“How’s that?”
“Almost as good, thank you,” Julia said, kissing Hollis.
Even though it was July, the fireplace gave the barn cozy vibes, and I even put a blanket on my lap.
I passed the rest of my evening that way, even though my mind kept drifting to what might happen tomorrow with Piper. I’d played out multiple scenarios in my head, but there really was no knowing what she would say.
I hoped she didn’t fire me but that was a possibility. I would absolutely have to refund her, but that wasn’t as big a deal. I hoped she wasn’t upset with me, and if she was, I would absolutely tell her that she kissed me first. That might be petty, but it was the truth.
As long as she didn’t drag my name through the mud, we could part on good terms, and I would never darken her doorstep again. Worst case scenario.
That worst case scenario made me physically ill every time I thought about it. I hoped beyond hope that it didn’t come to that. I didn’t want Piper to hate me. That I couldn’t handle.
River called me and I decided to go back to my room at the farmhouse to talk to her, since I couldn’t have privacy in the barn.
“Hey, is everything okay?” I asked. It was a little late to be calling.
“Yeah, I just had this feeling that I should call you and I went with it,” she said. I didn’t think River was psychic or anything, but this wasn’t the first time she had called me when I needed her.
“Well, you were right,” I said. “I wasn’t going to tell you, but… I messed up. I mean, I think I did.” It was all still so hazy.
“Okay, can you elaborate?”
I really shouldn’t talk to River before I talked to Piper, but I just had to get this out. I needed someone else’s reaction.
“Okay. So. I have this private yoga client. And I had a little crush on her. No big deal. But last night we were alone, and she kissed me, and I kissed her back. I didn’t plan it or anything, but it happened. And she said we’d talk before her private session tomorrow and I’m so afraid she’s going to fire me and tell everyone what happened.” All of my words came out in a rush.
River was silent for a moment as I finished.
“Wow. That’s a lot of information to take in at once. So she kissed you? Did you have any idea that she felt that way?” she asked.
“No! It came completely out of nowhere. I mean…” I thought about it. Had Piper been flirting with me and I just hadn’t seen it? I didn’t know.
“So she might have been sending you signals that you were missing,” River said.
“But she didn’t say anything,” I said. “And then she was kissing me.”
“I have to ask one thing: how was it?”
“Life-altering,” I said, answering honestly.
“Wow, that’s some kiss, MK,” she said with a laugh.
“It was. It really was.” A kiss of a lifetime.
“So maybe it’s all going to be okay. I mean, I don’t see her kissing you and then turning around and firing you, but you never know what people are going to do,” she said.
“Isn’t that the truth,” I said. “So now I’m all twisted up and stressed.”
“I can imagine. But I’m going to tell you not to think about all the ways it could go wrong. I want you to think about what happens if things go right.” Oh. I hadn’t really considered that. I’d only had worst case scenarios rattling around in my brain.
What was the ideal scenario? Obviously, getting to kiss Piper again. That was at the top. But if she wanted to continue kissing, then I couldn’t continue teaching her yoga in a professional capacity.
We couldn’t have both.
“I won’t know anything until I talk to her,” I said.
“Would you like me to distract you?” River asked.
“Yes, please.”
So River told me funny stories and updated me on reality show drama, and yoga studio drama until I was yawning and ready for bed.
“Thanks, friend,” I said.
“Anytime. I’m here for you. And you’d better give me updates tomorrow.”
“I will,” I said.
We hung up and I set my alarm and plugged my phone in to charge.
Tomorrow was going to change everything.
My stomach was in knots and I could barely choke down breakfast the next morning, but I ate as much as I could and tried not to look too panicked.
Julia looked like she was going to confront me, but then she didn’t.
“You have a good day,” she said, squeezing my shoulder on her way out.
“I will,” I said, even though that was still up in the air. I’d know soon.
On my way to Piper’s house, I tried to organize what I wanted to say to her, planning for all scenarios. I’d also brought her a juice I’d made, as kind of a peace offering. It was also a repayment for the snacks from Sunday night.
“Hey,” Natalie said, letting me in. I had also brought her a juice so I wouldn’t look too weird bringing one to Piper.
“Oh, you’re so sweet. I have to run out, but I’m going to take this with me.” I wondered if Piper had given her tasks to do outside of the house so we could have privacy together. That made sense. My stomach flipped over slowly.
“See you later,” I said, waving goodbye.
The walk to the gym felt like it was both too long and too short.
She was in the gym in her yoga clothes, with her mat out as usual. That was a relief.
“Hey,” I said, and she stood up from the mat. I think she’d been meditating.
“Hey,” she said, coming toward me, but stopping before she got too close.
“I made you a juice,” I said, thrusting it out in front of me.
“Oh, thank you,” she said, taking the bottle from me and then setting it down on the weight bench.
“We should probably talk,” she said, gesturing for me to come in and sit down.
“We should,” I said.
I sat down on the floor just at the edge of her mat and clutched my trembling hands together.
“First, I want to apologize,” she said. “Kissing you was completely inappropriate. I don’t know what came over me.” She shook her head. “That’s for me to work out. But I needed you to know that I am sorry, and I understand if you don’t want to teach me anymore.” Wait. She was apologizing? I didn’t think that was the way this would go.
“You’re not the only one in the wrong. I kissed you back,” I said. “And I’m your teacher. I should be the one with the moral compass.”
She flinched at the words “moral compass.” Maybe that sounded too harsh.
“It was just one kiss,” I said. “It doesn’t have to be a bigger deal than that.”
“Right,” she said. “One kiss shouldn’t ruin everything.”
“Agreed,” I said.
Wow. We were on the same page.
“So, can we pretend that it was just a quick lapse in judgment and continue with our sessions?” Piper asked.
“Absolutely,” I said. I should feel relief that we were going to continue our yoga teacher/student platonic relationship, but I didn’t.