He looks down at me with a satirical grin, leaning forward until he invades my space. “Tell me something I don’t know, Cupcake.”
He turns to walk toward the door. My body is vibrating with rage. I look around for something to throw at him.
“I want to live in the studio during the remodel,” I hear myself blurt out.
Dammit. Never let him see your cards, idiot! You know better than that.
Dayton stops. He doesn’t move a muscle for a full three seconds before he slowly begins to turn back to face me. His eyes have darkened.
Finally, he speaks through clenched teeth. “Only you can live there. Not him.”
I’m shocked to hear even a shred of agreement onsomething from him. Up until this point, he’s refused to agree to anything.
He must have reviewed the finances and decided to remodel first. He would only agree to this for his own selfish gain.
I feel myself nod. “Fine.”
He turns around and storms out. The hotel door slams shut behind him.
chapter five
eight months later
“Now, slowly, lower yourself into warrior two pose. Hold it. We’re going to stay here for ten seconds. Ten, nine, eight—great job, January—six, five, four, three, two, one. Release.”
The group sighs, standing up straight. Beachfront yoga is the most peaceful way to start the day. The ten ladies in front of me have been faithfully attending since I began teaching it on Sunrise Beach a few months ago. We usually meet down at the pier, but occasionally, we’ll hold it at my house for more privacy now that tourism is picking up.
A few of them I knew when I lived here before. I was close to Wendy and Josie back in high school. They’re sisters who run the local bed-and-breakfast. Josie is close to my age, and Wendy is a few years older. They’ve always been good friends, like two big sisters in my life. I forgot how much I’d loved that feeling of having a big sister around to lean on.
Silvie and I met when she came with her former nanny Birdie to a class, and I instantly connected with her. She’shiding out in Coconut Beach after running away from her wedding. I’m secretly hoping she decides to stay.
“Now, bring your left foot forward, keeping your feet shoulder width apart.”
The sliding glass door behind us scrapes open. I look up, expecting to see the builder, Javier. Goose bumps prickle up the back of my arms, sending tingles over my entire body, when I see Dayton’s tall, built frame. He braces his hands on his hips, the veins in his forearms visible from here. I hate how I’m immediately self-conscious about the fact that my hair really needs to be washed. He’s always too fucking perfect-looking. His disapproving glare runs up and down my body.
“Uh, now drop down into child’s pose. Inhale for one, two, three, and … exhale. Continue a steady rhythm of inhales and exhales.”
I walk through the sand, over the few yards of grass, and up to the back porch.
“What are you doing here?” I whisper-yell.
I haven’t seen or spoken to him since the night I got drunk at Cocktails and Chaos and I told him I hated him. We’ve communicated strictly through Mr. Walsh and Javier.
He removes his aviator sunglasses. He’s wearing a white linen shirt and baggy black linen pants. He looks like he just stepped out of an ad for Ray-Ban.
“Finish up. We need to talk.” He turns and walks back into the house without looking at me again.
I clench my fists at my sides, the old familiar lead ball in my stomach weighing me down whenever he’s around. I return to the front of the beach and finish the class.
“Thank you all for coming. I’ll see you on Friday morning, bright and early.”
Josie and Wendy wave goodbye before heading down the beach to their house, which isn’t too far of a walk. Silvie hugsme before walking with Birdie toward January’s house next door. I watch them longingly, wishing I could join them to hear the town gossip instead of dealing with Dayton.
January has been a great neighbor, even if she is a little eccentric and predicts the weather. Silvie told me she’s known as the town psychic.
After the rest disperse and begin walking or biking home, I make my way up to the house. I’m coated in sweat, and my hair is sticking to the back of my neck. I walk toward the studio before meeting Dayton in the main house.
He can suck my dick and wait.
