Page 65 of Hometown Halftime
“Oh, I’m having the best time,” she replies, completely unrepentant.
“I thought we were a team,” I say, teasing.
Her eyes slide to mine, warm and wicked. “We are. But Haddie just told Martha Jean to scoot over so she could get a better view of your hamstrings.”
I squeeze my eyes closed. “You’re lying.”
“I wish I were.”
I glance over and Haddie is, in fact, repositioning her mat.
Lila steps forward again. “Let’s start with some breathwork and gentle stretching.”
I settle into position, rolling my shoulders back, trying to focus on literally anything other than the ten pairs of eyes currently tracking my every move.
We move through the opening poses, slow and easy, Lila talking the class through alignment while Kinsey and I demonstrate at the front.
“Coach Stretch,” one of Haddie’s friends calls, raising her hand like we’re in a classroom, “are your feet supposed to point straight ahead in this pose?”
I hesitate before saying, “Uh…ideally, yes.”
Another hand shoots up. “Could you show us again?”
From the middle row, Knox mutters, “No way this class is legal.”
“Knox,” Brynn hisses.
Cam drops his forehead into his hand, shoulders shaking.
And then, because the universe isn’t done embarrassing me yet, Evie’s voice rings out, loud and clear.
“Mom, why are all the grandmas staring at Riley?”
Everyone in the room freezes. Utter silence for one horrifying, endless stretch.
Haddie turns her head with zero hesitation. “Because, sweetheart, Coach Stretch has excellent form.”
I nearly lose my balance in warrior two. Beside me, Kinsey turns her face toward her shoulder, trying to hide her laughter, but it’s already there, bright and impossible to miss. Even with my dignity actively being dismantled, my chest tightens at the sound of it.
Lila clears her throat, valiantly attempting to regain control. “Let’s transition into a balancing sequence. We’ll start with tree pose. Find a focal point.”
“I’ve got one,” Haddie says.
Martha Jean cackles so loudly she snorts.
Knox folds over his mat, fully losing it. Brynn rubs his back while muttering something about him acting like a twelve-year-old. Cam is one breath away from joining him. Meanwhile, Kate is trying to wrangle Luke, who has escaped again and is now crawling across three mats like he’s on a spiritual journey.
“Luke!” She lunges, grabbing him just before he reaches someone’s water bottle.
“He’s committed to the flow,” Cam offers.
Kate shoots him a look. “I’m committed to putting you on full diaper duty for the next week.”
We somehow make it through tree pose, though Haddie’s entire row sways like a field of wheat in a storm because they aren‘t focusing on balance.
Martha Jean speaks as we transition into another pose. “Coach Weston, will you be offering more classes? I’d buy a lifetime membership.”
Lila laughs, throwing up her arms in defeat. Kate gives up completely and laughs into Luke’s hair while he smacks her shoulder. Evie topples sideways, giggling, and Cam drops to one knee because he’s laughing so hard.
