Reese continued with her instruction. “You’re trying to lengthen your hamstrings and open your hip. You should feel a stretch, not pain. And breathe. Never hold your breath during a stretch.”
“Everyone try. Don’t worry about how high your leg goes. Just put it wherever feels like a good stretch.”
Emma’s leg went up easily, nearly as high as Reese’s had been. She leaned forward, folding into the stretch with natural ease.
“Emma, well done,” Reese said.
“I’m sort of naturally bendy.” Emma looked uncertain, like being flexible might be something to apologize for.
“That’s a gift,” Reese said. “Natural flexibility doesn’t come easy for everyone.”
Emma smiled, looking pleased with herself.
“Come on, let’s see the rest of you try,” Reese said.
Marcus placed his leg on the barre and Reese was surprised to see it go up fairly high for a fourteen-year-old boy. His slight build helped, and he had the flexibility some kids had before they grew into their bodies and everything tightened up.
“Marcus, that’s excellent. You’ve got natural range of motion.”
Marcus ducked his head, clearly delighted by Reese’s praise.
Julia approached the barre, then stopped. “I can’t get my leg up that high.”
“That’s totally fine. Let’s find something better for you.” Reese grabbed a folding chair from the corner. “Rest your leg on this instead.”
Julia placed her leg on the chair seat, much lower, and leaned forward slightly. “That actually feels good.”
“Great. You should be stretching during pregnancy, especially if it feels good,” Reese said.
Cody and Roan were in various stages of trying to get their legs onto the barre. Cody had hold of the barre with one hand, while hoisting his leg up with the other. It made it to mid-thigh. He forced it, jaw clenched.
“Is it supposed to hurt this bad?” Cody asked.
“No, don’t force it. You’ll pull something.” Reese walked over. “Just ease into it. Flexibility takes time and consistent stretching. Your body will adapt.” She brought over another chair. “Try this height. And breathe.”
Cody’s jaw unclenched. He yanked his leg from the barre, nearly falling in the process.
Reese advised him to hold onto the back of the chair for support before lifting his leg onto the seat. He did so, grimacing. “That’s much better.”
“Great,” Reese said. “You’ll be surprised how much flexibility will help you with whatever sport you do.”
Roan had not yet managed to get his leg up to the barre. “It just won’t go up.”
“Okay, we’ll do a chair for you too,” Reese said. “I might need to install a lower barre.”
“Very funny,” Roan said, laughing. “You’re supposed to be encouraging us.”
Reese brought over one more chair and set it in front of Roan. “Try this.”
He swung his leg up, foot flexed. Reese placed one hand on his extended leg, the other on his hip, adjusting his alignment. The moment her hands touched him, she felt the electric current that had always existed between them. His skin was warm under her palm, muscles tense.
“Your hips aren’t square. Turn this hip forward slightly.” She guided his hip into alignment, trying to ignore how aware she was of touching him. “And don’t round your back. Keep your chest lifted.”
He adjusted, and she felt some of the tension release. “Better. Now breathe. In through your nose, out through your mouth. Let your body soften into the stretch.”
He breathed. His muscles relaxed fractionally. Their eyes met in the mirror, and for a second she forgot where she was or that anyone else was in the room but the two of them.
Then Cody said, “Are we done with this torture yet?” and the moment broke.
