12. Savannah
TWELVE
SAVANNAH
Max bailed on me. Well, technically, he had a migraine and had to go home, but that feels like bailing to me.
Now I have to go to our yoga class on my own, which is fine, I guess.
I typically don’t like going places by myself.
I like someone else to be there to take the attention off me.
Max is usually that person. Everyone always likes Max. It’s impossible not to.
I throw my stuff into my bag and head out of the locker room. I doubt Max will be feeling better today, so our afternoon skate is likely cancelled.
Logan is leaning against the wall, looking at his phone, when I walk out.
“Are you waiting for me, or is waiting outside the women’s locker room your new hobby?”
He looks up from his phone and gives me the smirk that I’m starting to not hate.
“As exciting as that new hobby sounds, I was waiting for you. I thought since Max went home sick, I could take his place at yoga.”
My eyebrows raise in surprise. “ You want to go to yoga with me?”
He shrugs. “Why not? I used to go all the time. It’d be good to stretch my muscles again. I figured since we’ve already paid for the class, we might as well use it. But only if it’s ok with you.”
Am I ok with doing yoga with Logan Sokolov? No, not really. But I also really don’t want to go by myself.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” he asks, and I quickly come out of my thoughts. “Is my request really that confusing?”
“Well, yeah, kinda. Are you going to try to knock me over during warrior pose? Make me twist my wrist or something.”
He chuckles. “I have no evil agenda for today, Savannah. If you don’t want me to go, just say so.”
“I…” It’s on the tip of my tongue to tell him I don’t want him to, but it just doesn’t come out. “I don’t care. Whatever.”
“Great. I’ll drive.”
“Great,” I mumble as I follow him out.
It’s a short drive to the yoga studio, but he still motions for me to control the radio, which I’m happy about. The last thing I want to do is make idle conversation with him.
The ladies at the front desk are confused when I walk in with Logan instead of Max. Their confused looks quickly turn to ones of interest when they realize how attractive Max’s replacement is.
“Hi, are you looking to sign up for yoga classes?” one of them asks, batting her eyelashes at him.
“Actually, I’m here with Savannah,” he says, wanting to clarify that he’s here with me, not with me, but I keep my mouth shut. “Max Levar couldn’t make it today, so I’m taking his spot if that’s ok.”
Logan smiles, and the girl starts nodding. “Yeah, I mean, normally we would require an additional fee, but we can make an exception this time.”
I snort, and the girl shoots a sharp glare in my direction at the same time Logan elbows me.
“Thanks...” He makes a point to look at her name tag. “Liz. I really appreciate that.”
“Of course. Have a good class!”
She never tells me to have a good class.
Logan gently puts his hand on my lower back and leads me away from the front desk. “Which room?”
“Huh?” I’m still thinking about how ridiculous Liz was and why it made me irritated that she was clearly into Logan.
“Which room is your class in?” he repeats.
“Oh. Over here.”
He follows me inside the room. I set my things down in the back, and we find empty yoga mats.
I was hoping the class would be mostly full by the time we got here so that we wouldn’t have to be next to each other, but I’m not that lucky.
I head toward the back of the room, and Logan grabs the spot right next to me.
I audibly sigh.
He chuckles and leans over. “Would you rather I take the mat in front of you? Might give you a better view?”
“No, thank you.” That’s the last thing I need. “You’re fine right there.”
A few minutes later, the instructor comes in and we get started. Logan is surprisingly flexible, although I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. He’s probably done this more than I have.
As we go through the poses, the instructor continually compliments him. Logan makes sure to smirk at me over his shoulder, and I rub my nose with my middle finger and make sure he sees it.
It’s annoying how perfect he is at everything. Not only is he one of the best skaters in the world, but he moves through these yoga poses like they’re nothing. He doesn’t even break a sweat while I’m over here wiping my brow every few minutes.
What’s even more annoying is that I like that he’s here with me.
I feel his glances. I see the smiles aimed in my direction.
And when we’re in Savasana on our backs, I feel his pinky finger brush against mine.
It’s probably accidental, but my entire body freezes, giving me the exact opposite effect of what I should be feeling right now.
Why do I like it when he touches me? I normally don’t like to be touched, but a fucking finger graze is giving me butterflies? Gross. Maybe I’m getting sick or something.
“That was fun. Thanks for letting me tag along,” Logan says as he’s driving us back to the rink.
“Well, I’m glad one of us had fun,” I say, looking out the window so I don’t see his smile because I know he’s going to smile.
He smiles every time I try to be mean to him.
It’s almost like he likes it, which is absolutely not my intent.
If he didn’t like me, it would be so much easier to go on hating him. “Let’s not make a habit of it.”
“Sounds like you’re worried I’m going to out-yoga you,” he says with a laugh.
“No, I just can’t have you distracting everyone in the class. It’s annoying.”
“Distracting? How?”
“Oh, come on. You had to have seen everyone looking at you?”
“Not really. I don’t pay attention to that.”
Of course, he doesn’t. “Well, every woman in the place was drooling over you.”
“Sounds like you’re a little jealous,” he says slyly, and I can hear the teasing lilt in his voice.
“Absolutely not.” Am I? No. No way. “It’s just annoying. I’m trying to focus on my body and the poses, and all I could see were people looking back at us.”
He chuckles softly next to me. “Well, I apologize for causing so much of a disturbance.”
“Thank you,” I say smugly.
We don’t say anything else, but I can’t help but wonder if he’s thinking about any of the women from the yoga studio. I don’t know why I care, but it pisses me off.
“Since Max isn’t coming back, I can skate with you this afternoon if you want?” Logan offers when we get back to the rink.
Normal Savannah would take him up on it. Normal Savannah wants all the extra practice she can get. But this Savannah, right now, needs to get out of here and away from him. Immediately. Before I do or say something stupid.
“I think I’m good. I’ll just start fresh with Max in the morning.”
His smile falls slightly, but he nods. I refuse to feel bad about his disappointment. He’s not my partner. I don’t have to skate with him. But that doesn’t stop me from considering changing my answer for a split second.
“Ok, no problem. Have a good night.”
“Yeah, you too,” I mumble as I put my head down and walk quickly to my car and book it out of the parking lot.
My shoulders don’t relax until I can no longer see the rink because that means there’s not a possibility I’ll see Logan in my rearview mirror.
And I definitely don’t want to see him anymore today.