Page 5 of The Yoga Teacher

He turned, spotting his father leaning against the doorframe of the restaurant hallway. There was a looseness to his posture, the kind that only came from a few too many drinks.

“Dad.” Daniel straightened, shaking off the weird introspection, slipping into something easier. “Enjoying yourself?”

His father clapped a hand on his shoulder. “So.Thirty.”

Daniel sighed, shaking his head with a half-smile. “I swear, if one more person—”

“Officially past your prime,” his father interrupted, his smirk widening. “The next ten years go fast, son.”

Daniel’s amusement cooled. “Jesus, thanks for the pep talk.”

His father chuckled. “Just telling you the truth.” He stepped back, studying him. “You’re lucky, though. You’ve still got your looks. Your build. Women like that.”

“I’m married, Dad,” he said dryly, because that was the only response worth giving.

His father raised an eyebrow, an unreadable expression crossing his face. “Yeah.” He exhaled, reaching into his pocket for a mint. “Well. Enjoy it while it lasts.”

Daniel frowned. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

His father smiled grimly. “Your mother and I didn’t last. It happens.”

Something cold settled in Daniel’s chest, but before he could respond, his father clapped him on the back.

“Oh—before I forget, Isabella was sad to miss dinner,” he added, tone casual. “She wants us to have a lunch soon, a belated celebration since she wasn’t able to make it today.”

Daniel’s jaw tightened. His father’s third and youngest wife—so far. She was closer to his age than his father’s.

Just like his father’s second wife before her—she had seamlessly taken her place in his father’s curated world. Young, optimistic, believing in true love.

By now, Daniel knew how this story ended.

He forced a nod. “Yeah. We’ll set something up.”

His father grinned, apparently satisfied. “Good.”

------------------

He didn’twanthis birthday to be a big deal. It was just another year, another reminder that he was getting older.

His gaze drifted across the table, landing on Hannah. She was laughing at something Paula said. Oblivious to Daniel’s growing annoyance.

His phone buzzed against the table.

Dirty 30??Don’t worry, man. You’ve still got a few good years left before we have to wheel you into pitch meetings.

Daniel exhaled through his nose and locked the screen without replying.

It was funny.Technically,Daniel was Tristan’s mentor at work, the one who was supposed to guide him. But half the time, Daniel felt likeheshould be taking notes—on how to talk like he still understood what was trending, on how to pitch ideas that resonated with people ten years younger than him.

He was still good at his job. Heknewthat. But there was no denying it—Tristan was twenty-four, he spoke the language ofyouth in a way Daniel no longer could. And in an industry built on relevance, that was something worth paying attention to.

He took another sip of his beer, schooling his expression into something light, somethingpresent.

------------------

The odd mood followed him home. He double checked the doors were all locked and then followed Hannah upstairs.

Hannah was sitting on their bed, her legs tucked beneath her. When she saw him, her face brightened.

---