10. Callie
Callie
SATURDAY, AUGUST 30TH
I ’ve gotten to know Caleb over the last few months because I’m obsessed with his studio. Listen, there are yoga studios and then there are yoga studios. Wingspan is one of my favorite places, not just in town, but in general.
“Hi, Caleb,” I whisper as I approach the front desk. Geneva LaCroix, one of the high school students I see around the halls occasionally, gives me an enthusiastic wave. She then returns to staring adoringly at Caleb.
As a teacher, I don’t like to say anything unfavorable about kids, so I will just say that if Geneva lived in Alabama, she’d get a lot of “bless her heart” comments. She’s sweet, she really is. She’s just…um…let’s just say she’s about as sharp as a marble. And Caleb has the patience of a saint to deal with her schoolgirl crush as gently as he does.
“Hey, Callie,” Caleb quietly greets me. “I turned up the thermostat in there, so you’re welcome to go in now if you’d like.”
“Awesome, thank you!” I slip off my shoes in the front entryway and toss them, with my wallet and silenced cellphone, into one of the shoe cubbies. Then I grab a towel from the wicker rack above the cubbies and head to the Bikram room.
I always like to get in a little early so that I can center myself before class and Caleb is kind enough to let me use the space. The room is gorgeous, with the window-lined side wall and the floor-to-ceiling mirrors along the back. The heat is already kicking in from the vents overhead as I find a spot towards the front of the room and unroll my mat. Taking a few deep breaths and enjoying the faint scent of eucalyptus, I settle into a sukhasana pose.
Hey, Dad, it’s Calliope. I mean, of course you know it’s Calliope, I don’t think anyone else calls you Dad. Just like no one else calls me Calliope.
Fettuccini is doing really well here. He likes my townhouse because the landlord let me put that cat maze up on the wall. Thanks for the idea.
I’m doing really well here, too, actually. I sometimes miss my middle schoolers, but first graders have brought me a whole new outlook that I didn’t have before. Much less angst, it’s pretty cool.
I, uh…I met someone. A guy. We’re not dating or anything, we’re just friends. He’s really funny, and he’s such a good dad, I think you’d like him. His daughter is going through it right now, she just wants to be somewhere else and doesn’t understand why she can’t be. Although I think she’s starting to find her place here. Honestly, it’s kind of hard not to. The town seems pretty accepting of everyone.
I’m only here for a year, so I’m just going to try and enjoy every moment and not think about how much I’ll miss it when I have to leave .
“Are you all right?” Finn’s voice bounces off the walls of the otherwise empty studio room.
I rush to wipe the tears from my face and turn to look at him standing in the door.
Wearing that god awful sweatsuit again.
“I’m great,” I lie.
“You look like you’re crying.”
“Allergies. And it’s warming up in here, so…”
Finn doesn’t seem to be convinced, and I don’t like the way his concerned expression makes me feel.
So obviously I need to divert. I unfold my legs and start stretching. “I see you’re once again channeling your inner potato sack.”
His face morphs into the smugness I’m more comfortable seeing, and relief loosens my lungs.
Banter Mode: Activated.
“I just didn’t want to distract you with the tight clothes. I figured it would give me an unfair advantage.”
“Oh wow, you’re not usually quite that cocky. That’s a new move, Finnegan.”
Pulling out a new move of my own, I stand up and continue stretching, basically forcing him to watch. He’s not the only one who can work it for an advantage. It’s all I can do not to smirk at his obvious staring. “Seriously, though, baggy sweats aren’t the best choice for yoga.”
He shakes his head briefly and returns his gaze to my face. “Yeah, well, it’s what I usually work out in, so I’m sure it’s fine.”
That gives me pause. I stop stretching and shoot him a pointed look. “You said you’ve taken hot yoga before.”
“Yeah.”
“ Bikram yoga?”
“Yeah,” he repeats, more annoyed this time.
“So you know that the room temperature hits a hundred and five degrees? With, like, forty percent humidity? For an hour and a half?”
His eyes widen slightly, but I catch it. He had no idea. He’s never done this before, he’s totally lying. Like, worse than I thought he was when we were at the carnival.
“Finn, we should probably call this?—”
“Don’t worry about me, Athena. I lived in Illinois for a lot of years. It gets hot there and the humidity’s a lot higher than forty percent. Plus, I’m in the best shape of my life.” He flexes for show, clearly laying it on thick as a joke.
“Athena?”
“It’s easier to say than your last name, it felt appropriate.”
“You decided to pick the Greek Goddess of War as my nickname?”
He shrugs. “Makes sense to me.”
He’s so cute. I hate it.
I’m about to open my mouth to convince him to at least switch the challenge to a different yoga style, but Geneva rushes in, fumbling with a section of her stringy hair.
“Guys, we’ve got a, uh, situation up front and Caleb wants to see you.”
Finn and I trade glances and head out of the room.
At the front desk, crammed in like sardines, half the town is causing a scene about something. Caleb isn't known for raising his voice, but I'm finding out that he can when needed.
“Everyone, please, if you’re not signed up for the Bikram session this morning, then I have to ask you to leave the studio!”
I follow Finn, who’s working his way towards Lexie off to the side. “Lex, what’s going on?” he asks.
She sighs. “I tried to get everyone to sit outside the windows, but they’re tinted so people are upset that they can’t see through.”
Finn shakes his head and reaches down his shirt, pulling out a whistle that’s on a chain around his neck. He blows into it forcefully, immediately silencing everyone in the room. “Listen up!” he commands. “You have been asked nicely to leave and now I’m telling you to leave. Anyone not signed up for class needs to pull up a seat outside the windows of the studio.”
“But we can’t see in?—”
“Squint if you have to. Everyone out!”
Something about the authoritative tone in his voice makes me want to fan myself. I know, I have issues.
The disgruntled group of Wild Turkey spectators slowly file out of the building and start walking around the corner to take their seats outside. The handful of students who are actually signed up start taking off their shoes and setting up in the room.
“Thank you,” Caleb says, his volume back to normal.
“No problem,” Finn replies.
“I’m gonna need that whistle,” Caleb holds out his hand.
“Yeah.” Finn places the whistle in Caleb’s palm.
“You can have it back after class.”
I still can’t shake the nagging feeling that this is a bad idea. And not even my desire to win the match point is enough to supersede it. I gently put my hand on Finn’s forearm, causing him to stare at the point of contact.
“I really think we should switch to one of the other yoga classes. Even a restorative would be great.” I can kick his ass in that class, too, and at least he’ll be able to make it through the whole thing.
He steps backwards out of my touch and looks directly at me. “What? No way, I’ve got this. Come on, Athena, let’s see what you’re working with.”
I look at Caleb, who’s watching with eyebrows raised. He just motions towards the studio. “After you, Athena .”