Page 49 of 10 Rings I Hate About You
“Next week?” I repeated, each word clipped. “There’s no possible way we’ll be ready. We need to set up protocols, finalize animal selection, conduct practice sessions, develop emergency—” My voice was rising. “Just reschedule them, Theo.”
Glamma was like a destructive tornado at times. Beautiful, unstoppable, and utterly devastating to anything resembling a plan.
“I can’t.” He scrubbed a hand over the back of his neck, looking miserable. “They’re sold out.”
Delaney made a strangled sound. “How can classes that don’t exist sell out?” Her voice had gone up at least an octave.
The sound triggered something protective in my chest, which was absolutely not helpful right now.
I had severely underestimated my grandmother.
“I don’t know,” Theo said, spreading his hands helplessly. “But apparently, Glamma can sell sand in the desert. She posted it on the community Facebook page this morning and within three hours, all four sessions were full with a waiting list. She even got the mayor to sign up.” He checked his watch. “Listen, I’m sorry to drop this bomb and run, but I have a delivery I need to help with.”
I nodded, not trusting myself to speak. He disappeared back through the door, leaving Delaney and me in silence.
I scrubbed a hand down my face. “Unbelieveable.”
Delaney paced, her movements sharp and agitated. Three steps one way. Three steps back. I found myself unconsciously counting them. “We’re not ready. We don’t even agree on half the animals yet. We haven’t tested anything. We haven’t?—”
“We’ll figure it out,” I said automatically.
Because what else could we do? Cancel and disappoint everyone? Risk the grant? Prove to the entire town Delaney and I couldn't work together?
She turned to me, and I realized we were standing closer than I’d thought. Much closer.
Very close.
Close enough that I could see the pulse jump at the side of her neck. Close enough that her breathing had gone shallow. Close enough to notice her chest rising and falling rapidly in a way she probably didn’t realize.
I imagined my heartbeat synced with hers. Doubling its rate. It was that kind of moment. My own breathing deepened as though I’d been running instead of standing completely still.
The freckles at her collarbone caught my attention, small and barely there, just where her shirt collar ended. Her lips slightlyparted when she exhaled—like the words she wanted to speak were right there, but she’d decided against them.
The lavender was stronger now. Layered under the animals, the cleaner used in the cages, and her soap. For one quiet, dangerous second, a thought slipped through uninvited …If things were different…If we weren’t always at odds. If I wasn’t trying to control everything because I was terrified of what would happen if I didn’t. If I was brave enough to want what I couldn’t plan for ...
My gaze dropped to her mouth.
She didn’t move. Didn’t step back. Didn’t tell me to stop.
Neither did I.
We leaned closer, pulled by the kind of gravity that doesn’t ask permission.
I was approximately two inches away from the least professional decision of my life, which was saying something.
And I didn’t care.
For once in my carefully controlled life, I didn’t care about protocols or appropriateness or what made logical sense.
Her pupils dilated.
My hands itched to cup her face between them.
I just wanted …
“Well, well,” Glamma’s voice rang out behind us. “If I’d known animal yoga meantthiskind of stretching, I’d have sold tickets at double the price.”
We sprang apart like guilty teenagers caught behind the bleachers.
