"I haven't really watched the show for the last couple of seasons," admitted Sasha. "But while my mother might be the oldest one on the show, she's definitely the most experienced dancer. And she always seems to get results with whoever her partner is each season. When I spoke with her this past weekend, she told me she made the semifinals again."
Hayley didn't reply, merely taking a sip of her drink before picking up her phone yet again. Sasha half-wished her fiery, fearsome mother was actually here right now. Not only would Katya have made Hayley sorely regret the sly crack about her age, but she would have definitely put the snotty teenager in her place and insisted she put the damned phone away. There were times, thought Sasha reluctantly, that a girl really needed her mother, even a mother as unpredictable and slightly crazed as her own.
The awkward and at times uncomfortable dinner drew to a close soon thereafter, but not before Hayley got in one more dig, this one nowhere near as sly. Matthew had just paid the check, and glanced around the table to make sure everyone was finished with their food.
"Everyone set to go?" he asked in a deliberately cheery voice. "If so, we ought to head out so we can drop Sasha off at her place. She's got an early class to teach tomorrow. Hayley, you should go to one of her classes soon. Sasha is the best yoga teacher in San Francisco."
Sasha gave him a quizzical look. "Ah, and how do you know that? Given that you've never taken a yoga class in your life, much less one of mine."
He grinned teasingly, brushing his knuckles across her cheek. "Oh, I've read all the reviews on Yelp and Google. You've got five star averages on both, by the way."
Hayley scowled, clearly displeased by the attention her father was showering on his new girlfriend. "I don't like yoga," she muttered sullenly. "Too boring. Pilates is way better."
Matthew shook his head. "I've watched Sasha go through her practice several times, and there's nothing boring about it. You should see some of the stuff she can do, Hayley. Amazing. Here, let me show you."
He took out his phone and started scrolling through it at a dizzying speed. Before he could hand it across the table to Hayley, Sasha glimpsed a photo of herself that he'd evidently taken in secret, where she was in full splits and bending backwards over her leg, her hands wrapped around the ankle. The pose wasn't all that difficult or challenging, but it required tremendous flexibility, especially in the back and hamstrings.
But Hayley, unsurprisingly, wasn't impressed, and merely shrugged at the half dozen or so photos Matthew showed her. Casey, on the other hand, was practically agog and studied each photo with enthusiasm, which only further annoyed his sister.
"We should go," offered Sasha diplomatically as she reached for her bag, the one of brown and gold brocade she carried with her almost everywhere. It had probably cost less than the zipper on Hayley's pricey Prada purse, but Sasha wouldn't trade it for the world. Her father had bought the bag for her during a trip to Morocco, and it was one of her most treasured possessions.
Matthew hurried to pull the chair out for her, earning yet another dark glower from Hayley, but Sasha ignored the girl for once and smiled her thanks at him.
The drive back to her place was fairly quick, and made mostly in silence, with Sasha all too aware of the animosity being directed her way from the back seat. When Matthew got out of the car to open Sasha's door for her, Hayley muttered something beneath her breath that was indecipherable but undoubtedly rude. But when Matthew would have walked her to the front door, Sasha placed a hand on his forearm and shook her head.
"It's okay," she assured him. "I think your daughter is annoyed enough with the two of us for one evening. You don't need to stir the pot any longer. Besides, Chad and Julio are hosting a little soiree this evening, so unless you want them to drag you inside, it's probably best if you let me go in alone."
Matthew couldn't suppress a small shudder. He'd met her affable, sociable landlords on more than one occasion, and had even agreed to join a couple of their parties. He had been the only straight man present both times, and Sasha had taken pity on him after an even dozen of Chad and Julio's friends had tried to flirt with him.
"You've convinced me," he replied dryly. "And I'm sorry about tonight. Unfortunately, Hayley's manners have become even worse since I moved out, and I'm guessing Lindsey pretty much lets her and Casey do whatever they please. I'll have a talk with her tonight, let her know that I won't tolerate her being that rude to you ever again."