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I snorted and tried my best not to stare too much at the exposed band of her stomach between her bra and the pants.

You’ve got the head tilt right.

She sent me three more pictures with different poses, and I couldn’t help smiling. She was goofier than I thought she would be.

Definitely the last oneI told her. The picture had her making a ridiculous face and sticking her ass way out.

Cool, thanks. What are you wearing?

Coming from someone else, that would almost sound like a creepy pickup line or something.

I wasn’t going to put my outfit on and pose for her, so I sent her a picture of a model wearing the set.

That’s not youJames responded.I want to see you wearing it.

Ugh, why did that comment make me feel all nervous?

You’ll see me wearing it in like an hour.

I thought it was a good idea to get my Pilates in since I’d be going out and getting a little bit drunk tonight and trying to check off another item on my Fuckit List.

Okay fine. But if you get there before me, save me a mat space.

I set my phone down and went to pack my bag before I chomped on a protein bar. There wasn’t much else to do in my apartment, so I left for Pilates way early and got to the gym with so much time that I thought about hopping on the stair master for a little while and then changed my mind.

After waiting around and messing on my phone for a while, I was one of the first people to walk into the Pilates room. I scoped out my favorite spot on the left side of the room near the front and laid my mat out perfectly.

I checked my phone and saw the last message that James had sent me. Heading to the side of the room where the equipment was stacked, I grabbed some weights, two balls, and two circles. Using the tools, I laid out a second space beside me for James’s mat. I didn’t have to. But I did it.

A few minutes later I heard someone coming up behind me.

“You did save me a spot.” I glanced up and my stomach did a little flip when I saw her smile. Her hair was pulled back in a braid and I didn’t see her septum piercing.

“You took out your nose ring,” I blurted out.

James moved the equipment and laid her mat out. “Nope. Just tucked it away.” As I watched, she pulled the ring from where she’d pushed it inside her nose.

James laughed at my horrified look. “It doesn’t hurt or anything. I just hide it sometimes.”

She tilted her head to one shoulder, stretching her neck.

“I like your outfit,” she said, rolling her shoulders, drawing my attention to them.

“Oh, thanks.” I looked down at my white flowered bra and shorts, wishing that I’d worn something with more coverage. I’d worn similar outfits to class before, but there was something different about James drawing attention to it.

“Electrolytes?” James asked, tilting her bottle toward me.

“No, I’m good.” I had my own water.

“You okay?” she asked, adjusting her braid.

“Yup. Just thinking about seeing my parents tomorrow.”

James nodded and then studied my face for a few moments. “I remember your parents. They were always so nice.”

I winced, as if it was my fault that James had been stuck with shitty parents.

“They’re pretty great.”