“You’re early,” Jag said as he spun slowly around the pole.
“I wanted to see if you were okay,” Kyrone said honestly. “And I’ve got a couple of things for you. From Jared,” he added quickly as he swung his bag off his shoulder.
Jag slid to the ground, though he kept one arm looped around the pole. He was breathing heavily, and his eyes were wide. “What things?”
Kyrone went to sit on one of the sofas. He put his bag on the floor, unzipped it, and carefully removed the things Jared had given him. He’d used the front and back of an old cereal box, held together with masking tape, to keep the drawing safe from getting crumpled, folded, or torn. The note was tucked inside as well. He held it out, inviting Jag to come and take it.
Jag glanced at Michael, and it was only when the older man nodded that he approached Kyrone. That was weird. Kyrone had never really noticed Jag being deferential to Michael before, but maybe he was seeking reassurance from his partner rather than permission.
“What is it?” Jag asked, sitting beside Kyrone.
Michael stayed where he was, watchful but quiet.
“Jared has a scrapbook of memories,” Kyrone explained. “It’s mostly photos his parents put together for him, but he added a bunch of things after going through his stuff from uni.”
“He went to university?” Jag asked.
Kyrone nodded.
“He always wanted to study architecture,” Jag said in a fond tone.
“He was studying law,” Kyrone told him.
Jag frowned. “But that wasn’t what he wanted to do.”
“Are you sure?”
Jag gave him a withering look. “Of course I’m sure. We talked about it a lot.”
“Maybe he changed his mind,” Michael suggested. “You were only sixteen when you last saw each other.”
Jag’s mouth drooped. “I guess.” He tapped his fingers on the cardboard on his lap. “How did he do?”
“He didn’t graduate.”
“Of course,” Jag whispered. “The accident.” He bowed his head and took a deep breath. “It’s so unfair.”
“He’s doing okay,” Kyrone assured him.
“He looked sothin.” Jag looked up at him. “I didn’t even notice at first. I was too shocked, and then my paranoia kicked in, and I got upset and angry and—” He shook his head fiercely. “He knows I’m sorry for how I treated him, doesn’t he? Really, truly, sorry.”
Kyrone squeezed Jag’s shoulder. “He knows.” He nodded to the cardboard. “You should open it.”
“Maybe we should go to my office,” Michael suggested. “The other guys will be arriving soon. You’ll have more privacy there.”
Jag nodded. Clutching the thin package to his chest, he followed Michael through to the office. Kyrone stashed his bag into his locker before hurrying after them. Not that he needed to, because Jag’s pace was sluggish. The office was chaotic, but there were a couple of chairs to sit in. Michael pulled his chair round to the front of the desk, which he then perched on. Jag sank into Michael’s chair, leaving Kyrone to take the other.
“I’m almost afraid to open it,” Jag said. “Why didn’t Jared come with you to give it to me himself?” His voice was quiet and heartbreakingly fragile.
Kyrone hoped Jag already knew the answer. He hadn’t wanted to upset his friend all over again. “He doesn’t think it’s going to do either of you any good to see each other,” he said as gently as he could.
Jag’s eyes filled up with tears. “That’s not just his decision.”
“Right now, it is,” Kyrone said firmly. He cleared his throat. “But he wanted you to have the things he found in his uni stuff. He didn’t understand what they meant at the time, but after last night, he thinks he’s pieced it together.”
Jag broke the masking tape with a shaking finger and lifted the top piece of cardboard up. His eyes went wide as he looked at the note.
“He thinks he was looking for you,” Kyrone said. “He thinks he found you.”
