Page 20 of Scarred

“I’m surprised you even know what a chakra is,” he smiles in amusement.

“Truthfully, I have no fucking idea,” I chuckle. “Do you?” My eyebrow raises in question.

“Not a fucking clue,” he laughs, adjusting the team ballcap on his head. “But whatever the hell they are, fix them if they are broken. We need you in top form. And go easy on the teacher, will you? It’s a friend of mine’s daughter, and I promised her you would behave.”

Great.

Not only do I have to spend an hour in a hot yoga room with a stranger, but it’s also a young female to boot. I get to awkwardly lie there while she tries to contort me into a pretzel, probably making small talk about things I couldn't care less about.

“I’ll be nice,” I grumble, “but if it doesn’t help, I go back to PT and ice baths.”

“It’ll help,” he grins. “My friend, Sage, talked highly about her daughter’s ability to release trapped pain in the body. You have no physical injury, so maybe something else is causing it,” he shrugs and walks down the bench toward the entrance leading to the locker room.

What the hell is that supposed to mean?

Pulling the mask off the top of my head, I tuck it under my arm along with my glove and rake my hand through my damp hair in frustration.

Fuck. What have I gotten myself into?

Wanting to just be done with it, I head to the shower to change into grey sweats and a black tee. Most of the guys have either headed to the gym or are in press meetings, so I’m able to be in and out of the locker room fairly quickly.

Slinging my bag over my shoulder, I check in with Mae as I head to my SUV. Satisfied that everything is good at home, I throw my bag into the front seat and head in the direction of Crystal Isle.

I’ve never really ventured outside of Bayside much when I’m home, so I was pleasantly surprised when I saw this small town when I took Scarlett to her dance class. It reminds me of Blue Haven, where Knox and Savi live with its cozy, coastal vibes.

Once you get on the outskirts of Bayside’s busy streets, it's an easy thirty-minute drive along the coast, and I find myself enjoying the scenery and quietness of it all. All too soon, I see the Welcome to Crystal Isle sign as I approach the city limits.

Houses line the coastal road on either side as people walk their dogs or bike to the beach. Further down the road, small businesses start to appear as I slow down and begin to enter the downtown area.

I pass a restaurant on the beach called Rusty’s and see people eating lunch on the deck, enjoying the music drifting out of the speakers as I drive by. Crystal Isle Grocery Store is next, along with more quaint small-town shops.

When I see the sign for BellaLuna Yoga, I turn into the small gravel parking lot designated for the downtown area and park along the side of the buildings where I did last night for dance.

Shutting off the engine, I stare at the side of the building. I knew when I took Scarlett to dance that the yoga studio was next door, and at the time, it didn’t bother me.

But now…now all I can think about is how the hell I’m going to relax in a yoga session when I can already feel her through the building.

Releasing my tight grip on the steering wheel, I pull my cap further down on my head as if I can magically blend into the scenery if she happens to see me through her window.

Grabbing my phone and keys, I step out and walk around to the front. I quickly walk past Moonrise Dance Studio and resist the urge to peer in the window to try and get a glimpse of brunette hair and green eyes that haunted my dreams last night, despite running until my body gave out.

It’s clear after this morning that Scarlett would be devastated if I found another dance studio. She’s talked nonstop about Luna and actually believes she’s a real-life fairy ballerina. I don’t have the heart to switch her just because I’m terrified of how she makes me feel.

No, I just need to suck it up and do my best to avoid her as much as I can because it’s one road I’m not willing to go back down.

Pulling the door open to the yoga studio, I step inside, and the smell of lavender immediately envelops me. The place is inviting with the dark wood floors that match the dance studio and various plants to make it feel homey.

Shelves on the wall hold jewelry of some kind and candles, probably from local artists in the area, along with some BellaLuna yoga gear hanging on a small rack.

“Hi, you must be Cayden.”

I glance at the counter and see an attractive older woman smiling at me. Her green eyes seem familiar, but I’m having a hard time placing them.

“That’s me,” I smile.

“Brady told me you were coming,” she says, mentioning my coach. “Although he did tell me you might change your mind.” Her eyes twinkle with amusement as I chuckle softly.

“The thought did cross my mind, I’m not going to lie.”