The house was full of groans and grunts.
Damon was struggling through yet another stretch, his limbs bent into an awkward position.
"Don't you do yoga for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu?" Svetlana teased, glancing over at him with an amused grin.
"I do," he replied, straining to hold his balance. "But what the hell are these moves?"
The way his arms and legs were twisted right now made no sense at all, and he couldn't keep his balance.
Svetlana stepped in, gently guiding him with one hand on his shoulder and the other helping his arm into place, her touch steadying him as he tried to mimic her effortless pose.
Damon let out a huff, shooting her a look somewhere between frustration and admiration. "You make this look way too easy."
Svetlana smiled and moved into a difficult pose.
She lifted one leg high behind her and reached back to grab her ankle while balancing on the other leg.
Her torso arched forward in a perfect line, creating a deep curve through her back as she held her leg with ease, her gaze focused and steady.
Her free arm extended forward, fingers reaching outward, as if grounding herself in the air.
She held the pose with a calm face and barely seemed to break a sweat.
It looked like she was strong and flexible at the same time.
Damon watched, wide-eyed and slightly in awe. "How... how are you even doing that?" he muttered, feeling his own muscles strain just from looking at her.
"Ahh, I'm done," Damon groaned, dropping down to sit on the ground, still captivated by Svetlana's impressive agility.
Her balance and flexibility were on another level, and he couldn't help but shake his head in admiration.
He reached for his water bottle, taking a long drink as he watched her effortlessly flow through another stretch.
They'd started the morning with a jog, and he'd managed to keep the lead there, pushing ahead with ease.
Joey groaned, his expression a mix of irritation and embarrassment. "Let's just say things got... out of hand." He didn't elaborate, and Damon's curiosity only deepened.
"Come on, don't leave me hanging. Did you guys fight?" Damon's face grew serious.
Both Joey and Ash were his friends, and they only knew each other because of him.
If something had gone down between them, he felt responsible, like he should step in or at least figure out what had happened.
Joey sighed and took a seat next to Damon, running a hand through his disheveled hair. "Well... not a fight exactly."
Damon frowned, leaning in slightly. "Then what?"
Joey hesitated, his gaze dropping to the counter as he tried to piece together an explanation. "It was more like... a disagreement. Things got heated, and maybe I pushed a few buttons I shouldn't have. Next thing I know, he's a little more... expressive with his hands than usual," he said, tapping his bruised cheek with a wry smile.
Damon narrowed his eyes, suspicion flickering across his face. Joey's explanation felt... off, like he was leaving something out.
Next to him, Svetlana stayed quiet, her curiosity mirroring his own as she watched Joey intently.
Joey shifted uncomfortably, taking another sip from his glass.
Finally, after a pause, he spoke, barely meeting their eyes. "He may have found me and Ashley... uh, making out in the club."
Silence fell over the room. Damon blinked, processing the unexpected confession.
He glanced at Svetlana, who looked equally taken aback, her brows slightly raised.
Damon looked at Joey, his confusion evident. "You and Ashley... together? Joey, bro–"
Joey cut him off, his expression unusually earnest. "I know what you're thinking... but this is serious, okay? Maybe it didn't start that way, but now... I guess we're here. And it's serious."
Damon stared at him, the weight of Joey's words sinking in. He'd never seen Joey like this, genuinely committed.
Taking a breath, Damon nodded slowly, trying to make sense of it. "Alright... if it's serious, then I get it. Just... you know how Ash is, it's his sister."
Joey nodded, rubbing his bruised cheek. "Trust me, I got the message loud and clear."