‘So, back to what I was saying …’ Cece restarted her speech, forcing Olivia to finally tear her eyes away from Jacob and turn back to the front, one thought now breaking through the blur of the others, growing louder and more prominent with every beat of her heart.
He’s here.
He’s really and truly here.
*
It had been hard to concentrate on anything Cece was saying for the rest of the class, when she knew that Jacob was less than ten metres away from her. There was so much adrenaline coursing through her veins that she was anxious to get out of every pose the second they moved into it. She knew there was no chance in hell she’d be able to relax in Savasana. Even Cece had noticed something was up, coming to check on her repeatedly and asking if she was all right. Olivia did not want to draw even more attention to herself, so she blithely nodded and carried on trying to balance on one leg, feeling Jacob’s eyes following her every move. By the time class was over, she was exhausted.
‘Thank you, everyone. Please be respectful to those around you still coming back to the space. If you could fold your mats away and tidy your area. I’ll hopefully see you again tomorrow morning.’
Olivia, normally the last to leave, was on her feet before Cece had even finished speaking.
‘Are you all right? You seemed distracted today.’ Cece eyed her as though an answer would reveal itself with a look.
‘He’s here.’ Olivia dropped her voice to a whisper.
‘Who’s here?’
Murmurs and chatter began to swell as the students came and replaced their mats, acknowledging Cece with thumbs ups and whispered thank yous.
Olivia kept her back to the room.
‘Do you remember I told you about that guy I met in Delhi? The one I’ve been emailing, who got sick – you told me to invite him out here.’
Cece’s face practically exploded with glee.
‘Noway! Where? Where is he?’ She began to crane her neck in all directions. ‘Did you do it? Did you ask him to come and visit?’
‘Stop it,’ Olivia begged. ‘Please!’
‘Wait … was he the one that came in late? Tall, very tanned, sun-kissed hair with a cute bandana and ridiculously dark, sexy eyes?’
‘Yes, that’s him.’
‘Great, because he’s heading straight over here.’
‘No!’ Olivia jerked her head back. ‘I don’t know what to do.’ She was full-scale panicking now. ‘What do Ido?’
‘You take a deep breath and calm down,’ Cece muttered out of the corner of her mouth. ‘Hey!’ She switched instantly back to teacher mode as Jacob placed his neatly rolled mat down on the pile next to them. ‘How did you find class?’
‘Really good.’ He ran his hand through his alreadymussed-up hair. ‘Although I’m sorry for being late, not a great first start.’
‘That’s all right.’ Cece’s smile could not have got any bigger if she tried. It was practically hanging from each earlobe. Olivia remained silent, her social ability reduced to nothing.
‘Hi, Olivia.’
She felt him shift towards her, but Olivia remained where she was. It was odd; she’d played out this moment a hundred times in her head and it was always accompanied by an overwhelming sense of joy and excitement. Yet, as she stood here, the reality felt quite different.
‘Hi,’ she uttered, a little coldly.
‘How are you doing?’
‘Good. And you?’ The formality was jarring; even Cece looked uncomfortable.
‘Starving! Who knew yoga could make you so hungry?’
Olivia didn’t reply, instead remaining tight-lipped and tense. The air between the three of them seemed to crackle under the strain.
