Page 14 of Drop Shot (On the Court #2)

WHIMSY

“And now we’re going to move back into downward dog,” the instructor says, slowly walking around the room and correcting postures as we go.

Beside me, Ebba lets out a disgruntled breath. “I’m going to downward dog dare her to?—”

“What was that, Ebba?” Our instructor says, stopping between us.

On my left, Sabrina snickers.

I don’t get to see Sabrina much—she’s the fiancée of Elias’s doubles partner Noah Baker—but I love when all of us girls can be together.

I don’t really have friends outside of these two and because I’ve always been so busy working, it’s hard to maintain relationships.

Now that I’m fake-dating Elias it’s freed up my schedule.

“Nothing,” Ebba squeaks.

We’re all mildly terrified of the fifty-something instructor. She’s incredibly fit and we’re convinced she’s a secret agent or something with how stealthily she can sneak up on you.

“Mhm,” she hums before moving on.

“I thought yoga was supposed to be relaxing,” Sabrina whispers under her breath. “I never feel relaxed at these classes.”

Since time is winding down, the instructor has us get into child’s pose which is my personal favorite.

When we’ve been in that pose for about a minute, she says, “All right, I want you all to lie on your backs in shavasana and we’re going to focus on breathing before we say goodbye.”

I lie down as told, my palms open to the sky, and let my eyes shut as I focus on the timing of my breaths.

“And that’s all for today,” she says a minute or so later.

I slowly blink my eyes open and sit up. Beside me, Ebba hops up and rolls up her mat. On my other side, Sabrina rolls her neck back and forth.

“I have to admit I do feel better,” Sabrina says. “Even if I thought I was going to die there for a bit.”

I laugh and give myself a moment before I stand and pick my stuff up. It’s been a few days since my flare-up and I’m still dealing with the stiffness and aches, but at least it’s somewhat better.

I’m still in disbelief that Elias spent his entire free day with me.

Even crazier was when I woke up in the morning and realized he had to have carried me to bed and cleaned up before he left.

It makes my cheeks warm just thinking about it.

I’ve always known beneath his bravado and womanizing that he’s a good person, but I don’t think I realized how great he actually is.

It's not helping my crush, that’s for sure.

Before we leave, I use the restroom and redo my ponytail, twisting the lavender colored scrunchie around my hair.

Outside the restroom, Ebba and Sabrina wait for me by the water fountain.

I pull out my water bottle and fill it while they chat.

I’m not paying any attention at all to their conversation so it takes me by surprise when Ebba says, “What do you say, Whimsy?”

My eyes widen. “Huh?”

She laughs softly. “We said we’d get our nails done and then grab lunch. Are you able to come with?”

“Oh.” I take a sip of my now filled water bottle. “Yeah, I can come.” I look down at the fingers on my left hand and realize I’m overdo for an appointment. Normally, I’m right on it. I don’t like to let them grow too much, but I guess this time I let things get away from me.

Ebba claps her hands. “Oh, how I love a girls’ day.”

Two hours later my nails are painted a shade of light blue and my toes match as we head into one of our favorite lunch spots downtown.

“I still can’t believe you’re dating my brother,” Ebba says as we take our seats.

I pick up the menu, more as a shield than anything else. “It just sort of happened.”

I hope she can’t detect the warble in my voice. I loathe lying to the people I care about but what choice do I have? We decided together it would be better this way.

“He’s quite charming,” Sabrina pipes in.

Ebba snorts and tries to cover the sound with a cough. “I call him annoying.”

“He’s your twin brother, I think you’re obligated to think he’s annoying,” Sabrina laughs lightly. “I might not have siblings but isn’t it a requirement to be their biggest hater or something?”

Ebba pinches her lips. “You have a point.”

The waitress approaches our table with a kind smile. “Hi, ladies. I’m Melanie. I’ll be your server today. Can I start you guys with some drinks?”

“Water for me,” Sabrina replies.

“Water,” Ebba and I echo.

“Do you need some more time to look at the menu,” she asks.

Ebba looks around at Sabrina and I, and since we both nod in agreement she says, “Yes, we’re ready.”

The three of us give our orders and she hurries away to put everything into the system.

“I feel like I haven’t seen you as much lately.” Ebba arches a brow in my direction. “My brother is hogging all your time. What have you guys been up to?” She frowns. “Actually, please, don’t answer that.”

My eyes nearly bug out at the implication. “We mostly just watch movies and stuff,” I mumble.

“Movies,” Ebba laughs. “Like what?”

I accept my lemon water from the waitress and take a sip to give myself a moment. “A few days ago we had a Jurassic Park marathon. We watched them all from the beginning. And then he made me dinner and I made cookies for dessert.”

Ebba cocks her head to the side, studying me. “Huh. I never would’ve imagined Elias would be so … domestic.”

“He’s full of surprises.”

A laugh bubbles out of Sabrina. “Oh, I bet.”

Ebba puts a hand over Sabrina’s mouth. “Do not imply what I think you’re implying.”

Sabrina giggles and shoves her hand away. “I might be happily engaged, but Ebba, your brother is hot .”

Ebba sighs and turns my way giving my hand that rests on the table a gentle pat. “I love you and I think you’re probably the best girl my brother could finally decide to date, but it still freaks me out. No offense.”

“None taken.” I sip my water, suddenly wishing I hadn’t said yes to spending more time together today.

I’m not the best liar and if they keep talking about Elias and me, I’m likely to fumble something.

“How’s wedding planning going?” I ask Sabrina, hoping to steer the conversation away from me and my fake boyfriend.

Sabrina laughs, shaking her head. “Good, I guess—but I thought the wedding was about the bride , you know? But Noah wants to do some big outlandish thing, and I’d rather keep it simple so we’re butting heads a bit.

” She holds up her thumb and forefinger just a tiny space apart.

“I feel like I don’t know enough people for some gigantic get together. ”

“Have you told him that?” I ask.

She sighs, resting her elbow on the table and her chin in her hand. “No. He’s always so excited when he talks about it and I don’t want to burst his bubble.”

“Girl.” Ebba points a finger. “That man is obsessed with you. He only wants you happy. Burst that bubble and bring him back to reality. There’s nothing wrong with an intimate wedding.”

“That’s what I think too. Something small seems so much better.” She unfolds the napkin and places it in her lap. “I’ll talk to him about it.”

“Good,” Ebba says.

Biting her lip, Sabrina says, “I guess this is as good of a time as any to ask you if you’ll be my bridesmaids?”

“Oh my God, yes!” Ebba shrieks, throwing her arms around Sabrina’s shoulders.

When I’m silent, she turns to me. “Whimsy?” she prompts, nerves making her voice shake.

“You’re serious? You want me as a bridesmaid?”

Sabrina and I are friends, but I wouldn’t call us best friends or anything like that, so I certainly had no expectations that she’d ask me to be a part of the wedding.

“Yes,” she laughs, reaching for my hand. “Of course.”

“Absolutely.” I try to keep my emotions at bay. “I’d love to.”

Sabrina beams with happiness. When I first met her, there was a melancholy that clung to her like a little storm cloud.

She wasn’t grumpy, she was always kind and quickly wore a smile when you spoke to her.

It was deeper than that though. An aura, I guess.

Whereas now I see no traces of it. Just pure sunshine.

“I’m so excited to have you guys up there with me.” She sniffles. “Sorry, I don’t know why I’m so emotional.”

Ebba’s lips part. “You’re not pregnant, are you?”

Sabrina nearly chokes on her water. “No. Definitely not. Give us a few more years.”

I sit there quietly, listening to them chat. I don’t interject, because frankly I’m scared of the conversation turning to Elias and me again.

Our food arrives and that thankfully adds another layer of protection since we’re all so hungry we’re too busy stuffing our faces to talk.

Outside the restaurant, I hug each of the girls.

“You’re coming to the match tomorrow, right?” Ebba asks, referring to the quarter final Elias is playing in.

“Of course.”

That’s what I’m being paid to do , I think to myself.

“Good.” She smiles and pulls me in for another hug. “See you there.”

“See you.” I wave as her and Sabrina head down the other side of the street.

My shoulders sag when they’re no longer in sight.

This lying to my friends thing is a whole lot harder than I thought it would be.