Page 18 of The Yoga Teacher

Hannah was on her feet before she could think.

She couldn’t stay here.

Not in the same space where Daniel had held her, kissed her and then—what?Hours later—had driven to a yoga studio to fuck another woman?

She needed to go.

She needed toleave.

Her thoughts refused to line up, tangled and sluggish, like she was wading through thick, suffocating fog. Her brain wasn’t working right, stuck in a loop of rage, grief, disbelief, unable to focus on anything except the suffocating need to escape.

Think.Think.

A hotel? Her parents' house?

Her hands were trembling as she grabbed her phone from her purse. Her fingers hovered over her contacts before tapping the name she hadn’t even realized she’d been searching for.

Mia.

It rang twice before her best friend picked up.

“Hey! What’s up?” Mia’s voice was light, casual, like it was any other night.

Like Hannah’s world hadn’t just been obliterated.

She opened her mouth, but nothing came out.

“Hannah?” Mia’s tone shifted. “Hey, what’s wrong?”

Hannah swallowed, gripping the edge of the counter to steady herself. She couldn’t say it. Not yet.

But shehadto say something.

“Can I—” Her voice cracked. “Can I stay with you?”

Mia answered at once. “Of course. Are you okay?”

No.

No, she wasn’t.

But if she said that, if she admitted it, she would break all over again.

“I just…” She inhaled sharply, forcing the words out. “I can’t stay here.”

Mia didn’t ask any more questions. “Come straight here. I’ll put on tea.”

Hannah nodded, even though Mia couldn’t see her. “Okay.”

She ended the call, exhaling shakily.

She didn’t pack much. Just a bag with essentials—clothes, phone charger, laptop.

She left everything else behind.

Without looking back, Hannah grabbed her keys and walked out the door.

CHAPTER TEN

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