My security men deliver once again.
They’re excellent at everything.
Bea shakes her head at me. “Jake’s never done yoga a day in his life, to the best of my knowledge.”
“Me either, but I assure you, the entire class shall know I’m inept. I don’t intend to fake understanding tree pose or namaste.”
She squints at me. “Didn’t you play a time-traveling knight once who had to do a yoga class in one episode? What was that show called?”
“Beatrice! You knowKnight at Night? How lovely.”
She shoves Thirteen out of her crotch once more. “Like real lovely, or like that’s what the studio makes you say?”
“No, that was quite possibly my favorite television series ever. Cast and crew enjoyable, ratings utterly abysmal.” I lower my voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “And the yoga consultant was rather angry with me before the filming of the yoga episode was over. Truly, yoga is my worst subject.”
“We’re starting soon.” Hudson bounces on his toes.
“You could do so much better for dating in this town,” Lucinda says to me. “If I had daughters?—”
“No talking,” Butch says.
“Move,” Jake says to Hudson on Bea’s other side.
“Fuck off,” Hudson replies.
Lucinda makes a noise I’ve heard my own mother make time and time again while she bends over and touches her toes, as if demonstrating that she can. “Such a shame their parents didn’t make it. He would’ve been so much better off.”
“Bea, we need to talk,” Jake says.
Lucinda glares at him.
He glares back.
Both of them, glaring at each other across Butch, me, Bea, and Hudson.
And Thirteen.
Who is once again nosing Bea inappropriately.
“Have you hidden snacks in your knickers?” I murmur to her.
She smiles at me. Birds burst into song. The sun shines brighter. Rainbows and wind chimes crash together in a symphony of beauty and joy.
What is this magic in her smile?
It’s unlike any smile I’ve ever had aimed at me before.
“Yes, Simon, I put carrots in my underwear,” she says.
And truly, that answer only makes her more beautiful.
“Bea,” Jake repeats.
“Back. The fuck. Off,” Hudson growls at him.
“Such language,” Lucinda says. “It’s a wonder they all haven’t spent time in jail.”
“Is there a further-back back row?” I murmur to Bea.
