Page 95 of The Yoga Teacher

He had never been able to say the same.

His worth had been tied to youth. To attraction. To being desirable.

He was fucking pathetic.

He inhaled slowly, his chest tight.

“I don’t want to be my father,” he said, voice hoarse.

Dr. Ellis nodded. “So don’t be.”

It sounded so fucking simple.

Daniel exhaled, staring at the floor, his pulse slowing, steadying.

He had no idea who he was without the constant chase for relevance.

But for the first time, he was willing to find out.

CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

Hannah

HANNAH’S BODY ACHED in the best way.

The grocery store’s fluorescent lights were too bright, the air-conditioning too sharp against her sweat-damp skin, but she feltgood. Strong. That deep, buzzing exhaustion that came after pushing herself harder than she had the day before.

She rolled her shoulders as she weaved through the aisles, still feeling the heat in her muscles from today’s lifts. Her legs would be sore tomorrow. But she liked that. She liked knowing she had done something hard andgotten through it.

The grocery stop was supposed to be quick. Just some fruit, eggs, milk. The potato chips that James liked. The beer that was Mia’s favorite. Maybe some Epsom salts, too, for the inevitable post-workout soreness.

But then she saw him standing near the self-checkout, a paper bag in one hand, his other tucked into his jacket pocket. Daniel.

Hannah pivoted sharply, moving faster than she meant to.

Her shoulder clipped the edge of a produce display.

A pyramid of oranges teetered. One hit the floor, then another, and suddenly half the stack was tumbling down in a soft, rolling scatter.

Hannah froze.

So did Daniel.

For a second, the only sound was the dull thud of fruit against tile.

Then, slowly, she bent down to start gathering them. Her hands moved on instinct, jaw tight, heart hammering.

She didn’t have to look to know he was watching her.

She could feel it.

His gaze like gravity.

And still—she kept picking up oranges.

Because what else could she do?

She cursed under her breath, bending down to grab them, but before she could reach the last one—

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