leg and hand, and I readjusted some before approaching Jason, who attempted the pose, though it was all wrong. “Turn out from your center.”
“I have no idea what that means.” His usually smooth voice was ragged, but I hesitated to help him. His head hung upside down, his face red and pinched together. “I’m feeling a little light-headed down here.”
After everything—the constant arguing, the kiss, the whole Bridget situation—I didn’t want to be nice to him, but this was my yoga class. Ihadto be nice. “Then pick your head up. Your neck is an extension of your spine. Keep it straight.” I placed one hand on his back. “And open up from your hips.”
“They are open,” he groaned.
I pushed on his hip. “Like this.”
His right leg swung higher into the air, and then he came tumbling down, taking me with him. His long legs pinned me to the floor as he grinned, hair flopped over his forehead. He leaned up on one elbow. “Like this?”
A laugh escaped before I could stop it, and everyone in the studio paused to see what the kerfuffle was.
“Sorry,” Jason said to the class. “My bad.” He untangled himself from me and stood, offering his hand down to help me up off the floor. “You okay?” When I nodded, he slanted his head, playful alarm in his crinkled brow. “Is the drop-in fee extra if I break the instructor?”
“No.” I tucked loose hair that had fallen out of my ponytail behind my ear. “I’m fine.”
He hit me with his steely gaze full on, silently mouthingGood, his pinkie finger brushing my forearm as he stepped forward on his mat. The dimmed lights, slightly heated temperature, and soothing chime music were all meant to be comforting, but with that tiny touch, it all whirled together like a hurricane, and Jason and I were in the eye of the storm. I’d already been so aware of my body, so connected with the energy flowing in and out of every person, the charge between us was a heavy, pulsating thing. In that moment, everything became sharper.
The sweat dotting his upper lip.
The soft fiber of his T-shirt, clinging to his chest.
The burn of his eyes on me.
I wanted more, wanted to stay in this bubble, but someone coughed, and Jason blinked away.
I folded my fingers into my palms, bringing awareness back to my body. I was in the middle of teaching class; I couldn’t go all gooey-eyed now. Pivoting away from Jason, I shook out my arms. “When you’re ready,” I said, clearing my mind as much as possible, “slowly bring your right foot to meet your left, forward fold.”
A few minutes later, with everyone stretched out on their backs, I couldn’t quite shake the tension away, even as I directed everyone to breathe, reading my daily affirmation in a low voice. I should have been quieting my own thoughts, yet my mind constantly drifted back to Jason and his soft smile and the feel of his fingers around mine. When I opened my eyes to check on the class, I found him staring straight at me.
You feel this too?
