Antonio rubbed his neck.Shit. He couldn’t come out and say they were on a covert mission to sign a celebrity athlete who was at a retreat center trying to hide from the world. That would have sounded shady.
“What he means is, we are here to get in tune with ourselves to be better at our jobs,” Jackie said via the app.
“Right,” said Antonio. “To get in tune with ourselves. As colleagues.”
“I see.” Graciela looked between them. “Is this why you choose not to use your voice, Ms. Miles? To be in tune with yourself?”
Jackie nodded.
“Oh.” Graciela placed a bangled hand over her heart. “How commendable! Many take a vow of silence for the duration of their stay. May it bring you enlightenment on your path for self-reflection.” Graciela gave Jackie an exaggerated bow. Antonio was more than amused.
“So, we can skip these activities, right?” asked Antonio, hoping the misunderstanding was cleared up.
Graciela began to shake her head. “Oh no! These activities are designed to bring people together. To strengthen your minds and foster healing. It can be transformational for colleagues such as yourselves, not just couples. I believe you will benefit! Now, come! Your first of two sessions for the day is about to begin. Follow me.”
As they followed behind Graciela, Jackie typed on her phone and turned it toward Antonio. “I’m going to kill Calvin!”
“Get in line,” Antonio said.
CHAPTER 18
Jackie and Antonio sat side by side on woven mats. The yurt was filled with couples; some Jackie recognized from reality television and social media. She shifted from side to side, her butt cheeks already going numb from the hardness of the ground. Did this resort not believe in comfort? Jeesh!
“Hello, my beautiful earth dwellers. I’m Shane. And this is my spiritual conduit and partner, Locust. We are your instructors.”
Jackie took inventory of their instructors. Shane was shirtless, showing off his thin, sinewy, and impossibly tan torso, clad only in light green linen pants. His mousy brown hair was pulled into the requisite ponytail. And, of course, he was barefoot. Locust, on the other hand, had on a flowy, multicolored linen dress that Jackie immediately clocked as a nearly $3000 Azzedine Alaïa Resort 2021 collection. Locust may have some people in here fooled with her shabby-chic look, but Jackie could spot a trust-fund-kid poser a mile away. The culturally appropriative dirty-blonde faux locs were a dead giveaway.
“Yes.” Locust squeezed Shane’s hand before she spoke. “Your first session will focus on breathwork, opening you up by allowing you to release the tension and stress that has built up in your body.”
Jackie noticed that Locust’s eyes went straight to Antonio when she said “body.” He was what the old folks back home would call “burly.” His thick thighs were out in a pair of slutty, five-inch in-seam shorts, and his tank showed off his chest and tattooed biceps.I can’t blame the girl for looking, but damn—notthathard. Jackie shook her head at herself. Antonio was not her man.
Antonio leaned close to whisper. “Is it me, or do these two look like they were at the first Fyre Fest?”
Jackie tucked in her lips and tried hard not to laugh, but that was for naught. She let out a breathy chuckle.
“Is everything okay?” Locust asked, looking at Jackie with annoyance on her face.
Antonio thought fast, gesturing to the elaborate floral arrangements that lined the yurt walls. “She’s fine. I think she’s allergic to the flowers.”
More like allergic to the bullshit these two were peddling.
