Switch (Landry Family 3)

“Something like that,” he mumbles, turning in a full circle. “There are mirrors everywhere. This studio could be used for another purpose, if you follow me.”

I smack his arm, making him laugh. “Focus, Graham.”

“Okay, okay. What first?”

“Just sit and stretch out. Get loose.”

He sits and looks at me.

“Don’t act so excited,” I say, sitting next to him. “You’ll wear out your energy before we get started.”

“I’ll try to rein it in.”

He mimics my movements. For someone in such great shape, he’s as stiff as a board. It’s almost comical, but I don’t comment on it. I just enjoy having him near me outside the office. Besides, he’s clearly out of his comfort zone enough without my prodding.

“This is yoga?” he asks, stretching one arm overhead. “This is stupid.”

I hop to my feet and get behind him. “No,” I say, taking his sinewy arm in my hand. “This is yoga.” I turn his palm and pull his arm farther out and up.

“Fuck,” he grimaces. “Easy there, tiger.”

“See? You yoga just fine.” I take his other arm and manipulate it the other way. “How does that feel?”

“Wonderful.”

It feels wonderful to me too to have him in my hands. To be able to touch him and have a reason. “Let’s Downward Facing Dog.”

“I hope that’s a pseudonym for doggy style.”

“No,” I laugh, taking a big step away from him before I rip off my clothes and bend over in front of him. “This.” I pose in an inverted V and look at him. “Do this.”

“Nah,” he grins, sitting back. “I’ll just watch you. The view is phenomenal.”

I fall to my knees. “The deal was you do yoga. Not watch me do yoga.”

“I’m here. I yoga’d.”

“No, you stretched. Kind of.” I flash him a look. “Your body is so stiff.”

“I thought you liked me stiff?”

We grin at one another, but the longer we hold it, the heavier everything suddenly feels. A chasm has been dug between us, a crater we can’t overcome. Things aren’t as easy as they used to be.

“I’m sorry, Mallory,” he says, sitting upright. His arms over his bent knees, he looks at me.

“It’s okay.” I pop up in a plank and focus on my breathing. “We both know what it is . . .” I drop onto the floor, facing away from him. “And what it’s not.”

“I wish I could be something different.”

“No. Don’t, Graham. You’re brilliant how you are.”

He moves to the front of me so I can’t look anywhere but at him. “Can I tell you something?”

“Sure. Unless it’s something like you don’t want me to go to the wedding because Joy has already committed to letting me borrow a dress. That’s no easy feat, my friend.”

“I didn’t consider you didn’t have a dress.”

“Oh, I do,” I lie. “I just wanted hers.”