Viktor stands and stretches beside me, gesturing to Heidi.
“Still making grown men cry?”
She grins. “Only the ones who deserve it.”
“So. All of us.”
Heidi hands him a separate print-out. “Saw you were out here, so got this for you, too. Try doing your exercises this time, Karlsson.”
“I did them.”
“Once. Badly.”
He studies the sheet. “I do not remember it that way.”
“You don’t remember limping out and calling me a tyrant?”
“No. I said you were amild authoritarian. That is different. Someone else must have called you a tyrant.”
“Sure,” she deadpans. “Another six-foot-five Swede with a man bun and a death wish.”
Viktor chuckles low like she’s made a reasonable point, then jerks his chin toward the door. “Come on, Hutchy. Before this woman assigns us partner yoga.”
I follow him out, both the protocol packet and the ghost of Carina’s touch in hand.
Chapter four
He’s a boundary issue with a slutty mustache
Carina
Yoga was a mistake.
My thighs are shaking, and my hip flexors are screaming. And delightfully, my sports bra is also attempting to saw me in half.
Beside me, Heidi shifts effortlessly into a crescent lunge, her expression serene and limbs infuriatingly long.
I adjust my stance and don’t fall over. That’s a win in my books.
“Your inner monologue is loud today,” Heidi murmurs without looking.
“Myhipsare loud today.”
She inhales softly and deepens her stretch, her exhale peaceful and annoyingly centred.
Mine is not.
The studio is warm, with soft light filtering through linen curtains. The air smells like cedar and eucalyptus and sweat. Heidi, of course, is completely in her element. At peace with her breath, her body.Her mind.
Mine is trying to remember whether I signed off on that last med clearance form for Moreno, if I refilled the naproxen script for the junior lacrosse patient, and whether the rotation board will try to block my latest ligament return-to-play protocol.
And now, adding to my long list of thoughts, I have the addition of wondering if my legs can physically hold me upright for another four seconds.
“This is good for you,” Heidi says casually.
“Is it?”
She catches my eye, smiling like we’re in on some joke together.
