Chapter 2

“I may die running in this heat,” Luke said with a grin.

Max rolled his eyes. “Wuss.”

“You’ll regret that when you’re having to drag my dying, dehydrated carcass back, mate.”

“Stop whining and get your kit off.”

Something prickled inside Luke, but he brushed it aside and went to throw on his running gear. He sniffed his armpits and sprayed liberally all over.

They ran at a steady pace. Luke had gradually built his stamina, but was certain that Max humoured him and kept pace. Max had been in the army, so he was ridiculously fit and had run miles wearing combat gear and massive packs so Luke was pretty certain that the few miles they did was little more than a stroll for Max but he appreciated the support. In fact, Max had been pretty brilliant all round. He’d emailed him loads of tips on eating well, exercising, and once a week they hit the tarmac and ran. They didn’t talk much, they just ran. It was so relaxing to be with someone that didn’t want to talk incessantly about crap like most people did.

After a while Luke had to stop. He was going dizzy, his heart was pounding like crazy and sweat was running in his eyes.

“You okay?” Max said, running on the spot.

“Told you,” Luke wheezed holding onto his sides waiting for the spots to subside. “I’m seeing double.”

Max frowned even more than usual and took hold of Luke’s wrist, fingers on his pulse. “Shit, you’re not joking.” He stopped jogging on the spot and put his arm around Luke’s shoulders, steering him off the path to sit down on a low wall under the shade of a huge tree. “Drink,” he said and handed Luke his bottle as Luke had already drunk his.

“You need that.” Luke pushed the bottle back at Max who just opened it and held it to his lips. Luke gave in, took it, and had a drink. Max was sweating, but not really breathing heavily.

Luke heaved himself to his feet. “I’m fine now, come on lets…Fuck.” Everything tilted and his head swam. Next thing he knew he was being held tightly by Max.

“Hey, hey…” Max held onto him. “It’s okay, I’ve got you.” Luke wrapped his arms around him and clung. His heart was hammering and he couldn’t see straight. Max fished in his pocket and pulled out his phone.

“What are you doing?” slurred Luke.

“Calling an ambulance.”

“Don’t be daft, I’m just knackered and dehydrated. Call a cab, huh?”

“I’d rather get you checked.”

“Naw, just overheated. Come on, let’s get home.”

Luke felt Max’s hesitation and breathed a sigh of relief when he dialled a cab and not an ambulance. He felt a big enough idiot as it was without being carted off to the ER.

The taxi pulled up and Max bundled him in. Luke came around quickly and felt better for just sitting still in the aircon. He was leaning against Max who kept patting his knee and then running his thumb over it. It was only a few miles, but his breath was evening out and the feel of Max beside him was calming.

“My place,” Max mumbled as he paid the driver and they got out.

“I am fine, honest.”

“My place or hospital.” He stood on the path as the taxi drove away, hands on hips.

Luke opened his mouth, but decided he couldn’t be arsed arguing. “Okay.”

Max opened the door and ushered him inside. He had never been in Max’s house before. The house was much like his, the front door opened straight into the living room but where Luke’s was a bit haphazard and messy, Max’s was like some sort of show house. It was spotless, minimalist, and not a thing was out of place. Not a cup, a bottle, a magazine…nothing. It was as though the man had no possessions.

“Lie down.” Max indicated the long grey sofa with red cushions on it and headed for the kitchen. Luke hardly dared sit down and mess it up let alone lie, but he stretched out and gingerly put one of the cushions under his head, then jumped up again, took off his trainers, and arranged them side by side under the sofa. He lay back down and then worried about whether or not his feet smelled as bad as they felt. He heard Max run upstairs, then back down, and he came into the room holding a pillow and a tall fan. He set the fan so it wafted cool air over him, and exchanged the red cushion for a pillow.

“You don’t need to do this,” Luke said as he settled into the pillow.