Page 29 of For the Win

ARYA

My second yogaclass with the California Condors is making me even more nervous than the first one.

Okay, maybe it’s actually Harrison Wynn who’s making me nervous.

Confession time: I googled him.

I had no idea who his father is, and that his father owns the team he plays for.When he said he has a high-achieving family, wow, he really meant it.I can understand better now why he feels so pressured to be a success.

There wasn’t a lot about him online, to be honest, which could be good or bad.At least there aren’t horrible stories about him drunk driving or abusing his girlfriend, although those could be buried.I see pictures of him in Pasadena with a boy who’s his little brother through Big Brothers, and him participating in a charity event to help the homeless.He’s a little pushy, a lot flirty, and making comments about us being “meant to be” panicked me.But those stories and a lack of anything negative reassure me and even make me like him more.

I don’t know how to handle this.It’s been almost two years since my life was shattered, and I haven’t been interested in dating since then.Guys have asked me out, sure, but it’s been easy to say no.I prefer being on my own.

But Harrison tempts me.I don’t know what to do about that.

I didn’t even tell Taj about him coming to class yesterday and then going out for a drink with him.I’m afraid Taj will think that sounds very stalkerish and I was stupid to go out with him.Maybe it was.But I’m fine.

I got a definite tingle in my girl parts yesterday during class, a combination of the sexy tunes and Harrison’s body.And it continued into our, uh, date.My belly was flip-flopping and my inner muscles clenching, thinking about being naked with him.

Vibrators are great and all, but sex with a real live man?Nothing better.

It’s been a while.

Anyhoo, here I am back at the Coliseum in a room full of muscles, deep voices and testosterone, and I only have eyes for Harrison.

He’s wearing his new shorts, which hopefully are keeping his kibbles ’n bits nice and secure.Oh God.Now I’m hot.

He catches my eye but doesn’t come over to me this time.He bends over to roll out his mat and my gaze lands on his bootylicious behind.Damn.

I am capable of anything.

I go inside myself to find my focus before beginning the class.

“This time we’ll work a little harder,” I tell the team.“You guys are all big and strong, so we’ll focus on some specific things, like balance and range of motion.In yoga, you’re using your muscles in ways that are different than hockey, which helps with strength and stability.We’ll also be releasing tension and stiffness, keeping you loose and open.Improved stability and better range of motion means more efficient performance.Does anyone have any questions before we start?”I look around.

One player lifts a hand.“How often do we have to do these before we start seeing results?”

I smile.“Yoga isn’t like the other kinds of training you do.It’s a practice.Your focus should be on being present, and not so much on the end result.Over time, your practice will change as you become more flexible and stronger.So don’t worry about results or competing with each other.”

Another man raises his hand.“I heard yoga is good for sex.Is that true?”

Everyone else laughs.I smile and open my mouth to speak.

“Jesus, Archie.”Harrison speaks up.

I look over at him.He’s scowling at his teammate.

“That’s not appropriate,” he adds.

I blink.

“Well, I think flexibility would help with a lot of different sex positions,” Archie says.“Right, Arya?I bet you’re really flexible.”

My eyes fly open wide when Harrison jumps up from his mat, takes two giant steps over and gets right in Archie’s face.“Apologize for that.”

“Jesus man, what the fuck?”

The atmosphere in the room changes, thickening, a few guys muttering.

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