“Remember, ladies, you need all the momentum you can get with an attacker this much larger than you. Try it again, and put your body into it this time.”
His hand was too low, too real. Uma wanted to shrug it off. Instead, she grabbed and twisted, followed through with her other hand and then her body, pressed into his. She ended with her face along his side, under one arm, in a place too intimate and warm for a room this bright, an audience this big—includinghis wife.
She could smell him again, that man-smelling soap, augmented by a light hint of sweat and a smoky metallic twang. Uma stumbled and leaned further into his body, grazing her chest against his elbow.
He stood her upright and muttered, “Good,” but his eyes weren’t on her face. She followed them to her arm, where a cuff had slid back to reveal the dark lines of a tattoo. Uma moved it behind her back and yanked the sleeve down.
She couldn’t even look at him then, didn’t want to see the disgust or the horror on his face. On everyone’s faces. The pressure of tears prickled behind her eyes.
Great. My body decides to break its crying strike in front of a room full of people.She shoved the emotion down and stepped away.
“You good?” he finally asked.
“Yeah. I’ll just…be right back.” She escaped to the restroom.
After five minutes of internal debate, Uma managed to convince herself that it didn’t matter what he or anyone else may have seen. They were tattoos. Just tattoos. There were tattoos all over the place. These people wouldn’t have any idea how they’d gotten there or what they signified.
When Uma returned, no one paid attention to her. Except for Ivan, whose eyes followed her to the mat.
Again, she was hyperaware of him. Wherever he was, whatever he was doing, she could feel him. After a while, Jessie finally let the guys go and finished things up with a series of stretches. As soon as class was over, Uma grabbed her shoes and slid into them without untying them, ready to go.
Around her, the women chattered about class, then other things, like children and husbands, work, and plans for a quick drink at a local bar. Uma shook her head at their invitation, ignored the curious looks, ducked her head, and made a beeline for the exit.
They seemed nice. Jessie in particular. Her humor, her strength, the way she clearly didn’t take crap from anyone, especially not her beast of a husband. That thought brought with it an odd little pang, which Uma promptly shoved aside.
Maybe I’ll take the class again, she thought, more to fool herself than because she really believed it.And then maybe I’ll join the other women for a drink.
Yeah, right.
As she approached the door, Jessie caught up with her.
“Uma, you got a sec?”
“I’d better go.” What a complete lie. She had absolutely nowhere to be.
“Hey, so Ive said you just got into town.”
“Yes.”
“Well, I’m glad you made it here tonight.” Jessie smiled and waved at the last two women as they walked by on their way out, their glances lingering on Uma. “Did you enjoy class?”
Uma forced a smile. “I did.”
“Is there anything—” Jessie must have seen something prickly on her face. She quickly changed tacks. “You think you’ll come back next week?”
“I’m not sure.”
“Just come back, okay? Please? If money’s the issue, we’ll waive the fees. No problem.”
First the clinic and now here. People giving things away for free. What was with this place? No way would this have happened back in Northern Virginia.
Uma gulped back emotion again, nodding as nonchalantly as she could. “Thanks.”
“I know you’re over at Ms. Lloyd’s place. She’s a little…strange. But I get it, you know? She’s had it rough.”
Uma’s curiosity piqued at that. “She has?”
Jessie grabbed her hand and squeezed it, ignoring the question. Suddenly, Uma couldn’t find the energy to pull away.
