North started to laugh harder. The intense heat of the room seemed to gather in North’s skin, and Shaw’s hands felt like they were on fire from cradling North’s hips, trying to correct his pose. But Shaw couldn’t let go; if he let go, he’d have to step back, and then everybody would see.

People were starting to look.

“Stop laughing,” he whispered harshly.

“I didn’t know I had that kind of effect on you.”

“Don’t flatter yourself.”

“I thought this kind of spontaneous stuff stopped in sixth grade.”

“I hate you. I hate you so much.”

“That’s what your mouth says, but your—”

“North!”

With what looked like a massive effort, North swallowed his chuckles. He glanced around the room and looked up at Shaw. “Let me fall.”

“What?”

“I’ll hit the ground. Everybody’ll look at me for a minute, and while they’re distracted, you grab your towel. And my towel. And just, you know, hold them in front of yourself so nobody realizes you’re a pervert.”

“I’m not a pervert.”

“A sex addict.”

“I’m not—North, stop it.”

“Maybe you just have an exhibitionist streak.”

“I’m never touching you again. Are you happy?”

“Not as happy as your little guy.”

Shaw shoved, and North rolled into the fall, tumbling across the floor until he came to a stop inches from the glowering librarian. She made a cat noise, arching her back like an alley tom wanting a fight, and North smiled and waved up at her. Then he got to his feet.

Lunging, Shaw grabbed the towels and dangled them in front of himself like a bullfighter. He stared miserably at North.

“Sorry,” North said, touching his shoulder. “Still healing. I guess I tried this too soon.”

“Are you all right?” the instructor asked, in a tone that made it clear that North had confirmed some unspoken opinion she held about him.

“Just going home. I’ll put some ice on it.”

North looked like he felt like riffing on this—he probably had a few things to say about the heat, about all these women sweating through their Lululemons, about the best way to stop a raging boner—but Shaw grabbed him and hustled him out the door.

“All right, all right,” North said as they stumbled out onto the sidewalk and the October chill. “Stop shoving.”

Shaw slunk towards the car.

“You’re not mad at me, are you?”

“No.”

“I wasn’t trying to be sexy.”

“I know.”

When they reached the Mercedes, North caught Shaw’s arm. “Nobody saw.”

“It’s not that. I just . . . I’ve wanted to do that with you for a long time, and I messed it up.”