Win Big

Everly

“Yoga on a stand-up paddle board?” Wyatt regards me skeptically. “That sounds like a sure way to get wet.”

“Possibly.” I grin at him. “What is with you hockey players? We had to drag JP there . . . oh wait, no we didn’t, he went willingly because he wanted to see Taylor. I dragged Harrison there, though. He’s coming too. You won’t be the only man.”

“I don’t care about that.”

“Okay, great. Yoga is good for hockey players.”

“So I’ve heard. Okay, fine.”

The team has a rare Saturday off, so I’m making Wyatt come to yoga class with me. It’s a beautiful spring morning, with a clear blue sky, the sun trying hard to be warm.

Taylor has brought JP, and we even finally convinced Lacey and Théo to come. The six of us have been hanging out and having fun together. Wyatt has forgiven JP for punching him in the face at Lacey and Théo’s wedding.

And Wyatt and I have been spending time together too. Nobody really pays much attention to it, since the world assumed we were dating after all those photo op outings we went on. But I’ve told my parents, and even though I was worried about how they’d react to me dating a player from the Condors, they’re actually pretty happy. They like Wyatt. Although Dad did make more embarrassing comments, like Wyatt better not think this was going to get him a big raise on his next contract, and if he hurt one hair on my head he’d be demoted to sharpening skates. Ha.

I encouraged Wyatt to keep seeing Owen, and Heather, of course. I may have been a little jealous at first, but knowing Heather was unselfish enough to let him go makes me respect her, and she is a good mom. I’ve been with Wyatt a couple of times when we’ve gone to pick up Owen, and it was a little awkward, but we survived.

Wyatt parks in the lot at Makara Yoga, located at the marina in Marina del Rey, and we head inside to get boards. Lacey and Théo are already here, Lacey looking nervous.

I squeeze her arm. “It’ll be fine!”

Taylor and JP arrive, followed by Harrison a moment later.

He looks eagerly around, then heads straight to the instructor. “Hi, Arya.”

“Hi.” She gives him a tepid smile. “You’re back.”

“Yeah. I really got a lot out of that class. I think it elevated my brain to a higher state.”

She blinks. “Well, good.”

“I’ve truly come to believe in a higher sense of self, a divine energy in the world.”

I roll my eyes. Wyatt is watching this with an arched eyebrow.

“Apparently he has a little crush on the instructor,” I whisper to him.

“She doesn’t seem impressed.”

I smother a laugh as we carry our boards outside to the water.

“I’ve been practicing,” Harrison confides as we enter the water.

I grin. “That’s great.”

“Me too. I can do a headstand now,” JP announces. “On dry land. I don’t think I’ll attempt it on the water.”

“Phhht.” Harrison rolls his eyes. “That’s easy.”

“Can’t wait for this,” I murmur to Wyatt.

“A headstand?” Wyatt asks, his eyes bugging out. “On the water?”

“Sure. You should see Arya.”

Once we’re all in position on our boards with our anchors dropped to keep us from drifting away, Arya begins the class. “Okay, let’s start with mountain pose, feet hip width apart, your knees in a micro bend.”

I see Wyatt frown. “Micro bend?” He mouths at me.

I nod.

“Bring your palms in to your heart,” Arya continues, placing her hands together.

Wyatt makes a face, but follows along.

“Inhale the arms up.”

We all lift our arms. I have to watch Harrison, though. He’s as close to Arya’s board as he can be, and he can’t take his eyes off her. She is beautiful—tanned and blonde, slender and toned in a tight pair of short shorts and a bra top. She’s exactly Harrison’s type, because I don’t think I’ve ever seen him date anyone but blondes. Which is kind of creepy. No, wait, he did have one girlfriend with dark hair.

“Inhale, reach your arms to the sky, lifting the heart.”

“I love it when my heart lifts,” Harrison says.

I snort.

“Exhale and fold forward . . .” Arya gracefully bends over.

“Fold forward and just let your brains spill out of your head,” Harrison says.

Wyatt bends over, as do we all, with our butts in the air. “Also known as preparing your anus.”

Harrison chokes and starts laughing. He laughs so hard he loses his balance and falls off his board with a huge splash.

The class is totally distracted by him thrashing in the water, still laughing like a loon.

“Harrison!” I hiss at him. “You’re embarrassing me!”

He’s trying to grab his board and get back on, but somehow he knocks his board into Arya’s and she goes flying, doing a belly flop into the ocean.

“Oh my God!” I can’t believe what I’m seeing.

Arya comes up spitting water, shaking her head. She rests her forearms on the board and stares at Harrison, saying nothing.

Her look is probably enough to shrivel his balls, never mind the cold Pacific water.

He moves closer to her. “Are you okay?” he asks. “I am so sorry.”

Wyatt’s laughing too now, but he has the sense to sit down on his board, shoulders shaking. “This is the best yoga class ever.”

“Yeah, because we’re never coming again,” I mutter. I meet his eyes. “Is this one of those moments we’re supposed to enjoy?”

His eyes warm, and so does my heart. “Yeah.”

I sigh. “Okay.”

I’m not going to let my brother embarrass me. Life’s too short for that. I’ll just laugh at him (with him?) and enjoy the moment.