“Somehow, you manage to make yoga look awkward.”
I yelp, falling right through Billy as I slam down into the mat.
I pop up to my feet, head swiveling around the room, looking for the asshat.
“Everything okay?” Lanie asks, one brow lifted as she takes in my current state.
Ladies around me stifle their giggles while my cheeks warm to an uncomfortable level.
“Fine. Sorry, slipped on my own sweat.” I grimace at the way the twenty-something next to me gags at the mention of my sweat. “Come on, you’re sweating too.”
She snaps her head forward, back straight with obvious indignation. Lanie gives me a look that saysbehave.
I shrug, taking the next pose she calls out. Cat is something I can do all day.
“You sure know how to disgust... everyone,” Billy says, lying on the ground next to me, but I do my best to ignore him, determined to finish this class and not bring unwanted attention my way.
He glides to standing, walking around my mat, inspecting me like I’m up for prize heifer at the state fair.
“You should be working to solve the mystery behind my death. Not attempting to cause your own.”
I twist my head away from him, doing my best to maintain calm. He manages to find his way back into my view and I catch him inspecting the ass of the girl next to me like a perve.
I glare at the pest. “Go away, moron.”
The glistening girl next to me gasps, cornflower eyes wide and hand tapping over her heart like my words might have spurred a heart attack. Oh, the drama.
“I wasn’t talking to you,” I offer, as a last-ditch attempt to save face. She rolls up her mat and stalks out of the room, bleach blond ponytail bouncing behind her.
Lanie marches toward me while everyone else stares from their Cat pose. “What’s wrong with you?” she whispers, glancing around the room. “Savasana,” she snaps a little too loud in the small space.Everyone moves into their final pose of the class, and I breathe a sigh of relief it’s almost over.
“Billy’s here,” I whisper. “He’s being his typical self.”
“Tell him to go away,” she says through her teeth.
I nod, just wanting her to go back to her class and get it over with. Plopping to the ground, I stare at the ceiling and am not at all surprised when Billy hovers over me, bent at the waist and fists on his hips.
“I’m not even surprised you’d choose Corpse.” He shakes his head. “I bet your husband had a lot of late nights at the office.”
“Ugh. Go away.”
My outburst pulls all eyes on me yet again, and nobody can contain their irritation. I feel like the outcast on the playground as everyone whispers behind their hands, not even bothering to make it seem like they’re not discussing me.
Mortification sets in, and I don’t even waste time rolling up my mat. I spring from the floor and rush out of the studio, right onto the sidewalk on Main Street.
With my hands behind my head, I concentrate on breathing in for ten and out for ten. If I could strangle Billy Garet, I would. No question. I’m not a violent person, but for him, I’d make all the exceptions.
A car horn blares, pulling my attention to the street. A lime-green Mazda cruises by with two teenage boys hanging out the windows, catcalling to someone. “Nice tits, lady.”
“Language,” I shout back, but there’s no way they heard me over the purr of the souped-up car.
I glance around and find I’m the only person currently on the sidewalk.
Oh my god.
They were hollering atme.
Despite the crass words, and the fact they’re kids, I can’t help but feel some semblance of vindication. I refuse to dissect all that is wrong with this scenario, determined to bask in my momentary win.
