Chapter 17
Henley
Yoga & Concerts
“If you’re not going to participate, why even bother showing up?
” Elliot asks Rhonan as we wait for yoga to start.
Fletcher is talking to Laney and her dad, helping with something before the event officially starts, and Carol is at the playground with Remy.
But I haven’t seen Elodie in a while now, which instantly makes my pulse spike.
When she first mentioned coming to yoga night at the winery, all I could think about was getting to see how flexible she was.
But now that we’re here, I realize I underestimated how uncomfortable I would be with other people getting to see her flexibility, especially while she’s wearing a teal spandex workout set that leaves nothing to the imagination.
Still, I’m looking forward to doing something with her that’s become a part of my life in the past few months.
I’ve never had someone to share a hobby with before, and I kind of like it.
Yet another reason I barely recognize myself lately.
Rhonan laughs. “And miss y’all twisting yourselves into pretzels? No way.” He hoists his belt up higher on his waist, checking to make sure that his gun is secured. “Even if I am on shift, at least I’m getting paid and subjected to free entertainment just for being here.”
Blossom Peak has very little crime, so most days, I wonder what the hell Rhonan does as sheriff. I imagine there’s only so many parking tickets he can write. But at least the slow pace of life here allows him to have a bit of life and be there for events like this.
I lean over toward Elliot. “Just wait. There’s gonna be some beautiful woman that will make him change his thinking about yoga and before you know it, he’ll be on the grass with the rest of us.”
“Oh shit. Yeah, I think you’re right. Although part of me hopes he stays single forever so I have a buddy to grow old with.”
“Swearing off the entire female population now?” Fletcher asks as he rejoins us.
Elliot scratches his jaw, his nails moving roughly through his scruff. “Yeah, I think I’m in the acceptance stage of grief now. That is, I’ve accepted that a relationship is just not for me and so now I feel more at peace.”
The three of us share a look before Fletcher says, “If that’s how you feel, buddy, then I hope it works out for you. Does this mean you’re not drinking any more either?” He motions to the bottle of water Elliot is holding.
“I’ll have you know that I haven’t had a drink since we got back from Charlotte, all right?”
“That was three days ago,” Rhonan deadpans.
“Still. After breakfast that morning, I just realized I don’t like who I am right now.
” He turns to me. “I want to apologize for what I said to you about Elodie, and the comments I’ve made to her too.
I—” He pushes a hand through his hair. “I think I’ve been taking out my anger on you because you’re happy and with someone now. ”
“Holy shit.” Fletcher holds the back of his hand to Elliot’s forehead. “Do you have a fever? Are you feeling okay? Because I’m not sure who this guy is standing in front of us right now.”
Elliot bats his hand away. “Oh, shut the fuck up, respectfully. I’m fine, all right? But I might have finally gone to therapy on Monday.”
Slapping him on the shoulder, I say, “Well, I appreciate the apology, and I’m proud of you.”
Maybe it’s time you go to therapy too, Henley?
He shoves me off. “Let’s not make a big deal about it, okay?” He scours the courtyard. “Where are the girls, by the way?”
As if a movie montage begins, we all turn to see Laney, Dilynne, and Elodie stride toward us, ponytails swaying and spandex hugging every curve.
My eyes are locked on Elodie, of course, already thinking about what positions I’m going to fold her into later, hoping our yoga session will give me ideas.
“Goddamn,” Fletcher mumbles beside me.
“Right?” I echo his sentiment.
“Jesus Christ,” Elliot grumbles, twisting away from us and adjusting his dick.
“You okay there, buddy?” I ask him.
“Yeah, I’m fine. I’ve—I’ve gotta piss. I’ll be back in a minute.” He stomps in the direction of the bathrooms, but I’m a bit confused by his reaction.
“Hey, angel,” Fletcher says as he greets his fiancée, pulling her into his chest.
“Hey, yourself. You ready for this?”
“As ready as I’m gonna be. After last week’s game, I need to be stretched out anyway.”
“You know I could help you with that,” she murmurs against his lips.
Rhonan clears his throat. “Uh, I’m standing right here.”
Laney swats at him. “Then go away if you don’t like what you’re hearing.”
Elodie giggles as she slides up to me. “You ready to be shown up by your nanny?”
“Is that a challenge?”
“Come on, Henley. Everyone knows women are more flexible than men.”
I lean down and line my lips up to her ear. “Then maybe I need to show you a few things when we get home later.”
Her gray eyes darken. Seems she likes that idea just as much as I do.
Laney rubs her hands together. “All right, let’s get this night started.” She takes her spot up at the front of the courtyard, puts on her head mic, then starts the session.
Elodie and I keep tabs on each other throughout the workout, laughing when we both struggle to keep our bodies in a certain pose.
Rhonan is taking pictures from his post on a small hill, laughing to himself as Fletcher, Elliot, and I take turns flipping him off.
Fletcher is right in front of his fiancée, soaking up every minute of being able to watch her, and Elliot is behind Dilynne, grumbling as he falls down.
“Do you want some help?” Dilynne offers, her voice low.
“I don’t need your fucking help,” he spits back at her.
She puts her hands in the air. “Suit yourself, Grumpzilla.”
I glance back to check on Elliot, but his eyes are locked on a part of Dilynne that I’m almost positive I haven’t caught him staring at before.
“Great, now let’s start to wind this down. Everyone transition into child’s pose,” Laney says into the mic as the entire lawn full of people moves down to their mats, placing their hands out in front of them as they bend in half, their chests to the ground.
“How are you feeling?” Elodie whispers over to me.
“I have sweat dripping down my ass crack, but that’s pretty normal for when I do yoga, so not that bad.”
She snorts. “Oh my God, Henley.”
“What?”
Shaking her head, she says, “I like this side of you.”
“Which side is that?”
“The one where you’re not afraid to have fun.”
Her words hit me square in the chest. I’ve never had issues with having fun, but my definition of fun used to be very different—careening down the side of a mountain at lightning speed, jumping out of an airplane and waiting until the last possible second to pull my parachute, or seeing how many phone numbers I could get from women in one night.
Now, it’s getting my daughter to laugh, cracking jokes with my nanny, and thinking about where I could take her on a date.
“And that’s it. Thank you all again for joining us,” Laney says, breaking through my thoughts as the entire crowd claps.
“Don’t forget to get your sample of wine before you leave, and all bottles are twenty percent off for yoga participants tonight.
” She makes her way from her spot at the top of the lawn, kissing Fletcher first, then traipsing over to Elodie. “So, how was it?”
“It was great. It’s been a while since I’ve done yoga, but it was just like riding a bike.”
Laney rubs Elodie’s shoulder. “Glad to hear it. That spot where I was is where we’re going to set you up to perform too, by the way.”
“Perfect.”
“Um, I’m sorry. Did you say…perform?”
Elodie turns back to me, her eyes wide as Laney glances between us, her brows drawn together. “Yeah. Didn’t Elodie tell you?”
I cross my arms over my chest. “Do I look like she told me?”
Elodie rubs my arm. “I’m sorry, I forgot to mention it. Laney had a performer cancel, so she asked me if I’d be willing to perform for Concert in the Courtyard next week.”
Laney’s eyes dart between us as Elodie plants her hands on her hips and says, “Is that a problem?”
I shift my gaze away from her, trying to figure out why the thought of her singing here sets me on edge. “No. Not a problem. Just—caught off guard.”
“Uh, I’m gonna leave you two to talk,” Laney says, catching up to Fletcher where he’s standing off to the right chatting with a few fans.
I turn back to Elodie. “So, you’re performing?”
“I am, but what I’m wondering is why you’re mad about it?”
“I’m not.”
“Could have fooled me.”
Sighing, I uncross my arms and run a hand through my sweaty hair. “Look, I just wasn’t anticipating that bit of news.”
“And I’m just trying to understand why you’re making such a big deal out of this.”
I pull her closer to me. “I fucking love your voice, you know that.”
“Then what’s got gorilla man reappearing right now?”
The issue is hearing that you’re performing was like being backhanded into remembering why you came here in the first place, and why you’re probably leaving in a month and a half.
“Looks like you two had fun,” Carol says, interrupting our conversation, Remy happily sitting on her hip. “Even though the temperature is dropping, looks like you were still sweating.”
I intercept my daughter from her, kissing her cheek and nuzzling her nose. “Yoga isn’t as easy as it looks, Carol.”
“Well, maybe I’ll join you next time.”
“I think this was the last session before the events shut down for the winter,” Elodie says. “That’s what Laney told me, at least.”
Carol nods. “Sounds about right. The beginning of November brings harsh, cold weather. After the last concert, it just gets too cold for the winery to host outdoor events. They have plenty indoor ones though. You’ll have to come to the Sip & Smut Night.”
“Sip & Smut?” Elodie asks.
“Yes. It’s a book club for romance lovers and we drink wine.”
I pinch the bridge of my nose. “I did not need to know that you attend that, Carol.”
She smacks me on the back. “You act like you don’t know about my reading collection.
” Carol leans closer. “I’ll never forget the look on Henley’s face when I found him reading one of my books.
Later, I realized it was a scene in a billionaire romance where the man had his wife bent over a piano.
” She fans her face. “Truly a scene that lives rent-free in my head.”
“I think I’m gonna throw up,” I mutter.
Elodie is shaking with laughter. “Oh my God, that sounds amazing. What’s the title of that book?”
“I’ll leave you two to chat,” I say as I make my way across the lawn, over to where Laney is standing with Fletcher.
“Hey. Everything okay with you and Elodie?” Laney asks while greeting my daughter. “Sorry for spilling the beans. Seems to be my role lately, but I figured she would have told you by now.”
“Well, that makes two of us.”
“In her defense, she wasn’t sure she was even going to do it. I kind of pressured her.”
“It’s fine. I mean, music is her passion. She should be performing, and she should be excited about it.”
I peer down at my daughter, not wanting Laney to see the conflict in my eyes—because I’m crazy about Elodie, and probably crazy for letting myself give in to what I feel for her as well.
The truth is, as much as I’m thrown off by her impending performance, I’m fucking proud of her too. She’s not giving up on what she wants for her life, so why should I be angry? If anything, that type of action makes my feelings grow for her even more.
Fuck. I’m falling for my nanny.
I shake my head. “Never in a million years did I think I’d find myself in this situation.”
Laney rubs my shoulder. “I felt the same way when Fletcher came back into town, but look how that ended up, Henley. Life has a funny way of putting you on the path you’re meant to take, something I’m beginning to trust even more as I get older. Just don’t give up hope.”
Hope is the last thing I’ve ever relied on—because the last time I did, my parents never returned and I told myself I’d never again get my hopes up about anyone staying.