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I pouted as he pulled me to my feet but then I was standing right against his flat stomach and I couldn’t remember what I’d been pouting about. He was just so handsome and the salt and pepper in the beard that had grown in since that morning did funny things to my stomach. In the poor lighting of the cabin, his eyes looked black but I knew they were a rich brown from staring at them earlier in the day. Those eyes were so intense and focused when they landed on me that I could hardly stand still.
Ryder walked out of the bathroom and shot Sebastian a questioning look when I basically jumped away from him. Just ran the towel over his hair, making the muscles in his chest and arms flex. “It’s open for whoever needs it next.”
Sebastian cut across the room and slammed the door shut behind him. Through the ridiculously thin walls of the bathroom, we could all hear him letting out a string of expletives.
Jake laughed. “I thought I was the cranky one.”
“I’m going to do my best to get a few hours of sleep before the young one starts sawing logs.” Ryder slipped into his bed and yawned. “Not that I don’t think you’re perfect, Fiona.”
“I hate it here.”
*
I said the exact same thing over lunch the next day. I stared down at the tiny pile of brown rice and pile of fresh carrots. “I hate it here. I would kill for something sweet.”
Carl floated by our table. “Oh, Fiona, the carrots are sweet.”
I grabbed a carrot and considered tossing it at his head. Carrots weren’t sweet. At least not enough to fill the gaping hole inside of me that demanded candy or cake.
Chakra lady Nannette followed Carl and cut her eyes at me. “Your chakras are dying for you to be healthy, Fiona.”
“My chakras are dying of starvation, lady.” I muttered under my breath after she’d walked away. I didn’t want to end up in an actual confrontation with a woman who was willing to pinch me while supposedly helping me. I pushed my rice around and sighed. “Some birthday.”
Ryder paused with a carrot halfway to his mouth. “It’s your birthday?”
I nodded. “Yep. I’m turning twenty-six over a plate of carrots. You’re a chef, Ryder. Is there anything you can do to make this taste less like raw carrots and brown rice?”
He smirked. “Throw it out and bring you a real meal?”
“I would kiss you for a real meal.” I slumped in my chair and had to sit straight up again at the sight of Carl frowning and turning to come over again. When he turned away, happy my back was going to feel damned by the end of the day, I slumped again. “I consider this cruel and unusual punishment. Yesterday, I wanted to try my best but I just need to apologize for not listening to y’all sooner. This sucks.”
Sebastian looked at his watch and said something to Ryder before getting up and walking off. He’d been at my side for so long that I found myself watching him leave and wondering where he was going. We’d become a team of sorts, trauma bonding over yoga and forced group therapy.
“Work call.” Ryder glanced over at Jake and cleared his throat. “So. We get to talk about getting back out there as single parents this afternoon. Who’s excited?”
I stuck my tongue out. “I’m more interested in the sex after heartbreak workshop. I’m so excited to see what they’re going to say about it.”
Jake laughed and gave me a scandalized look. “Oh, yeah?”
Rolling my eyes, I shook my head. “This place has been so bizarre that I just want to know what they’re going to suggest.”
“Tantric yoga?” Ryder shrugged so casually it was almost as if he hadn’t just uttered those two words with a huskiness to his voice that pretty much melted my panties.
“Tantric yoga?” My own voice came out breathy and I cleared my throat while pretending like it hadn’t happened.
Jake leaned into my space and his lips slowly lifted in a playful smile. “Tantric yoga. Ever tried it?”
I squeaked a bit as I answered. “No, no I haven’t.”
He leaned back and laughed. “Neither have I.”
My breath rushed out of my lungs in a rush with the space he gave me. Of course, he was just teasing me. He was a rockstar and I was…me. That teasing was nearly enough to kill me, though. I wasn’t sure how any single woman would make it through Jake’s full attention when he turned up the heat.”
“Alright, everyone.” Carl stood in the middle of the room with his hands pressed together in a prayer pose. “It’s time for your afternoon meditation. Of course, if you need a rest from the intensity of your experience, you can rest during this time. It’s important that we listen to our bodies and allow them to guide us through our time together.”
“Unless our bodies want to guide us to a beer.” Ryder looked down at his watch and stood up. “I’ve got a work call to make, too. It won’t be long. I wouldn’t miss group therapy for the world.”
I watched as he left, too, and then turned back to Jake, just to find him standing up to leave, as well. “What? Do I smell? You’re leaving, too?”
