As soon as Amber had announced at the end of a particularly invigorating vinyasa class that she was looking for an instructor to join her, Lou had grabbed the opportunity. And now here she sat.

“Don’t worry about it.” She flashed Amber her most convincing smile, hoping it was enough to trick Amber into believing what she said was true. Amber with the sixth sense for when someone was feeling a little off kilter. Some mornings, when Lou arrived at Glow after a bad night’s sleep, caused by the circumstances which had led her to end up in her old room at her parents’ house, Amber would cast one glance at her and ask, “Bad night?” Before Lou had even said a single word. “It was a long time ago and she obviously didn’t recognize me. It’s not as if we were close or anything.” An understatement if there ever was one.

Micky returned to the table and said, “Jo tells me Mia has an MBA. Meaning she possesses valuable business knowledge neither you nor I do. Should I ask her about that online advertising problem? Maybe it’s just something silly we’ve been missing.”

Amber pondered this for a moment. “I guess it doesn’t hurt to ask, but make sure to offer her enough free classes in return for her counsel.”

“In return she will get a few invaluable pointers about working at the Pink Bean. She will sort of be taking my place, after all. A position I held for quite some time.”

Oh great, Lou thought. Just like that the conversation had drifted back to Mia. Whatever business conversation Amber and Micky were planning to conduct with her, she hoped it wouldn’t bring Mia into Glow—and she hoped even more that Mia wasn’t the yoga type. Lou was unsure of her reaction if Mia showed up to one of her classes.

“Yes, Micky, you are a true wunderkind. It took you a long time to get there, but here you are at last, at the tender age of forty-six. Part of the work force. Making the economy grow. Making Glow run like clockwork.”

“Speaking of clockwork. I should really get back. And so should you, Amber. Your next class is an hour away, Lou, so if you would be so kind as to invite Mia to a free yoga class at a time of her choosing, and slip her my number while you’re at it.”

“What?” How did Lou get involved in asking Mia for anything at all? She hadn’t even opened her mouth.

“Besides, you might get lucky. She was making eyes at you the entire time she and Kristin stood here earlier. You didn’t notice?”

“They went to school together,” Amber said, making Lou doubt the existence of her sixth sense. “Maybe she did recognize you, Lou.”