Gabe had been back in Philly at least seven days and hadn’t told me.
We’d texted like normal three nights ago. I’d sent him a picture of a coaster with a Colorado Springs brewery on it, thinking that was where he was, and he’d said nothing to indicate otherwise.
But why?
Could he think I already knew? Maybe he assumed Evan or his dad had told me, and the whole coaster thing was me referencing where he’d recently been?
Except we’d never used his family as proxies before. If anything, he usually told me this kind of thing first, andIcommunicated it tothem.
And a suit? What would he need a suit for? And where was he staying that wasn’t their dad’s house?
Why wouldn’t he tell me he was back?
Maybe because the last time he got to town, you jumped him the second he walked through the door like a rabid squirrel and assaulted him with your mouth.
Even knowing it was true, it didn’t make sense. It wasn’t like I’d chased him down after the kiss and demanded he define what we were.
I knew what we were. At least, I’d thought I did.
“So what do you think?” Evan asked, cutting into my spiral. “Want to grab dinner and watch a movie or something?”
I swallowed the hardened lump from my throat. “Yeah, that sounds good. Meet at my place at seven? We can order from Pho Dinh.”
“Sure. Text me your order, and I’ll grab it on my way.”
Fifteen minutes later, I pulled in front of the prep kitchen and texted Evan what I wanted. Then I typed out a message to Gabe and deleted it twice before staring at it with my thumb hovering over the Send button.
Me:I heard you’re back.
That was neutral enough, right? I didn’t want him to think I was angry with him for not telling me.
I didn’t wantto beangry. It wasn’t like we’d made plans to do something once he got back. If he’d been in any other city and forgot to tell me when he got there, it would have been no big deal because that was our dynamic.
No pressure. No expectations. No overthinking.
Yes, we were in the same city now, but that didn’t automatically change things.
He’d probably been busy. He hadn’t been home for long stretches since turning pro after high school, and there had to be a dozen old friends and boxing colleagues he was keen to catch up with who he hadn’t seen over New Year’s like he had me.
He’d always been popular. He and Evan both. And not in the obnoxious way jocks sometimes were when they were kind of mean but everyone idolized them anyway because of their good looks and athletic ability. The two of them had just always gotten along with everyone and made them feel accepted. No matter how shy or socially awkward.
Especially when that shy and socially awkward kid had just moved in next door and had no other friends.
At this point, I cared less about why Gabe hadn’t told me and more about making sure things between us were still okay.
I hit Send and threw the phone into my bag, willing my nerves to settle. He’d reply to me when he got the chance. Until then, I wouldn’t worry about it.
It took me another half hour to unload the catering van and get everything cleaned and put away. When I checked my phone on my way out, something behind my ribs gave an annoying flutter.
Two new messages.
Gabe:Sorry I didn’t tell you sooner. I’ve been working on something
Gabe:Can I show you?
My heart raced, relief at his response warring with a nagging sting I hadn’t managed to bury. One mostly comprised of aggravation at myself for being this affected in the first place.
I wanted to cut off the source of the eagerness humming along my skin at the thought of seeing him again. To smother the thrill he sparked in me without even trying. To not slip back into my adolescent crush on him after all these years of finally building a true friendship.
