Page 92 of Rising Star

“If you stay in bed for another hour, I’ll make you feel good.”

His teeth grazed my neck in a way that had my toes curling.

“Sleep some more. We’ll have our fun later. The girls never wake up before nine these days. We’ll have enough time. You’ll need your strength,” I mused.

With one last kiss, I tiptoed my way outside, a yoga mat tucked under my arm. For the last month, Devon had started practicing yoga with me three mornings per week, stating it helped her to rest her mind. Last night during Sam’s concert, we spent the evening together, and she opened up about her past. The scars that had marked her heart for the longest time. I told her about mine. We hugged and cried together. Cursed and clinked our glasses at how her life had turned out and at the happy ending we both deserved.

The first signs of a new day brightened the sky with pink and orange glaze. We were in Virginia, and even at this time of the year, the crispy morning air wasn’t too cool to prevent us from exercising. Still, the coldness stung when it reached my lungs.

Four months after the accident, I returned to my yoga practice. Even though I still had to be careful and avoid some movements, I felt more like myself as it helped me to bring an equilibrium in my mind and body. And increase my confidence. I wasn’t back to my old self, but I was getting there. One day at a time.

My friend joined me, dressed in leggings and a hoodie, her hair messy and eyes still swollen from sleep.

“How can you look so awake at this early hour?” she asked, laying her mat next to mine.

“Habit, I guess.”

“Riley groaned because I got out of bed and he wanted to snuggle.”

I shared her laughter. “Sam whined too. Said he couldn’t sleep if I wasn’t around.”

“Last night after he came back, Riley said we should get married,” she confessed.

“Ohmygod, did he propose?”

She shook her head, her smile taking over her face. “Not yet. But I can feel it coming.”

I took her hands in mine. “Do you want him to?”

“Yes. I told him I love the idea. I never thought I’d get married. Sure, when I was a little girl, I dreamed of it. Thought some prince would save me and we’d live happily ever after together, but as I grew up, I never believed I was destined for such dreams. That I’d meet someone who would love me unconditionally. So, I kinda forfeited the entire thing. A piece of me has been wishing for it to happen lately. We decided we’ll start trying for a baby next year, but Riley says he’s old school and wants to get hitched first.”

“You guys have been together for a while, so it’s like the next logical step. Baby or marriage. Whatever the order.” I pulled her into a hug. “I’m happy for you. If you are.”

“I am. Your turn will come next. I’ve seen how Sam is around you. It’s almost animalistic how he watches you all the time. Like he can’t wait to have his way with you.”

A heartfelt chuckle left my mouth. “Mika once said he can’t stop staring at my lips.”

“Yes. Imagine, she’s six and noticed. He has it bad. I’m telling you.”

“He’s already hinted about babies and marriage. We’ll see how it goes after the tour. I don’t have doubts. I know he’s the one. I’m not even scared when he talks about the future. It just sounds so…so natural. We’re in no rush. We must learn to be a family first, the four of us. It’s still brand new and already more than what I ever wished for. I’m perfectly ecstatic about how things are right now.”

Bare feet and with our arms stretched over our heads, tickling the clouds, we breathed in the silence and calm of the early hour. I led the session, and Devon followed my movements, her face waking up the more we got our blood flowing. We bent over to touch our toes, letting it all go. And started over. Until our bodies vibrated with new energy. Sitting, we raised our arms and legs and balanced into a boat pose, our toes and fingertips pointing upward, and I relished the way my abdominal muscles were put to work. Surgery had really skewered my core stability. Now I am slowly getting it back

After a few deep inhales, we switched from one position to another, only to end up in a side plank. This pose hurt my bad leg the most, but I gritted my teeth, breathed deeply, and tried to relax as I counted to thirty.

A shadow hovered over me when I rolled onto my back, and for an instant, I sucked in a rickety breath until I realized who stood there.

“Morning,” Sam said, bringing a camping chair next to where we lay, his lids hooded. He looked good enough to eat right now. “Mind if I join you?”

“You wanna practice yoga?” I sat with my legs stretched before me, massaging my cramped thigh, curious about his new interest.

“Yep. Heard it’d calm my overactive imagination. These days it goes to dirty territories. I have my woman in my bed every night, and my body and mind are restless. And you girls look great in spandex.”

Seconds later, a barely awake Riley walked out of his bus and took a seat next to Sam. Did they call each other?

“Are you guys ambushing us?” Devon asked, unable to stop grinning at her man.

“Please continue what you’re doing,” he replied. “Stevens and I have decided we should have our own morning ritual. I’m sure I’m talking for him too when I say the view is quite enjoyable from where we sit. In fact, it lessened the hardship of waking up at five. You girls do your thing, and we’ll be right here, drinking coffee, in case you need us to intervene or be a partner to help you stretch.”