The words had just popped out, but now that he’d said them, it made perfect sense. They’d always planned on going to uni together and sharing, but then Alex had decided to do an apprenticeship at his dad’s garage and day release at the local college instead. But there was nothing to stop them now. Except… Riley didn’t look all that keen. “What’s up with your face? I think it’d be great.”
“Yeah, me too, but I’m not sure I can afford anything on what I earn at the minute.”
Oh.Alex didn’t earn a great deal yet either, but surely between them…. “Well, it can’t hurt to look.”
Riley smiled at him. “I guess not.”
Two pints later and Alex had a nice buzz going. He wouldn’t have any more after this one with having to start work early, but he was content to nurse the last half, anyway. “So, you going over to Wales on the sixteenth?”
Riley rolled his eyes. “Yeah. Abi persuaded me.”
Alex laughed. “Yeah, she said she was going to.”
“She even asked my mum for time off.”
“Well, at least it saves you the job.”
Riley shrugged, then tipped his glass in agreement. “Shame you can’t come.” He grinned, and Alex knew what was coming next. “What’s the point in working for your dad if you can’t get time off when you want it?”
“Yeah, I know. How terrible of him to expect me to have to give ample notice like everyone else.” They both laughed. “I’m surprised your mum agreed, though. Isn’t she going to be like super busy that week?”
“She says it’s not too bad, and I think Carol wanted a few more hours anyway. I don’t think she would’ve agreed if she couldn’t cope.”
“Good point.” Alex sighed. The thought of the others going without him made something ache inside. Especially as it was so close to Christmas. “I wish I didn’t have to work. I bet it’ll snow this time.”
“That’s what Abi said. It was her winning argument.”
Alex smiled at that. “I’m not surprised.” Riley was ridiculously excited by snow. Alex finished the last of his pint and set his empty glass down next to Riley’s. “You ready to go?”
Riley yawned widely and Alex laughed. “I’ll take that as a yes.”
After putting on their coats, they headed for the door. Alex hissed when they got outside. “Fuck me, it’s cold!”
“It’s December, what d’you expect?” Riley bumped his shoulder and waved his gloved hands in front of him. “You’re just not prepared for it, as usual.” He dug into his other pocket and fished out a second pair of warm-looking black gloves. “Here, put these on.”
“Did you bring them ’specially for me?” Alex took them with a fond smile. Every year Riley badgered him about proper winter attire, and yet still Alex ended up borrowing Riley’s.
Riley shrugged. “I knew you’d forget.”
“Thanks.”
Riley waved him off as though it was nothing. “Bring your own next time.”
“Yeah, yeah.” Alex would forget again, and they both knew it. With his hands now considerably warmer, he rocked back on his heels and met Riley’s gaze. “You up to much this weekend?” He licked his lips where they were a bit chapped from the cold.
Riley looked up at the night sky and shrugged. “Not sure. Might hang out with Charlie. But you can come, if you want?”
“Text me when you’ve made plans.”
“Okay.” Riley hesitated as though there was something more he wanted to say, but with the tiniest shake of his head, he turned in the direction he needed to go. “See you later, then.”
“Yeah. Night, Ri.”
“Night.”
With a smile and another look Alex couldn’t decipher, Riley turned and walked away. When had he become so hard to read?
Alex mulled it over as he walked home, his coat collar turned up against the biting wind.
Maybe we’re growing apart?
The thought sent an unpleasant chill through him that had nothing to do with the surrounding air. But that couldn’t be right. Now Riley was back home, they saw more of each other than they had for the last four years.
Maybe too much?
That thought didn’t feel right either. They’d always hung out, more so when they were both single, as they were now. God, it was probably nothing, and he was just overreacting as usual.
Alex pushed it all to the back of his mind and walked a little quicker towards home. The thought of his room and his bed waiting for him spurred him on.
