“Your phone, babe.” He opens his palm and wiggles his fingers in an impatient gimmie gesture.
I fumble through my bag for my phone. He grabs it right away and inputs a series of numbers. I hear a phone go off and see his phone’s display light up on the floor near his sweatshirt, with my cell phone numbers glaring in white against the blue background. Goodness he’s quick.
“Now I’ve got your number, and you’ve got mine. Let’s touch base before class, yeah?”
“Um…” I don’t know what to say, so I just nod.
He laughs, wraps his hand around my nape, and pulls me flat against his chest. The scents of citrus and leather curl around his sweaty form. He smells so good, I want to breathe him in all day. All too soon his lips go to my forehead, where he lays a long press before pulling back.
“I’d kiss those sexy-as-sin lips, but I fear you’d fly away.” Nick smirks and pulls back. “Later, babe. Friday.” He motions with a wave of his fingers while heading toward the door.
I’m left behind with my bare toes digging into the rubber of the yoga mat, wondering what the heck just happened.
“Soooooo, you’re going on a date with my brother!” The woman behind me squeals like a little girl and claps her hands. She has a bounce in her step when she embraces me into a God’s honest hug.
I allow the girl to hug me and ease my arm around her to pat her on the back. Last hug I had from a woman was my nanny before I left for college eight years ago.
Grace bumbles around the riser with endless energy. “Do you have time for a coffee at Sunflower?”
“What’s Sunflower?” I ask, trying to keep up with this ball of enthusiasm.
She stops where she stands, holding her hoodie. “Seriously? You’ve never been to Sunflower? Well, I’m going to change that right now! This is great. I get to introduce you to Sunflower and the gang that will be there. You’re dating my brother. This is awesome. Wait until Mom finds out! She will just die. And you’re so pretty! Do you happen to be Italian? Even one percent counts with Ma.” Grace explodes with her battery of questions.
“Oh my, what have I gotten myself into?” I sigh as Grace loops her arm through mine.
“We’re going to be the best of friends. I can just feel it already!”
Chapter Six
Tree Pose (Sanskrit: Vrksasana)
Tree pose is a beginning yoga pose in all classes including aerial yoga. It may seem a bit harder when you are several feet off the floor, but the positioning of the body is still the same. One foot is balancing flat against the silks. One knee is bent with the sole of the foot pressed into the opposite leg (not the knee). As you can see in the picture, one arm wraps around the silks and the other stays behind the silks, for additional balance. The hands rest at heart center keeping the energy flowing through the body.
HONOR
“I can’t believe you’ve never been to Sunflower. It’s right next to the yoga studio, and they have the best…the best lattes and treats. You’re going to just die they’re so good!” Grace smiles widely as she pulls open the door of the bakery.
The scents of fresh baked bread and cinnamon rolls billow in the air. My mouth waters, and I’m reminded I haven’t eaten anything since the granola bar I had before class. “Smells divine.”
Grace nods excitedly, her eyes bright and shining. “Hi, guys!” She gets into the long line while waving over to a table where two older women sit alongside a handsome man with dirty-blond hair as well as a lovely brunette wearing a pair of medical scrubs. The male is holding the brunette’s hand on his thigh.
I wonder how nice it would be to have someone’s affection like that. A man who wanted to hold my hand while having an outing with friends. I try not to stare and instead concentrate on the displays of sinful delights to choose from.
Grace nudges my shoulder and lowers her voice. “The redhead is Jewel Marigold, and the blonde with big blue eyes is Crystal Nightingale. The two of them are the yoga gurus of Lotus House and the co-owners. The blond hottie is Dash Alexander. He teaches tantric yoga and all the couples yoga classes, often with his wife, Dr. Amber Alexander. She’s a resident at UCSF Medical Center. Word is they are going to try to get pregnant soon! Eeek!” She squeals into my ear at a lower decibel than her normal high volume but enough to have me veering away to protect my eardrum.
I shake my head. The level of excitement in this young woman is incredible. Her love of life in general is commendable. I’m not sure a person could be around Grace for long and not be filled with glee and jubilation. It surrounds her like a golden bubble of light.
“Are you excited about going on a date with my brother?” She blinks sweetly, changing the subject so fast I get whiplash.
“I guess so.”
A little scowl forms on her face, and it’s basically the equivalent of smacking a puppy. Not a pretty sight, but again, it changes within a second as we make our way to the front of the line and are greeted by the same woman who signed me up as a member at Lotus House.
I blink a couple times and stare at her name card. Dara. Yes, that’s the same name.
“Hi, Gracie. What’s shakin’ baby?” She nods my way. “Made a new friend, I see.”
Grace puts her arm around my shoulders and tucks me close, as if we are long-lost sisters separated at birth. “Totally! She’s Nick’s new squeeze.” She uses some jive talk I understand but would never utter myself.
“Really?” Dara’s Caribbean-blue eyes widen nearly to the size of the stunning cupcakes sitting on the lower level of the display.
Hadn’t seen those
