New York | An Original Ed Sheeran Fanfiction

Chapter 11

Between work, traveling for work, and the impromptu visit to see Ed, it's been ages since I've been able to practice yoga and man, I can feel it. I'd been able to teach some classes, but even those had been few and far between. I'm stressed and tense, physically and mentally. Ashleigh says I'm self-sabotaging, and she's probably not wrong. You do that, Spence.

Ed was in town for the premiere of a documentary about him that his cousin, Murray, had filmed. I'd managed to free up some time while he was here but had decided not to attend the movie. We – okay, mostly I - had decided that we weren't ready for public appearances together. Getting papped was one thing but putting us on display for the whole world was an entirely different kettle of fish - and it was one that I wasn't ready to face yet.

So I decided that I would take advantage of his absence and the free time to teach the last yoga class of the night in order to get some time in on my own mat. Letting the studio assistants know my plan, I leave them to close and make my way back to the hot room.

*

I've been mentally spinning out since getting home from Germany. I'm really into Ed and think that we could have something special, but there's this little voice in the back of my mind that keeps reminding me that I'd broken up with Logan to be on my own, to get to know myself outside of a relationship.

And then you went and jumped into one with literally the first man you bumped into.

On impulse, I re-light the candles placed around the room and turn the lights off before taking my place on my mat. Standing in front of the mirror in the silence of the hot room, I take a few deep breaths, centering myself. I can feel the stillness washing over me, my muscles relaxing as my mind lets go of everything - at least for the next hour. Being on my mat always feels like coming home in a way that nothing else does.

Except Ed. That little voice in the back of my mind really likes to fuck with me.

Letting go of that thought, I concentrate on my breathing and work my way through the opening poses, allowing my mind to go delightfully blank. I sink my hips to get deeper into Eagle Pose. God, my hips are tight. Guess I know where I carry all my stress.

My eyes are closed as I rise and move to the other side, crossing my right leg over my left and sinking into a squat. The room is hot, easily 95 degrees, and I can feel a fine sheen of sweat covering my body; I'm more relaxed than I've been in weeks.

The sound of the door handle turning startles me a little, but I stay as I am, assuming that one of the assistants has forgotten that I'm here and came to clean up the room. When a few seconds pass, and I don't hear the door closing, I come back to standing, now dripping sweat, and open my eyes. Looking in the mirror, I can see Ed, and not one of the staff, standing just inside the room.

"Hiya. Jess let me in. I don't want to interrupt; mind if I stay, though?" The heat of the room is already fogging his glasses.

I smile and shake my head in answer. Ed grins back and makes his way to a raised platform in the far corner of the room, gesturing for me to carry on. He settles himself in and pulls out his phone.

He's back early. I'd expected that I would beat him back to my apartment and be asleep before he got in from celebrating with Murray and the gang. I'm happy to see him, of course, but I'm also a little annoyed that my solitude has been interrupted. Ed has been a little clingy since he arrived a few days ago, barely letting me out of his sight.

Spencer. You live alone, you have plenty of solitude. And this beautiful man is only here for another day. Get your shit together. Deep breath.