Page 56 of A Better Place

“I think you’ve had it all along. You just needed the right person to bring it out in you.”

Just as she finished speaking, the first of the students start trickling in. “We’re not done here, alright? I got you, girl. Leave it to me. I’ll get you sorted out.”

I give her a small smile and squeeze her hand as she walks over and lays her mat out.

“Look out, ladies! Tess and Lauren are in da house!” I hear Lauren shout with her arms in the air. She’s so energetic and funny, always bringing a lively dynamic to the class.

Tess bursts out laughing, and they both lay their mats down next to each other. There is a guarantee one of them will fall laughing at some point because of the strength they are using to stay in focus and position. One of them will act like she’s pulled a muscle; one of them will push the other over at the beginning. It’s just a given. They’ve learned that they have to get all of their goofiness out at the start of class, then they get serious. Or, at least as serious as those two get when it comes to yoga — and exercise in general.

I ready the students, and when Tess is in her first downward dog position, just as I expected, Lauren reaches over and nudges her causing her to topple over. Tess was ready, though, because she whipped her arm out with a shocking amount of speed and pulled Lauren with her. One would think they would fall into a fit of giggles at this point, but they are so used to each other that they both just return to their positions, and the rest of the class flows flawlessly.

After an hour, everyone is breathless and sweating but smiling. My work here is done.

“What up, hussies?” Lauren slaps both Christine and me on the shoulder.

We all burst out laughing because we’re so far from hussies.

Tess shakes her head, completely immune to Lauren’s way with words. “So, the guys are at some steak house that James dragged them to, and all my kids are miraculously gone for the night. Wanna head over to that Mexican place and stuff our faces full of chips and salsa, fajitas and margaritas?” Tess asks.

“Where’s Harper and Maggie?”

“Maggie is hanging out with friends, and Harper somehow talked her way into joining Grady and Bri for pizza. Told them they owed her since the first time they didn’t include her,” she says, snickering.

“Oh, I can just hear her say that, too. She cracks me up.” I shake my head.

“Bri was excited to have her join them tonight. Said she makes for good entertainment,” Christine says.

“She’s full of it, that’s for sure.”

“What do you guys say? Mexican? Margarita madness?” Lauren asks.

“I’m in,” Christine says.

“Me too.” I nod. “Just let me text Jack so he knows I’m not going to be home.”

I step away and shoot off a quick message to Jack, letting him know he’s on his own for supper, which he’ll be more than fine with. He tells me his buddies are coming over, and he is going to make tacos. Seems like it’s a Mexican kind of night for all.

“You know that little meme thing that was going around Facebook? Do they just run out of chips and salsa, or do I die or what? Yeah, that’s so-o-o thrue,” Christine slurs as she lifts her margarita glass to her lips, liquid sloshing over the side. “Oops.” She hiccups as we all giggle uncontrollably. Christine leans down and licks the liquid from her hand and arm.

“You’re such a lightweight.” Lauren laughs.

“Hey…! You’re drunkity-drunk too. Don’t denab it.”

“Denab? What the hell is denab?” I ask.

“I don’t know. What is it? I’ve never heard it before!” Christine shouts for some reason then takes another drink.

“You just said it!” I shout back and point.

“Girl, you cra-a-zy talkin’ now.”

I’m not drunk, never have been, but I will admit I have a slight buzz going. I may feel light and a little dizzy but still coherent. But even I know what I heard.

“So-o-o-o-o, Sweet Caroline,” Tess says and starts singing the words to “Sweet Caroline” for some reason.

“So, the wrong name.”

“Nuh-uh, it’s your full name, right? Isn’t Carly just a nickname?”

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