“The better question is who are those guys following you around?” Georgie asks from his position on the other side of me. “And will they come role play bodyguard with me?”

Solana and I both snort, and Georgie gracefully moves his body through the air, following the instructor’s directions as we all transform to stag pose.

Unfortunately for me, it appears the gig is up when it comes to Georgie. Judge has started to piece it together since our arrival when he first noticed him in his spandex shorts and a tank top. But now, it’s impossible not to notice Georgie has been practically drooling over the IVI guards with their ultra-serious expressions.

When I glance at Judge, his eyes move from Georgie to me, and I give him an amused smile. He shakes his head as if to let me know I’m going to pay for goading him unnecessarily later.

The rest of class passes quickly, far too quickly, and I’m disappointed when it’s over. I had forgotten how good it felt to come here. To be with my friends and move my body this way. I’m hopeful Judge will let me do it again now that I seem to be earning some of his trust, but I’m also worried he only brought me here today as another distraction from whatever is really going on.

Solana seems to sense the shift in my mood, and she takes it upon herself to fix it, the way she has a habit of doing.

“Judge, you haven’t seen my shop yet.” She offers me a coy smile as she tosses her gym bag over her shoulder. “And I have it on good authority that we have one of the best coffee shops in the world right next door. The secret is chicory, of course.”

Judge moves his gaze to me, and though I’m silent, he can see that I’m hopeful. I don’t expect him to give in, honestly, but he does.

“I suppose we have some more time before we have to be home.”

I sneak my hand over to his and give it a gentle squeeze of gratitude even though it seems somewhat ridiculous. I don’t like requiring permission to do these things, but I’m used to it, and I’m also grateful that he’s giving me more small freedoms.

We don’t bother with the car when we exit onto the street. Instead, we walk the two blocks to Solana’s shop on foot. It feels good to be back among these familiar places, but I can feel the strain radiating from Judge as he scans the street the entire time, checking for threats.