One More Time (Bremmy 1)

Chapterish 29

I stand too and reach for my water bottle on the foam cube behind me. Zoë walks up to the front of the studio to bring back the next class. Full capacity. Shocker.

Everyone is getting their workout in today since we're closed tomorrow. And I'm betting everyone is going to eat their stomachs into a coma on Thanksgiving.

Zoë flips the fans on. Even in the airy space with industrial ceilings and exposed air vents, it's still TOO HOT. My bare feet are sticking to the hardwood floor.

"Em, someone just got here. Wants to join today's class," Zoë says, tossing me a towel.

"Tough shit. We're packed."

I'm glad yoga is trending but no new people are allowed today. These lessons have been booked since September. They can't sit with us.

"You can tell him. Wants to see the owner anyway. Over by the door." She nods her head. "He's really cute."

I roll my eyes. Everyone is cute to Zoë. I glance in the mirror on the back wall to make sure I'm presentable. My black yoga leggings and macramé sports bra seem to be in order. Can't say the same for my hair. Oh well.

I turn for the front door.

Fuck. No.

Oh. Fuck. No.

There he is sitting in the chair beside the front desk. Next to the out-of-place palm tree. His gray long-sleeved shirt stretches across his chest. Pairs nicely with his black gym shorts.  Both have his Edge lax logo on them. He's a walking ad for his own clothing co.

He looks up. My heart leaps. What in the hell? How is he here? How does he look so good? HOW has it been two months?

"Hi." Brooks beams. A gym-bag hangs from his shoulder.

"Hi? Really? You want to go with hi?"

"Yes, I do." Brooks says, head nodding, rocking back and forth on his heels.

"What? What're you doing here?"

"I heard this place was the best." He looks at me.

"Well, it is. But I'm still not sure what you're doing here." I shake my head.

"Heard the instructor was hot too."

"Yea?" I laugh. "I heard she's way out of your league."

"We'll see about that. I was in the neighborhood and I'd like to take a class." He hands me a clipboard of paperwork.

"Sorry, we're full today." I smile back.

"Can you make an exception? It was a bit of a commute." Brooks stands and towers over me. He steps in to me.

Fuck.

"You have to stay in the back." I shove him away from me. "And don't get any ideas. The instructor's taken."

"I like a challenge."

Longest. Class. Ever.

Properly demonstrating a bridge was torture. I had to somehow pretend to care about peoples' cobra pose. I just kept thinking how stupid cobras are! Brooks watched silently the entire time from the back corner –from the neon pink yoga mat I gave him from the spare cabinet. I stared up at him during downward dog. I knew he was thinking the exact same thing as me. Or hoped he was, at least.

The last five minutes were reserved for a Zen meditation. The come down and the calm down. Normally I enjoy this. But today? It's just as dumb as cobras. Today it's five whole minutes I am kept from Brooks.

God, yoga is fucking stupid.

"How was I?" Brooks appears at my side once half the class has left. I'm folding up my mat, pretending to hardly pay attention. It's hard to fight a smile.

"Mediocre at best." I shrug.

"Maybe private lessons could help." He smirks, reaching for my waist.

"Or a change of hobby?" I suggest, laughing.

"Quick on the draw. I've missed that." Brooks laughs. God the way he leans into me when he laughs. "Can you get something to eat?"

"Um," I bite my lip.

"Go on!" Zoë calls from the mat pile. "I can cover the last two." She winks at me. I roll my eyes.

"Fine," I say, turning back to Brooks. "But I'm picking the place. Come on."

"I like her," Brooks says as we turn away from Zoë.

"She's an enabler." I swing my tote over my shoulder and walk in front of Brooks, thankful I wore my cute butt leggings today.

"And I like what she's enabling," he laughs.

AH.