Page 29 of Wild Card

And I said,watch me.

“I’m a big girl. With a big truck. And above-average driving skills. You can take your bad energy elsewhere, Bash.”

His head snaps up as Clyde chortles. “Bad energy?”

I lift my chin and wave a hand over him. “Yes. It’s time for you and your fully blocked crown chakra to go.”

Clyde nods. “Oh, you’re right. His crown chakra is fucked.”

Bash glares at his friend. “Why are you pretending you know anything about the crown chakra?”

“Gwen told me about the chakras yesterday. She said one has to do with enlightenment. And you are certainly not acting very enlightened.”

I blink while Bash scowls.

“Well, forgive me for not taking lessons in enlightenment from a guy who believes Tupac is still alive.”

“Tupacisst?—”

Bash barks out a disbelieving laugh as he turns to leave. “You two have fun together.”

I’m a bit stunned by him storming out, but Clyde doesn’t seem affected at all. Instead, he shouts after him, “Go look at something purple! It’ll help support your crown chakra!”

Bash leaves without a backward glance, stomping out into the chilly afternoon air. At first, I’m concerned that their bickering constituted an argument, but when Clyde turns to me with a toothy grin, I’m not so sure.

“All right, let’s go do your weird stretches, followed by that Savasa-whatever-you-called-it. It made me feel a lot better.”

His words warm me down to my bones. Knowing he came hobbling in and left feeling even a little bit better—that’s why I started teaching in the first place. I may not have any higher education, and I may not be settling down and playing house, but I’ve come to believe what I do has value all the same.

“Savasana?” I gently correct, naming the resting pose we finished with yesterday.

“You say Savasana, I say nap,” he tosses over his shoulder as he marches back into the studio.

And I can’t help but chuckle as I follow him, ready to guide him through my “weird stretches” and nap. I lead him through a similar practice as yesterday, slipping into the headspace where all I focus on is breathing and alignment.

Except my attention is not as absolute as usual.

Because my thoughts keep circling back to Bash.

CHAPTER TEN

BASH

Bash: Three games. Seven too few, if you ask me.

Tripp: Lol. I hear ya. Gonna celebrate anyway.

Bash: With who?

Tripp: Just some buddies.

Bash: Not the girlfriend?

Tripp: Nah. Just a few of the boys.

Bash: Have fun.

“Seriously? Yoga again?”