I place a hand over my heart. “I absolutely will.”
She sighs, shaking her head. “Why did I agree to this?”
“Because you secretly wanted to,” I say, stretching my arms overhead. “And because you want to learn from a master.”
Ivy presses her lips together, trying not to laugh. “I mean, that was a strong selling point.”
I smirk. “Come on, Ivy. Time to get bendy.”
She groans. “I already regret this.”
Before Ivy can complain further about her impending humiliation, Safiya approaches us with a warm smile.
“Good morning, Theo,” she says, her voice smooth and confident. She wears a cropped top and tight leggings as always and is the epitome of a yoga instructor.
I smile. “Morning, Safiya.”
She turns to Ivy, giving her the same friendly smile. “You must be new.”
Ivy hesitates, then nods. “Yeah, first class. Go easy on me.”
Safiya chuckles. “Beginners are always welcome.” Then she glances at me and gives my arm a gentle squeeze. “You bringing in recruits now?”
“Just doing my part to spread the joy of yoga.”
She hums, “I always appreciate allyoursupport.”
Ivy watches this exchange with an expression I can’t quite place.
Safiya’s eyes flick between the two of us before she smiles again. “Well, welcome, Ivy. I’ll keep an eye on you today—make sure Theo doesn’t intimidate you too much.”
Ivy forces a chuckle, but it’s slightly delayed.
“I appreciate that,” she says, shifting her grip on her mat.
Safiya gives a small nod before moving off to the front of the room, leaving us alone again.
I stretch my arms over my head, not thinking much of it, but when I glance at Ivy, she’s frowning slightly.
“You alright?” I ask.
She blinks, shaking her head a little, as if snapping herself out of something. “Yeah! Yep. Totally fine.”
I tilt my head. “You sure? You looked—”
“Fine,” she cuts in quickly, forcing a too-bright smile. “Just… mentally preparing for my inevitable public disgrace.”
I chuckle. “You’ll be okay.”
She exhales and unrolls her mat, but there’s something slightly off about her expression. Her lips are pressed together like she’s holding something back, and her eyes keep flicking toward where Safiya is now setting up at the front of the room.
Then, very casually, she says, “So… Safiya seems nice.”
I nod. “Yeah, she’s great. Really good instructor.”
Ivy hums. “Hmm. And she clearly enjoys your company.”
I glance at her, frowning slightly. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
