“All our poles are ready to use,” Zay says, walking back toward us.
I glance up and notice all four of our poles are sitting upright next to our chairs.
I smile up at Zay at how cute he is for setting our poles up right next to each of our chairs. He comes around and straddles his legs around me and leans his head on my shoulder. I glance up and Rya’s eyes narrow back down to her vegetables. Did she and Zayn get into an argument in Vegas I don’t know about?
“Are you ready to fish?” Zay says in my ear, making my ear tickle from his heated breath.
I tilt my ear down to my shoulder in reaction. “Yes. But I’m starving. I want to get these on the grill first.” He wraps his arms around me. “Aren’t you hungry? All we’ve had all day is coffee and sweets.”
He leans up. “I’m getting there.” He swings his leg back over the table, stands up and says, “I’m going to see if I can catch something. Maybe I’ll have a fish to fry by the time you finish cooking those,” he says, grinning broadly as he winks at me and walks back to the lake.
The sharp pop of the beer bottle cap echoes in the quiet air. Ez hands me a Corona. I shake my head. “I’m okay. Thanks.” He hands the same beer to Rya, and she takes it from him, taking a big gulp.
“The grill is ready,” he says, opening another beer. “Do you guys need help?”
I shake my head. “No. I think we’re good.”
He nods and walks down to the lake. I look over my shoulder, watching as he lightly slaps Zay on the cheek, startling him. I hear Zay call him a fucker.
After the food is done, I make a plate for both me and Zay and walk down to the lake. “Have you guys caught any fish?” I ask, sitting down.
“No,” they both say.
“It’s dead out here,” Zay says, slumping further into his chair.
I hand him a plate of food. He leans up and takes it from me. “Thanks, babe.”
“Here Ez,” Rya says, handing him his plate of food.
I set my food on my lap and cast the line into the lake. Everyone howls out a laugh because it doesn’t go far. “Shut up,” I say between my own giggles. “It’s been a while.”
I reel it in and throw the line in again, and this time it gets farther out.
“Good job,” Zay says between his chews.
For the rest of the day, we all enjoy the peaceful atmosphere with each other’s company. Every now and then, a burst of laughter breaks the silence. We end the day once the sun falls, throwing a warm glow over everything.
I need to make more time for myself. I’m going to run myself to the ground if I don’t.
I walk into the Pilates studio, setting my stuff down and picking a reformer. I used to do Pilates three to four times a week. But lately I’ve been slacking on it, something I shouldn’t do. It’s always brought me so much peace and energy to start the day off.
“Hey girl, I haven’t seen you in a while,” Ashley, the owner of the studio, says.
I kick my shoes off. “I know I’ve been busy.”
She comes closer to me. “Are you still baking?”
“Yup. All day. Every day.” I chuckle.
“Good for you. I need to put in an order for your sourdough bread. It’s amazing,” she says with a grin.
“Thank you,” I say with my heart full. It makes me happy to hear that people enjoy my bread.
She turns around to the class. “We’re going to start in a couple of minutes” she yells.
“Everyone, feet in straps.” I lie down on the reformer, grabbing the straps, and the spring gives me resistance. I guidemy movements as I lift and lower my legs, feeling the stretch as we warm up.
Ashley explains the core workout we’re going to do and my body shifts in the movements, pushing me to engage my core.
