Chapter 33
“Iusually do three quarters bright at the very front, and half bright for the rest of the room. Especially for these early morning classes.”
I smile and watch my trainer, Sandra, adjust the lighting in the cool, quiet studio.
I’m getting set up for my first class at Lotus Studio. It’s an intro to Pilates class, and I’ll be observed by Sandra the whole time, but I’m still really excited. This is the first step toward becoming certified to teach the kind of rehabilitation Pilates that got me back on my feet. I’m overjoyed and grateful that the nice people at Lotus took a chance on me and put me right on the schedule.
“We’ve got a handful of students signed up for this class, so why don’t you go out to the front desk and help them get signed in and grab their props. I’ll take care of getting the air turned on and sweeping the room.”
“Okay. Thanks, Sandra.” I smile and head out to the lobby where I can hear the bell on the door announcing the first student’s arrival.
I’m just turning the corner to greet them when I stop dead in my tracks.
It’s Ben.
We haven’t spoken since the day before yesterday when he left my apartment. I’m not sure if I expected him to call, but he didn’t. I didn’t have the heart to try calling and getting his voicemail for the millionth time.
I committed to being patient. I told him that we could take it slow, and I plan to keep that promise.
Right now, though, with him strolling into the Pilates studio to take my class, looking fine as hell in his gray joggers and hoodie, the last thing I want to do is take it slow. I want to take a running leap into his arms.
“Morning,” he says, and I curse myself for not getting my shit together fast enough to greet him first.
“Good morning,” I say with a big smile. “Welcome to Lotus. Is this your first time in?”
He pauses next to the check-in counter and narrows his eyes at me for a moment. Then he nods. “First time in. I’ve taken a few Pilates classes before, though.”
“Well, let’s get you signed in.”
I stand next to the iPad stand on the counter. Ben walks over and stands right next to me. I sneak a glance down at my shoulder and see only a millimeter of space between our bodies. Wild electricity jumps the gap from his skin to mine and sends chills down my spine.
When I look back up, he’s watching me. The intensity of that stare takes my breath away and I shift uncomfortably, needing to dispel the feelings I now have swirling around in my belly. I do have a class to teach, after all.
“I’m glad you came.”
He smiles, and I melt a bit more. “I couldn”t miss your first class.”
He definitely could have, but he didn’t. Somehow he found out about my new job and my first class all on his own and took it upon himself to show up here. The stark evidence of him thinking about me—caring about me—threatens to derail me once more.
I’ve got to get this under control.
“You have to behave yourself in there, okay? It’s really important that this goes well.”
His smile turns sly. “I’ll be the perfect student.”
I don’t want to look away from those dark eyes, but the iPad screen catches my eye as it falls asleep. I jump and turn my focus to waking it back up and getting him signed in. I grab a mat, band, and ball for him without meeting his gaze full-on again. I do let my hands graze his gently as I pass the items over, and instantly regret it.
I’m going to be hot and bothered all class long.
This class is nothing like the punishing workout routine I put him through on Faraday. I try not to follow his body for the entire class but spread my attention throughout my students.
After class, he files out of the room with the rest of them, and I have to force myself not to chase him down the hallway.
Patience, Victoria.
I’m putting away the mats and sweeping the floor when Sandra comes to find me. “Your boyfriend’s waiting for you in the lobby. If you want to head out, I can take care of the sweeping.”
My eyes go wide, but I snatch back my composure quickly. If there was ever a time to be professional, it’s here at this job. “My boyfriend?”
“Ben? I was just chatting with him about the class. Sounds like he’s going to start coming regularly. I recommended that he try out a few of our more challenging classes, considering his fitness level, but I’m not sure I convinced him.”
I can feel my blush burning my entire face. “Oh, yeah. He does like coming to my classes.”
Sandra smiles at me conspiratorially. “That man is a catch, girl. Let me know if he’s got any single friends. I’d jump on a double date anytime.”
I grin and nod, happy that this woman seems to trust me enough to offer personal information about her life. I might have just made my first female friend here in this giant city.
“I got all the mats and props put away, and I did this whole side of the room already,” I say, gesturing to the area I swept.
Sandra takes the broom from me and mimes sweeping me out of the studio. “Go on then.”
Ben’s sitting in a chair in the lobby area when I emerge with my bag and sweatshirt. “Hey.”
He looks up from his phone, pocketing it when he sees me. “Hey.”
I put my hands on my hips and cock my head, tossing him a sly smile. “Sandra, my trainer, thinks you’re my boyfriend.”
I want the joke to lighten the tension a bit, to take the edge off my big, scary feelings of uncertainty.
But he doesn’t laugh. “I told her as much.”
My mouth opens and hangs there for too long of a moment before I catch myself and snap it closed. “What do you mean, you told her as much?”
He stands and walks over until he’s chest to chest with me, looking down as I look up. “I mean, I told her that I was your boyfriend. Not that I like the term, but it’ll do for now.”
“What makes you think that you can just walk in here and proclaim yourself my boyfriend? Isn’t that something we need to discuss? You never even asked. I didn’t know if I would ever see you again.”
Ben sighs and nods. “I’m sorry about that.”
I bite my lip and wait in silence, not trusting myself to speak. I know for sure if I opened my mouth, a sob might escape. Or possibly a scream.
After a long, heated stare, he surprises me once more by dropping to his knee on the wood floor of the lobby. He takes one of my hands in both of his and holds it up to his lips. Eyes locked, he smiles. “Victoria, will you be my girlfriend or possibly another word we come up with together?”
I can’t help but laugh…and cry. “Are you proposing dating to me right now?”
Ben looks sheepish, but only for a heartbeat. His confident expression returns in force. He knows he has me, but he’s still willing to defend his decision. I’ve never felt so special. “I fucked up. I never should have walked away on Merit, and I definitely shouldn’t have walked away from you the other day. Can you forgive me?”
Tears blur my vision but I don’t look away. “It’s you who’s supposed to be forgiving me.”
“I forgive you. Do you forgive me?”
I nod.
“And you’ll come home with me and live in my house?”
My eyebrows go sky high, but I nod again.
The relief is obvious on Ben’s face. “Thank god. I wasn’t sure how I was going to flood a fifth story apartment in Brooklyn, but I would have tried.”
My surprised laugh is loud, echoing through the quiet lobby.
“If you’re all finished here, my car’s waiting out front.”