Free A New Resolution by Ceri Grenelle

pausing to roll up her mat. This would be Lore’s cue to come to his aid and act as though they would be late for some innocuous plans if they stayed behind to chat for too long. Lore never understood why he didn’t tell the instructor he was gay. That would turn her away right quick. After asking him that question one Sunday a few weeks back, he’d smiled, his dimples standing out against his tan skin highlighting his boyish charm, and simply stated that it would be a lie as he was bisexual. The way he’d smiled when he told her that little tidbit was almost like an invitation, a coy little dare as he waited to see how she’d react. She’d smiled politely back, as she usually did when trying to hide an overwhelming emotion, and asked why he didn’t say that. He refused to tell the instructor that information as well as it sometimes spurred the lusty women to pursue him with an even greater fervor, thinking they could persuade him back toward the fairer sex.
    These women wouldn’t think themselves the fairer sex after seeing Kieran’s hot lawyer boyfriend. Good gracious, Lore had trouble stopping herself from drooling on him when they last spoke at the coffee shop, his eyes nearly yearning for her to say yes to their dinner invitation before she’d left. She’d wanted to say yes; everything inside her heart and disorderly body had begged her brain to just let her say yes. But where would it have gone? They would have had a nice dinner, and then it would have been over, the men going home with each other and Lore left alone, craving them even more. No matter how much they seemed to like flirting with her, Nolan and Kieran were in a committed relationship. It was clear as the dimples on Kieran’s face that they loved each other with their whole hearts and souls. That fact alone made them more appealing to her, yet at the same time all the further out of her reach. No, she couldn’t let herself spend any more time with them, as with each encounter she felt her heart expand and tighten with that knowing, that special ache telling her soul she had a crush…or heaven forbid, something more.
    So this week Lore decided she wouldn’t help Kieran, no matter how guilty she felt about it. She was too off balance, especially after the exertion of the class, which only helped in crumbling her barriers. She needed to back away from Kieran. Maybe even stop coming to the classes altogether or find a new studio. A sexy bisexual artist and his sexy bisexual lawyer boyfriend were not part of her plan. She needed to stick to it. If she did nothing else worthwhile in her life, she needed to do this one thing to prove she was nothing like her father. It was all she had.
    Kieran set his big brown eyes on her expectantly, waiting for her to rescue him from the instructor. Instead of running over to chat, she quietly rolled her mat up and sent an apologetic smile his way. He frowned and opened his mouth to ask a question right as the instructor swooped in to make her move. Lore used it as the perfect escape. She walked briskly toward the locker room, quickly showering to wash away the sweat and changing into a simple jeans-and-cami casual outfit. It was Sunday; she wasn’t too worried about what the shoppers at the local supermarket would think of her ensemble.
    Weaving her damp black hair into a tight braid, she peeked outside the locker room door to make sure the coast was clear and made her way to the parking lot. To her confusing mix of disappointment and excitement, Kieran was there, leaning against her car with his arms crossed. He looked a bit put out.
    “You are in big trouble, Lore Beyer.”
    Oh, yes, she was in trouble. He’d showered as well and changed into a perfectly fitted pair of jeans and a simple green cotton T-shirt. His curly brown hair was the same dark chocolate color of his eyes, and it had taken on a sort of wispy, frizzy quality after the quick wash. He looked even more handsome than usual. Men always looked