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Group two’s performance was everything I imagined the routine would look like when a varied group performed. Tamra wasn’t the only experienced dancer in the group. Another woman she seemed to know, Becca, was also phenomenal. The Black woman whipped her braids around to the beat and let her hands wander over her full figure.Hot.They both were. Tamra had perfected the art of slow motion. I fanned myself, watching as she let her head roll from one shoulder to another. Something so simple shouldn’t have been sexy, but it built an odd sort of anticipation, just watching.

Seeing how each woman expressed her individuality within the broad strokes of the choreography only reinforced my appreciation. A hair toss here, an extra hip swivel there, those little touches added personality. I could understand why Tamra loved these classes so much, why she’d badgered us into joining her. I felt sexy and powerful, and it was exhilarating.

After our cooldown, we hung around the lobby sipping from our water bottles. My hair had frizzed thanks to the humidity in the studio, and I pushed a sweaty hank away from my cheek.

Tamra grinned at us as she took another swig of water. “What did you think? Glad I made you come tonight?”

“Yes,” Melena responded with alacrity, and I nodded.

“It was good to justbefor an hour. I forget what it’s like to be totally absorbed, learning something new and not checking my phone or thinking about what I have to do next,” I admitted.

“Exactly.” Tamra’s triumphant smile beamed at me. “I get so caught up in the day-to-day, taking some time out to appreciate what my body can do and enjoy it is a nice change of pace. I’m glad you both came tonight. Maybe again, sometime soon?”

“For sure.”

“That is, if you’re not too busy with Ty,” she said suggestively. “Dance isn’t the only thing that can give you a transcendent, out-of-body experience. He seems like he’d like to give you a hand at letting go.”

I groaned at her teasing, glancing at Melena, who remained impassive. As if she didn’t want to hear anything that would prompt her to tell Jimmy about my blooming feelings for Ty. It would serve me right if she ran home and blurted it all out. Maybe I underestimated Jimmy. It was possible he wasn’t as protective of me as I was of him. But payback was a bitch, and so was I when he first introduced Melena as his wife. If he wasn’t already planning to interfere out of some misguided protective instinct, would he be tempted to anyways, just to mess with me?

Regardless, it was too early to worry about Jimmy’s reaction. Ty had turned me down once. An invitation to meet him at the farmer’s market wasn’t exactly fuel for sexy fantasies. But the makeout session in the hall at Haven had been. I shifted, resisting the urge to flex the tired muscles in my thighs to relieve the sudden phantom ache there.

I glanced longingly back at the studio. Forgetting my life, even for a bit, had been a relief. Work worries had been pushed out of my mind while I’d been focused on class.

“Out-of-body experiences aside, I’ve got to get this body home and into a shower.” I held back a yawn with effort. “I’ve got to finish my weekend chores and catch up on work before the farmer’s market tomorrow.”

“And you wouldn’t want to look tired forthe farmer’s market,” Tamra said, going the whole nine yards with air quotes and heavy intonation.

Melena mimed zipping her lips, and I relaxed. My smile was more than a little sheepish.

“Yeah, that’s part of it.” At Tamra’s snort, I relented. “Okay, yes, that’s all of it. Have a good night and drive safe.”

I bundled up, snuggling into the yellow scarf around my neck, and braved the cold on my way to my car.

Spending time with Tamra and Melena had been what I needed to clear my head. Ground me. Their gentle teasing reminded me that things with Ty didn’t have to be hard. Though I wantedsomethings to be. I giggled at my own joke, sad Tamra wasn’t there to witness it.

I’d take my time with Ty. Let things develop naturally. There was no reason to rush. The sizzle and fizzle we created at Haven didn’t have to be the pattern we followed. We could take it slow, keep it friendly, and see where things went.

Chapter 8 – Ty

Keeping the triumphant smile off my face took effort. Asking Andi out had been easier than I expected, though I hadn’t exactly been Mr. Smooth. I glanced at my phone as I slid into my truck.

Jimmy: Meet me at the gym in the morning?

I gulped. Would he be able to smell my lust for his sister on me? I hadn’t been avoiding Jimmy since I asked Andi out per se. But I hadn’t exactly been begging to get together either. Sure, he’d given his blessing, but I struggled to believe it. One measly conversation couldn’t immediately offset every dirty look he’d doled out in high school. He’d been notorious for warning the entire team away from his precious sister. I couldn’t blame him, they’d been living with their grandma at the time, and he’d been protective. But it made believing the new, improved Jimmy difficult. I kept expecting him to fall back into old patterns.

Was this how it started? The erosion of friendship? Not with outright confrontation, but avoidance? None of us were the same as we were in high school. Faith that Jimmy could be okay with Andi and I dating had to start somewhere. I couldn’t stall any longer.

Ty: Sure. I have the farmer’s market, but if we meet early, I can fit it in.

Jimmy: See you there.

Would he use his bro-jo to sense I had plans with Andi? Or should I just tell him? We were both adults and had been a long time. We didn’t need his permission. He’d made that clear. But I didn’t want to lose his friendship. One slip of the bar, and I could be easily injured lifting. It’d look like an accident.

Jimmy was too honorable for that. He wouldn’t injure me on purpose. Unless I messed up.

I swallowed, finding my resolve. Tried to let go of my lingering paranoia.

So just don’t mess up.