Page 14 of For the Win

“I can do yoga,” I say.I’ve been to a couple of classes.

“Yeah, me too,” Bellsy adds.We exchange mirthful glances, remembering our experience.

Gary spouts off about the benefits of yoga.“Never mind the woo-woo stuff,” he says.“There won’t be any meditation and aligning your chakras.”

I snort out a laugh.

“It won’t be like that.This is about increasing your balance and flexibility.Lots of you guys are hurting this late in the season.We need to try to gain every advantage we can heading into the playoffs.”

Ugh.I’m not sure I buy it, but whatever.I know other teams are trying it.

“Tomorrow morning, in the weight room, nine o’clock sharp.”

I make a face as I toss my practice jersey to Joe to add it to the laundry.Great, even earlier start time.But what the hell.They want every advantage we can get, and so do I.If a yoga class is part of it, so be it.

* * *

I’m picturingthe weight room with dim lights and some kind of new age music playing softly when I arrive at the Coliseum the next morning.

I’m tired and sore and haven’t managed to down my giant Starbucks coffee yet.We won last night again, but it damn near killed us.We let things slide in the second period and got down by two goals.I was pissed and lectured everyone else before the third period because I wasn’t about to give up, and somehow we pulled it off with three unanswered goals, the last one with five minutes to go.That last five minutes was intense; the Panthers were throwing everything at us.It was a taste of what playoff hockey will be like.After coming back like that, there was no way I wanted to blow it in the last few minutes, so with grit and determination we hung on.Luckily Bergie was playing outstanding, making some incredible saves.Bellsy threw himself in front of the puck a few times and I bet he has the bruises to show for it.He’s nuts.In a good way.

The good thing was, Coach moved me up onto the second line, playing with Eddie Rintala, our superstar first-round draft pick, and Pavel Volkov.I played more minutes, and it felt like the three of us could really read each other.

I walk into the weight room.A few guys are already there.Space has been cleared on the floor for us, and they’re arranging colorful yoga mats.

I start toward the corner where Gary is talking to a woman...and I stop dead.

Arya.From Makara Yoga.

My mind blanks for a moment, thrilled to see her but not sure why she’s here.Then it clicks.She’s our yoga instructor!

Fan-fucking-tastic!

5

HARRISON

I’ve been thinkinga lot about Arya since that disastrous class.I fucking hate that I pushed her into the water like that.It was a stupid accident, and I was so pissed at myself after.I couldn’t really blame Bellsy, who made the damn smart-ass comment.It was totally my fault.

She looked so shocked, coming up with water streaming down her face, blinking those long eyelashes.Then the way she stared at me kind of made my balls shrink.

I probably didn’t make a good impression on her the first time I went to her class either, when I deliberately knocked JP into the water.And I don’t think she appreciated my yoga jokes.

I just wanted to impress her.

She’s seriously gorgeous, just the type of woman I love.I know, I know, I have a type.I can’t help it.I’m not saying I could never be attracted to a woman with a different appearance; I’ve gone out with all kinds of women.My last girlfriend actually had short, dark hair.We were together for three years.So it’s not like I only date blondes.But I have to admit I’m attracted to them.

But it’s not just the way she looks.It’s the calm, confident way she gets in front of a bunch of people and leads them through the poses, obviously knowledgeable and proficient.She’s clearly good at what she does, apparently with waiting lists for her classes.It’s the way she regarded me, with glints of humor and a spark of interest in her eyes that encouraged me, even though she turned me down.

Anyway...here she is!It’s a sign!And the perfect chance to make up for being an idiot.

I make a beeline toward her, smiling.

She glances up as I approach and her mouth drops open, her eyes widening.

“Hi!”I greet her happily.“I can’t believe you’re here!”

Her eyes pop wide open and she blinks.“Harrison.Uh...hi.”

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