Page 97 of The Yoga Teacher

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Hannah took a long sip of her beer, the cold fizz sharp against the back of her throat.

She needed this.

A drink, a couch, and Mia’s presence—all things steady and familiar. Things that grounded her.

Mia stretched out beside her, her socked feet propped up on the coffee table, head tipped back against the cushions. “So let me get this straight.” She raised a lazy hand. “You ran into Daniel at the store.”

Hannah exhaled through her nose. “Yes.”

“He picked up an orange.”

“Correct.”

“He apologized. Again.”

Another sip. “Yes.”

Mia blinked at the ceiling. “And… that’s it?”

“That’s it.”

Mia made a considering noise, lifting her beer to her lips.

Hannah let her head tip back, staring at the water stain on the ceiling, courtesy of last year’s heavy rains.

She could still feel the interaction buzzing under her skin. Could still see the way he’d looked at her—not expectant, not pleading, just… resigned.

It had thrown her off.

Daniel had always been the guy who talked his way out of things. The man who could spin a situation, smooth over anything with the right words.

But in that moment, he hadn’t tried to convince her of anything.

He had just told her the truth.

She should be relieved.

But mostly, she was justtired.

Mia nudged her knee with her foot. “If you want to exorcise him, why not give Luke a call?”

Hannah frowned. “Luke?”

“You know, gym guy. Abs. Talks about macros too much.” Mia waved her beer. “Or was it Logan?”

A beat.

Then Hannah sighed.

“Leo,” she corrected.

Mia snapped her fingers. “That’s the one.”

Hannah didn’t bother saying that shewasn’tgoing to call him.

Because, honestly? The thought of seeing Leo again, of peeling off her clothes and pretending she felt anything more thannothing—it didn’t excite her..

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