Kelsey dips daintily into the pool while JP dunks his head in first and then flops the rest of the way. Huxley and Lottie enter by the stairs, taking it slow while holding hands.

“I’ve heard nothing but great things about these classes,” Kelsey says while JP swoops his arm around her waist.

“Yeah, me too,” I say, eliciting a pinch from Myla. “What?” I whisper. “Have to make conversation.”

“Oh, here is the instructor now,” JP says as a lady wearing leggings and a sports bra walks up with a Bluetooth speaker.

“Hey, couples,” she says in a cheery voice. “Thank you for joining me this morning. If you would so kindly pick a portion of the pool for yourselves where you can find privacy, I’m going to set up and be right with you.”

“What’s happening?” Myla asks.

“I have no fucking clue, but I just want you to know, whatever it is, I didn’t know this was happening. Please believe me.” Panic laces my voice because it seems like whatever we’re going to do will be intimate.

“I believe you, Ryot,” she says. “I’m not mad.”

“I know, I just . . . I don’t know what’s happening, and I don’t want you thinking I planned this.”

“I know,” she says. “But it seems like we’re in this now, so I guess we need to find a spot in the pool that’s more private. How about over here?” She motions to a curve in the pool, where a low-hanging palm offers some privacy.

“Yeah, that works.” We head over there, and then both lean against the pool wall as I watch the other couples find spots while clinging tightly to each other.

“My name is Mel, and I’m going to be your guide this morning,” the instructor says as she sits on a yoga mat at the edge of the pool and switches on her light, instrumental music. “We’re here to reconnect with our partners. I’m going to be quiet most of the time, just giving you emotional cues when necessary.”

“Oh shit,” I whisper, my muscles tensing. “Uh . . . Myla, we can leave.”

“No, we can’t,” she says.

“Yes, I can make an excuse. I’ll tell them that I forgot I have a meeting.”

“You’re going to lie about a meeting when you’re in business with these guys? You don’t think they aren’t going to ask you what the meeting is about?”

“Could be about sponsorship stuff.”

“Okay, everyone, take in a deep breath and then get comfortable with your partner,” Mel says in a quiet tone.

Panic races up my spine. “Here, we can just sneak out right here, and I’ll explain later.”

“It’s fine, Ryot,” she says. “Maybe she can’t see us over here, and we can just—”

“Behind the palm over there, are you guys able to hear me?”

“Uh, yeah,” I say and then clear my throat. “Actually, we—”

“We’re just trying to figure out how to get comfortable,” Myla says over me.