and Krissa.
“See you two soon.”
They walked out onto the porch. Jordan paused at the front door and glanced back at her.
“So yes, on the reunion?” he asked.
She smiled. “I’d like that.”
“Me, too. See you in a bit.”
He closed the door behind him. Lucky whined low in his throat. Daisy petted him.
“I’m with you, big guy. None of this makes sense to me, either.”
And while she appreciated that they would be doing something together, she couldn’t help wondering why they weren’t talking more. Or at all.
Soon, she promised herself. They would be in therapy and maybe then they could get things figured out. Because right now they were living a nonmarriage, which was bad enough, but what really scared her was the fact that every day that went by, she missed her husband just a little bit less.
* * *
Late morning on her day off, Sage lay on a yoga mat in her mother’s backyard. As she inhaled, she pulled in her core, raised her arms over her shoulders and pointed her toes, then slowly raised herself until she was in a perfect V shape. She held it for a slow count of three, then lowered herself back to the mat, midsection burning.
The air was warm, the trees provided shade. This was good, she thought, raising her arms again. She might have crawled back to LA in defeat, but she was getting her act together. Wallace had sent her a check for a thousand dollars, something he did once or twice a year. She not only appreciated the cash, but she liked the fact that he still thought of her. Wallace was the closest thing to a father that she’d ever had.
“You’re killing me, Sage.”
She sat up and saw Adam standing by the low fence between their yards.
“How am I supposed to concentrate when you’re doing Pilates ten feet away?”
She grinned. “You were inside. I didn’t think you’d notice.”
He chuckled. “Do I look dead? I don’t feel dead. Can you work out in the house?”
“There’s no room. Besides, I’m completely covered.”
“You’re wearing a tight tank top and leggings. I can see everything. It’s cruel. Take a class. Please.”
“Classes cost money.”
He shook his head. “Fine. We’ll take a drop-in class together, my treat. Maybe if I’m next to you, I won’t notice as much.”
She stood up and put her hands on her hips. “Are you telling me you actually do Pilates?”
“I hurt my back a few years ago. The physical therapist recommended it as a way to strengthen my muscles.” His smile returned. “Plus, I’m usually the only guy in class. It’s a good ratio. Meet you out front in twenty minutes.”
“You’re incredibly weird,” she said, but he was already gone.
She went inside and slipped on flip-flops before pulling on an oversize T-shirt and grabbing her bag. She went out front and saw Adam pulling out of the garage in an older white Mercedes two-seater convertible.
She got in the passenger side. “A very sweet ride.”
He smiled at her. “I thought you’d look good in it.”
“So do you.” She fastened her seat belt. “So you really do Pilates to pick up women?”
“Mostly for my back. It’s been nearly four years and it hasn’t bothered me at all.” He winked at her. “The women are just a bonus.”
He drove a couple of miles to a local studio and parked. He registered them both before paying for the class. There were about eight other clients, all women. A couple of them greeted him by name. Sage stored her bag, sandals and T-shirt in one of the open cubbies, then took a mat.
Fifty minutes later, she was sweating, sore and out of breath, but she felt good. Still lying on her back, waiting for her stomach muscles to stop quivering, she joined the group in calling out a thank-you to the instructor. Adam stood with far too little effort and held out his hand. She let him pull her to her feet.
At the cubbies, she slipped on her T-shirt, while he shrugged into a button-up Hawaiian shirt and pulled board shorts over his yoga shorts. He stepped into battered boat shoes before picking up his car keys.
“I’m starving,” he said. “Want to get something to eat?”
“Sure.”
Adam drove them to a little bistro just off Sunset, close to UCLA. They were seated at a shaded table on the back patio. There were Mexican pavers, climbing vines and a slight breeze.
“Perfection,” Sage breathed as she sat down, then tried not to wince when her thighs complained.
“It’s a great