Avery stepped back. Then his arms flailed as one of his feet skidded out from underneath him. A chunky green puddle oozed on the hardwood where his bottle had fallen. He scrambled, one hand on the doorknob. He made it through to the stairs, then back again as he snatched his laptop bag from the floor.
“I’ll be—You’ll—There’s juice—Have a good day!”
The door slammed shut behind him. Linc stood with his eyes closed, listening to the sound of Avery’s feet on the steps, then the exterior door closing. Only then did he stagger backwards, slumping down onto the couch and barely avoiding crushing the gaming headset left on one of the cushions.
Avery’s saliva was drying on his chin. Linc thunked his head back against the wall.
That had been—
That had—
“Fuck.”
He already knew he wouldn’t be there when Avery got back.
