Is that offer open to me as well?
Yes.
Although I had probably better check with my parents to be sure.
The twins will kill me if I’m not here to open presents with them in the morning.
Tomorrow night, then.
It’s needy, but I’m not looking forward to sleeping without them tonight. I rest my phone on my chest. It’s another thing that makes me realise that this isn’t home anymore. Leeds, as a city, feels more like home. I adore the swimming pools at John Charles. Being able to swim in both a fifty-metre and twenty-five-metre pool regularly is amazing. The crummy flat I share with Emory is a roof over our heads, but it’s not a home. Not really. Nor is Auggie’s house, no matter how big it is. I’m pretty sure he’s equal parts grateful and resentful that his parents bought it for him. Will they ever have a more positive relationship? I hope so. I hope his parents free him from following their dreams so he can chase his own. Will we stay in Leeds after we graduate? We could get a place together, somewhere we’re able to fund as a trio. I blame Dad for making me think about the end of my course. I shouldn’t be thinking so far ahead. Yet doing so isn’t scary.
My phone has been beeping while I’ve been lost in thought. I pick it up and catch up on the messages, the last half dozen of which are Auggie asking me if I’m ignoring them. The rest is a discussion about where we’re all going to sleep while we’re in Lancaster. Are we going to alternate staying at mine and Em’s so we can all be together, or will Em and I stay with our families while Auggie flits between us? They didn’t come to any conclusion, probably because they were waiting for my input.
I’m not ignoring you. I’m happy with either plan, although I should stay here tonight. My parents are feeling melancholy about me growing up.
Em
Mine too.
Auggie
If I could split myself in two, I would.
Em
Ew.
Auggie
Duplicate myself? Clone myself?
Stay with Em tonight. Christmas will be a lot livelier there than here.
Maybe I like the quiet life? The twins would like me to stay here tonight. But I’ll stay with you tomorrow.
I smile and fish my element keyring out of my pocket. I run my thumb over the wood. I know Em and Auggie use theirs as well. Over the last week at Auggie’s, our bunches of keys have ended up beside each other on the table, our element key fobs looking as at home together as I feel with my boyfriends. Why am I getting so sappy over an engraved piece of wood? I sniff, wipe my eyes, and put my keys away.
Do you know what I’m looking forward to the most?
Em
No. What?
I love my parents and your family too, Em. But I’m looking forward to going back to Leeds.
But we just got here.
It’s easier to snuggle in Leeds.
Auggie
And now I’m homesick too. How long are we staying again?
Em
A few days. Then it’ll be the three of us again.
28
