“The key here is keeping your core engaged,” Margot said. “So that you are strong and stable. Then, I get on you.”
“I don’t know about this.”
“You promised.” She took his hand and gave it a soft squeeze. “Trust me to let you have some fun.”
“Fine.” He got down into plank.
“Nice form,” she said.
“If you wanted an excuse to check out my butt, there are easier ways.”
She laughed. “Okay, I have to get on top while you do a plank. I’ll face your feet and place my hands on your ankles. My toes will balance at your shoulders while I do a plank in reverse. That’s why it’s Plank on Plank, get it?”
“Got it.”
“Good.” She got into position then and felt his muscles hard beneath her. “Are you okay?” she asked.
“Could do it all day,” he fired back. “Want to challenge the other teams? I think we got ’em all beat.”
“Yoga isn’t a competitive sport,” she teased.
They went on from there. Next was the Base Test pose, almost like doing the famousDirty Dancinglift while he was on the ground. She reached back and grabbed her ankles to finish the pose.
“Remember to lock eyes,” Dusk called. “This is a great way to build trust between the base and the flyer. Remember that fear is just trapped joy. Soft gazes, soft breath.”
Margot looked down and Patch was staring back, his face expressionless.
Self-doubt rose within her. Maybe this was a terrible idea. It had felt right on paper, when she was in bed tossing and turning last night. A way to continue establishing a working relationship, but still let her touch him. And for him to touch her.
But maybe this was all a little too airy-fairy and touchy-feely for him. Just because this was her thing didn’t mean it would be his.
“What’s going through your head?” he murmured.
“Wondering what’s going through yours,” she admitted.
“Not much.”
“You hate this.”
“No. I mean...” He looked around at the other couples, currently engaged in silent nonverbal communication, the atmosphere intense.
“It’s not what I’m used to,” he whispered. “But I can think of a million things I hate more than watching you above me.”
A bubble of hope floated through her belly. “So you are having fun.”
He screwed up his face. “You know what? I think I am.”
She burst out laughing and he joined her, his legs wobbling. She went lopsided. “Oh no!”
But before she could tumble from her perch, he caught her with a firm grip, lowering her down to his lap.
“That was close.”
“Not even. I’ll never let you fall.”
“And you’re a man of your word?”
His face got serious. “I am.”
