“Hey, I have two little kids. When do you think I have time to go to the gym? And my arm muscles are hard-won from carrying said kids around.”
Tia ignored me and clapped her hands. “Let’s try a flying ballerina. You don’t have to lift your legs or hang upside down.”
She explained the move, and it seemed simple enough: hold on with one arm and leg and stretch out the other ones, making the move look like you’re jumping in the air—while holding on to a pole.
I jumped up and kicked Elle right in the face.
“Oh my Jumpin’ Jiminy, I’m so sorry,” I cried and kneeled next to where she was now sitting on the floor. “Do you need some ice?”
Tia was one step ahead of me and appeared with a handful of ice cubes wrapped in a dish towel.
Elle held it to her eye while we were all fussing around her. “It’s okay, guys, stop worrying. Her miniature feet didn’t do much damage.”
“Hey, they’re proportional to my body,” I complained.
“Exactly,” Elle said, her mouth tipping into a smile.
“Guess I didn’t hit you hard enough if you can still make fun of me,” I griped.
The rest of the training session didn’t go much better. At least I didn’t hurt anyone else. But I did fall on my butt another fifty times.
I didn’t know how I was supposed to get through my shift tonight. My head and butt were throbbing, and my arms ached from attempting to hold up my body weight.
When we got back to the dressing room, I changed into my work uniform and then collapsed onto the floor with a pained groan. “I don’t know how you guys do this every night.”
“I’ll write up a Pilates routine for you that will help,” Elle announced, sitting down next to me. “But for now, turn over and I’ll give you a quick massage.”
I turned around faster than I thought I had the energy for. But the promise of a massage was too good to pass up.
“Hopefully this will loosen your muscles a little. We only have five minutes, but it’s better than nothing.”
There was a knock at the door, and then someone called out. “Is it safe to come inside?”
I looked up from where I was stretched out on the floor.
Most of the guys just barged in, so the person outside could only be Sebastian. Tia fanned herself and replied, “Come in, gorgeous.”
Sebastian stuck his head through the half-open door. “Can you get—”
He stopped talking, his attention snapping to where I was lying on the floor, Elle sitting on my lower back, giving me the best massage of my life.
When he didn’t finish his sentence, I dropped my forehead back on my crossed arms and let out a moan. Elle was a master.
The door slammed shut, and when the normal chatter didn’t start up again, I grudgingly lifted my head again. This time all eyes were on me. And then they all started talking at once, making me sit up.
“What did you do to him?”
“Tell me your secrets.”
“Did you see the way he looked at her?”
“Was that Sebastian?”
“There goes another one of the good ones.”
I narrowed my eyes at anyone who dared look at me with wide eyes. “Stop it, everyone. I didn’t do anything. I told you he’s just crashing on my couch. Nothing more.”
My words were lost amid another wave of chatter, directed at me.
