Page 134 of Men in Shorts

“You did what you needed.”

“But what am I going to do?”

“I don’t know, Andrew. But whatever it is, I’ll support you. Not financially, of course, as I don’t think I could keep you in what you’d consider a proper lifestyle. But in every other way, I’ll be there. On one condition.”

“What’s that?”

“Show me a yoga pose.”

Andrew blinked at him. “Sorry?”

“What’s that one we do at the end, the one I said was my favorite cos it’s so easy?”

Somehow the word popped into his reeling head. “Balasana. Child’s pose.”

“That’s it.” Colin dropped to the floor on his hands and knees. “Gonnae remind me how it’s done?”

Steadying himself against the sofa, Andrew knelt beside Colin. First he sat back on his heels, then extended forward, arms out, until his forehead met the carpet, which was quite clean.Thank God I had a panic attack in a decent venue.

Colin stretched out beside him. “I know I’m meant to keep my arse on my heels, but it won’t stay. Guess my quad flexibility needs work.”

Andrew shivered as the ripples of heat flowing over his head suddenly changed to chills. His stomach began to unclench, but his eyes seemed ready to burst. “Is this what being stabbed was like? The pain? Your own breath feeling like the enemy?”

“Honestly, I don’t remember much pain,” Colin said. “Must’ve been in shock. Or maybe I blocked the memory.”

“Out there in the restaurant, I felt I could die.”

“God, Andrew…I’m so sorry I walked away from you.”

“I was being a shit. Don’t blame yourself.”

“But I’m so good at it.” Colin sighed. “I wish you’d told me you were feeling more dire this last week.”

“It’s not as if you didn’t ask a million times. I didn’t want to disappoint you. And now I’ve made it all worse.”

“Naw, you’ve not. If anything?—”

“They’re talking about me right now on the other side of that door. In an hour it’ll be all over the internet, and once again you’ll be dragged into my drama.”

“I don’t care.”

“Icare. Colin, you’ve already paid a massive price for being my boyfriend. You almost died for me.”

“I know.” His touch on Andrew’s arm was as soft as his tone was firm. “I also know you’d do the same for me.”

“In a heartbeat.”

“Well, then. There you go.” Shifting slightly, Colin sighed again. “Och, I forgot how relaxing this position is.”

Andrew dug his fingertips into the carpet, letting the rough fibers anchor him to this world.

“I’ve not practiced yoga much lately,” Colin said. “My training’s been more, I don’t know, athletic. Lifting weights, running sprints. Trying to get back to match fitness.”

“Uh-huh.” Andrew felt his pulse begin to slow. Behind his eyelids, the dancing spots went from a foxtrot to a slow waltz.

“I was so focused on getting tough and fast, I forgot how much yoga built up my strength.”

“You’ve always been strong,” Andrew said, “even when you were weak.”

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