Page 60 of The Yoga Teacher

It was reflex. The way it used to be—when she’d see him across a room and her body would registerminebefore her mind caught up. The pull hadn’t faded yet. And that—that—was the cruelest part.

Her heart hadn’t gotten the memo. It still responded to him. Still wanted him close, even while her mind curled around the memory of betrayal like a bruise.

She watched him smile at something James said, polite and quiet. He didn’t laugh. He didn’t joke. He justsat there—not performing, not posturing.

And then his eyes shifted. Found hers.

Like he’d been looking for her all night.

There was no flare of surprise, no flinch. Just a soft awareness. Like he’d known she’d be here. Like he’d felt her enter before he ever saw her.

Her heart kicked hard in her chest.

She turned away quickly, jaw tight.

It wasn’t fair how easily her body remembered him. How part of her still craved the comfort of his arms, the way her hand fit into his without thinking. How some treacherous, aching piece of her still wanted to crawl back into his orbit and forget how he’d shattered her.

But she couldn’t forget.

And he didn’t deserve forgiveness just because she remembered the softness.

She moved through the crowd toward the booth where Mia and James were already waving her over.

“Hey, you made it!” Mia grinned, sliding over to make space. “We ordered you something strong.”

“Good,” Hannah said. She slid in beside them, grateful for the insulation.

Daniel sat at the far end of the table—close enough to feel his presence, far enough that he couldn’t reach her, physically or otherwise. He was nursing a club soda, not his usual beer.

His posture was careful. Everything about him was careful now.

Hannah felt the weight of his attention like gravity. She didn’t look at him. But she felt it.

She knew—knew—that he was aware of every inch of her. Of what dress she’d chosen. Of how her hair was pulled up. Of the color on her lips.

His gaze had changed. It wasn’t frustrated. It wasn’t desperate.

It was full of apology.

Mia bumped her arm. “You okay?”

“Yeah,” Hannah lied. She lifted her drink and took a long sip.

Laughter rolled around the table. Familiar rhythms. Teasing, inside jokes. Easy company. It helped. For a moment.

Until—

“Hey, I missed you guys at Sarah’s housewarming last weekend,” Paula said, glancing between her and Daniel.

Hannah froze.

The implication was clear.

Still a couple. Still a unit.

She felt the air pull tight in her lungs. Didn’t respond.

But Daniel did.

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