Chapter 27 #2
“Now,” Sage Luminara said, gliding barefoot across the bamboo deck, “we move into the sacred practice of Union of Souls Partner Flow.”
Her voice floated somewhere between a meditation app and a sermon.
Jim’s hand brushed mine, his expression showing me that his playing along was most likely only because we’d not spoken to each other in a week, and this silly bullshit was nothing compared to our dumb fight.
Hell, it’s probably why it wasn’t bothering my ass so much either.
Doing silly shit with my husband was always fun.
It was also always interesting to see how this nonsense might turn out.
We sat facing each other, knees touching, incense curling between us. Beyond the glass, the Pacific glittered like liquid encouragement.
“The husband will cradle his partner’s energy,” Luminara said. “Palm to heart. Let intention replace apology.”
Jim’s lips curved. “You heard the woman, gorgeous,” he murmured, placing his hand lightly against my chest. His touch was steady and measured with just enough pressure to make my pulse jump.
“I love you,” I softly said, smiling into his beautiful green eyes and loving that this wasn’t irritating him, no matter how bizarre it was.
Luminara’s eyes softened. “Good. Stay in that truth.”
Across the circle, Collin was already inhaling like he planned to levitate. “I can feel the frequency shifting.”
It looked like his ass was finally starting to play along as well. We were all going to need a damn beer after this next part, I was sure of that.
Jake answered without opening his eyes. “That’s because you’re holding your breath.”
“Quiet the mind,” Luminara said, her tone patient but sharp. “Inhale through love. Exhale resistance.”
Jim’s thumb brushed the edge of my collarbone, slow and deliberate. He wasn’t mocking it; he was indulging me.
“Now, bring your foreheads together,” Luminara said.
Jim leaned in until our breath mingled. His eyes flicked over mine, amused, quiet, and dangerous.
I failed instantly, a laugh escaping before I could smother it. As handsome as he was and for as much as I wanted to be this close to my husband, this was just too weird.
Luminara smiled as if this were a moment of enlightenment. “Laughter is the soul cleansing its fear.”
“Then mine’s spotless,” I whispered.
“Rock gently with the rhythm of your breath,” she continued.
Jake shifted, Collin followed, and within seconds, the men looked like an uncoordinated boy-band video. Laney buried her face in her hands.
Jim didn’t move. His gaze stayed on me, calm, teasing. “You good?” he asked softly.
“Define good.”
He huffed out a low laugh, barely audible but rare enough that I felt it more than heard it.
Luminara began circling us, murmuring affirmations. “You are not two. You are one body, one intention, one flow. Now,” she said, “for the lovers’ bridge.”
Every man in the circle looked immediately suspicious. And that’s when I watched the star student of this show drop his mask. I chuckled, wondering how Jake would do with all this bullshit he seemed enamored by.
“Lay back,” she instructed, “and trust fall into your partner’s energy.”
That’s when everything went to shit. Jake tried first. When his mat slipped, Collin reached to help the dipshit and toppled into a poinsettia display.
“Release the ego!” Luminara cried after we all burst into laughter.
“Fuck! I think I released my spine,” Collin groaned from the floor. “Jesus, Jake,” he said, laughing at his best friend.
Ash was now laughing so hard she could barely breathe, while Jake looked like he was tangled in his robe from the twisted-up fall.
“All is fine! All is fine!” Luminara fanned herself furiously. “Accidents are just resistance leaving the body.”
Jim’s lips twitched, and he pressed a fist to his mouth to hide it. His emerald eyes met mine, calm yet full of restrained laughter.
“You’re actually enjoying this,” I whispered.
He leaned closer. “I’m enjoying you.”
Before Jim and I could fall under some romantic spell, surrounded by all the chaos around us, Luminara stepped backward onto a fallen candle that must’ve dropped when Jake and Collin collapsed.
Her eyes widened when the wax splattered.
With the heat of the wax, she gasped, grabbing the curtain, and then, the entire bamboo drape crashed down in slow, expensive motion.
Oh shit!
For a second, no one breathed.
Smoke curled around us, while Collin was still half-upside-down. Luminara stood in the wreckage, mascara streaked, and clutching her fan like a weapon that could defend her from all our jackass vibes. Vibes which, I was certain, no meditational program could ever work out of us.
“The session,” she said hoarsely, “is complete.”
Jim rose, smoothing his robe, utterly composed. “I appreciate your efforts,” he said, more truthful than not. “But truly, we are all beyond saving.”
I snorted, giving up all pretense of serenity. “We should probably go before she finds our karmic debt.”
He offered his hand, palm up, eyes warm. “After you, gorgeous.”
“We have to make this right for Ash, though,” I said to Jim. “She apparently comes here all the time.”
He brought an arm around me. “That will only happen when and if she and Jake cough up the truth of what the hell we all just went through,” he kissed the top of my head. “I need a cocktail.”
“No shit,” I said, turning back and seeing everyone just leaving the sanctuary area. “I think we all do.”
I knew once we were a few cocktails in, someone would finally spill the truth about our bizarre yoga session. But honestly? Who cared. It was fun, the night was young, and for the first time all week, we were completely unplugged from the noise, the headlines, and the chaos of everything else.