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“I think you love it.”
Laila blushes. “It’s kitschy, I know. But yeah, I do kinda love it.”
“Then you should get it.”
My wife frowns, turning back to her uncertain expression in the mirror. “What do you think, Kira?”
“I think it’s whimsical and fun. If that’s your vision, go for it.”
With their approval, Laila finally snatches the tag from the mirror and hands it to Guilia, who adds the tag to the pile in my hands.
Laila loops her hand through Kira’s arm and practically skips to the linens department, but Guilia hangs back, eyeing me with a curious arch of her eyebrows. “I had money on you leaving within the first hour.”
“I promised Laila I’d be here, so I’m here,” I reply.
“Even though you’re bored shitless?”
I smile. “I’m with my wife. I could never be bored.”
We both look across the aisle at Laila, who has just found an even larger version of the cloud mirror.
“Tell me,” she says. “What do you really think about that mirror?”
“It’s hideous, as you well know.”
Guilia stifles a laugh. “Why didn’t you say anything?”
“The same reason you didn’t: because the only thing that matters is what Laila wants. And she wants that ugly-ass mirror. So she gets it.” Laila uses the remote to change the mirror to pink and then purple, her smile growing wider with every color. “I’ll pay for a hundred of those fucking things if it means seeing that smile on her face.”
“Well, I’ll be damned. Old dogs might be able to learn new tricks after all.” Her grin turns into a scowl. “But I’ve still got an eye on you.”
I smirk. “I wouldn’t expect anything less.”
35
LAILA
My alignment is all out of whack. Every pose I attempt feels stilted. My muscles are aching and my hip is on fire.
What kind of yoga instructor can’t even move through a basic vinyasa flow without wincing in pain? Oh, right, the nonexistent kind. Because I amsofailing this test tomorrow.
I push through the discomfort and lift my leg, bringing the bottom of my foot to the side of my knee.Tree pose. Even a clumsy toddler can do Tree pose.
I close my eyes and do my best to breathe through the anxiety clenching my chest. But the second my lids close, the world goes topsy-turvy. I pinwheel my arms, trying to reclaim my balance, but it’s no use. I feel myself tipping sideways just as strong arms wrap around my waist.
Oh, thank God.
The moment of relief is short-lived as I shriek and shove away from whoever is holding me.
“Laila, it’s me.”
I twist in Arsen’s arms, squinting up at him. “Do you know what time it is? Why are you still awake?”
I left Nina asleep in her nursery and Arsen alone in bed. I would’ve gone out to the lawn to practice, but the grass was already a bit dewy, so I set up shop in the sun room instead.
“I could ask you the same thing. It’s three in the morning. You should be asleep.”
“My tests are coming up,” I explain shyly. “I wanted to get in a little extra practice.”
