Page 170 of The Yoga Teacher

Their bedroom. The bed, the windows, the shape of the light on the floor. It used to be the safest place he knew.

The way she slept in his arms. The way her legs tangled with his under the sheets. The way she washomefor him, and always would be.

His chest squeezed tight.

She stepped closer.

And suddenly it wasn’t just memory. It was now. And she was standing in front of him, real and present, and she was offering him her body.

He felt wrecked.

He wanted to touch her. Heachedto touch her.

She was everything he’d ever wanted and everything he’d lost and everything he still dreamed about in half-waking moments where guilt hadn’t caught up to his longing yet.

Yes, he thought. Yes to this. Yes to her.

Even if, for her, it was just sex. Even if it never meant more than that again. For him it was everything.

So he would give her anything. Be anything. Take whatever form she needed.

And maybe—just maybe—if he was careful, if he didn’t ruin it again—

Maybe one day, it could be something more.

CHAPTER SIXTY-FOUR

Hannah

SHE’D MISSED THIS. Missed being in Daniel’s arms like this. She’s missed feelingsafein his arms. And somehow, despite everything, she did.

He was kissing her, and she felt like without his arms around her, she might float away.

She kissed him harder just to prove she could.

When she pulled back, his eyes were glassy. A little wrecked.

Good.

Good.

But not because she wanted him broken.

Because he wasn’t pretending anymore.

Because this was the real him.

And she knew it now—knew it.Not with her head, not just with memory or muscle or fear of being alone. She knew it in her bones.

She wanted her husband back.

She didn’t want to date him. Didn’t want to flirt from across quiet tables and pretend they were starting from zero.

She wantedthis man—the one who sat in therapy and let his shame bleed out in front of her, who weeded compost with children like it was penance and purpose all at once, who stayed out of her way until sheaskedhim to step closer.

The man who rewrote the marketing plan for her nonprofit behind the scenes and never told anyone it was him.

The man who gave her the house without condition, without comment.

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