Page 68 of Salto

I stared harder at the ceiling.

He pointed to my abdomen. “Now I want you to breathe. And think about breathing from here, not your chest.”

I tried it, sucking in a breath.

I felt my shoulders rise.

Immediately, I knew I wasn’t doing it right. His expression said it all. His brow furrowed, and his green eyes showed he was completely unimpressed with my attempt.

“Not up, think about it expanding beneath your ribs,” he said.

I inhaled, trying to focus on not breathing through my chest but down lower. It was an awkward feeling.

“A little better,” he said.

“How will this help me exactly?” I asked, and he let out a sharp laugh.

“Your lack of trust in me is showing again, Red.”

“Can you blame me? I'm lying here just breathing.”

He sighed and reached up to tie his hair back. I watched as he gathered the loose strands into a small bun. After he was done securing his hair, he reached out, his palm settling lightly against my abdomen.

Every muscle in my body seized up at his touch.

“That,” he said, giving me an exasperated smile, “is exactly what not to do.”

His other hand slid beneath me, resting against my lower back. “You’re tightening up.”

Okay...now I wasn't breathing at all.

“If you learn to breathe, you learn how to control the panic that pain brings to your nervous system. Breathing can help you regulate and dissipate the tightness.”

I looked at his hand resting on my stomach. His sleeves were rolled up, and I found myself momentarily distracted by the swirling black ink on his right arm.

His fingers lightly tapped my stomach.

“Red.”

My eyes snapped up to his.

“Breathe,” he said.

Stop sucking all the freaking oxygen out of the room then.

Or at least look ugly in a man bun.

Please.

“Sorry,” I mumbled, flushing and forcing myself to breathe in and out as steadily as possible, trying to slowly expand through my abdomen.

“Think about relaxing the areas you naturally keep tight with every breath.”

I tried. It was hard to let go of the tension. I didn’t realize just how much I'd been tightening my abs and lower back, like… constantly.

“You’re still not fully relaxing.” His jaw tightened, a flicker of frustration crossing his face. “Watch me.”

I looked up, meeting his gaze.