Chapter 29

Matt

Taking her home the night before was like stabbing myself in the chest. It was my fault that she wasn't staying, and not that I blamed her one bit, but it didn't deaden the pain of watching her walk into her apartment alone. She didn't even look back. I spent Saturday working on the portrait just to keep myself from slipping into depression or eating everything in the house, which wasn't much. I was grateful for Sunday showing up fast. It gave me a chance to at least see her.

"And today is a new day." I mumbled in my car as I sat in the parking lot of the yoga place. I pulled down the mirror above my head and lifted my eyebrow playfully before smiling. I could do this. I could win her back, and I would.

"You coming?" A knock at my window caused me to stiffen.

Lanie. Erica's best friend.

I got out and smiled. "I am. Did she tell you that I was up for an afternoon of torture and couldn't imagine letting anyone else share it with me besides you?"

She laughed and ran her fingers through her hair. She was pretty, petite. Too small in my opinion, but it was irrelevant. She wasn't Erica.

"You're too much. Just try really hard this time not to fall over and topple all of us over with you." She giggled and I smiled.

"Really? I did that on purpose. You just gotta bring that up?" I was a little surprised that she wasn't pissy with me after everything that happened with Erica, but maybe they weren't as close as I was giving them credit for.

"Yeah right." She opened the door and moved in as I paused and glanced back toward the parking lot.

"Is Erica not coming?" Worry swirled in the pit of my stomach. Surely she would have called.

"She's already here. Her car is in the shop." Lanie stopped by the front desk and picked up two towels, tossing one toward me.

I reached up and snagged it out of the air. "What's the matter with her car?"

Erica walked around the corner and stopped. "I got rear-ended yesterday. I'm good, but the car... not so much."

Her tank top and tight yoga pants left very little to the imagination, and even though I'd spent all day the day before staring at a mostly-naked picture of her, the real thing was always so much better.

I closed the distance between us and reached out, grabbing the side of her neck softly and rubbing my thumb over her soft skin.

"You sure you're okay? Why didn't you call me?" I let my eyes move around her face, memorizing everything about her that I hadn't picked up before.

She smirked. "Why would I call you? You have a superman cape hidden somewhere in that big apartment of yours?"

"I might." I took a shaky breath. "Damn, you're gorgeous. How do you walk around without having a million guys trying to get your attention?"

"Who says they aren't?" She reached up and pulled my hand from her as Lanie walked by chuckling.

"This way, guys. We're going to be late, and you know what that means..."

I lifted my eyebrow and watched my girl. "What does that mean? Something tells me it's nothing good."

She wagged her eyebrows. "I dare you to be late and find out."

"Not only no, but hell no." I moved past her, grabbing her hand and pulling her with me. "She makes an example out of the late people, doesn't she?"

"Oh, it's way more fun than that." Lanie glanced over her shoulder and giggled again.

"Lanie. You dating anyone?" I couldn't help but ask.

Erica glanced over at me. "Why do you care?"

"I have friends, thank you." I squeezed her hand and released her.

Lanie stopped just inside the door and whispered, "No, but if you have a brother, I'd be interested in meeting him."

Erica and I both laughed loudly only to be reprimanded by the older woman bending in half at the front of the room.

"Silence, please. Come in quickly, quietly and get into downward dog. Find your center, your peace, yourself." She stood up and put her hands on her hips and watched us.

I barked softly under my breath and got the reaction I was after. Both girls beside me laughed. The old woman up front didn't seem to think I was too funny, nor charming.

"I'm just going to get back here." I moved behind Erica and got into position, focusing on the sexy curve of her ass and legs and trying like hell to ignore the burn that ran up the back of my legs. I was sure to make a fool out of myself, but if it scored me points with the woman that captivated every part of me... it was worth it.

"Today we're going to work on an advanced move called the handstand scorpion. Let me show you how it looks and just know that we'll start working on it together. Do not be intimidated by it. Okay?" The instructor glanced around the room as Erica glanced back, her beautiful face contorted into complete terror.

"Uh oh. This can't be good." I turned my attention back to the instructor and tilted my head to the side as she went into a handstand and then contorted herself. "Oh no. Hell no."

Erica turned to face me, put her hands over her mouth and laughed softly until her face turned red.

I moved up and wrapped her in a hug, kissing the top of her head. "If I do this... you spend the night with me tonight."

"What?" She glanced up. "No way. That's not fair."

"Yeah, it is. Someone has to help put the stint along my spine when I break it. That should be you for making me come here." I kissed her forehead and moved back.

"I didn't make you come here. You came because-"

The instructor’s voice was sharp, and scared both of us. "Is there something you guys would like to discuss with the class?"

"Um, no, but thanks for the opportunity. It's all you." I lifted my hands and gave the woman a sweet smile. She didn't seem to necessarily like sweet.

"Well then, why don't you come on up and we'll use you as the example today seeing that your pliable and fully willing to participate."

"Me?" My voice rose three octaves and Erica and Lanie chuckled. "No. I'm good."

"No, really. Come on up." She motioned for me, not giving in. I was stuck.

"All right, yeah, sure." I walked past her and growled at Erica. "You're mine tonight for this shit."

Her response was lost to the blood thundering past my ears as my heart raced. I was in for a world of hurt. I deserved a lot for fucking things up with Erica, but this seemed a little much. Or a lot.