Chapter 27 #2
Just then, the bell above the door chimed, and Alfie walked in.
He had on those sunglasses he always wore - the mirrored orange-lens ones - a white T-shirt that clung a little too well to his shoulders, blue jeans, and clean white trainers.
He paused just inside the shop, scanning the room as he pushed his sunglasses up onto his head.
I lifted a hand to wave, letting him know where we were.
His eyes landed on me, and he smiled - that easy, confident smile he always seemed to have ready. He crossed the room in a few long strides and slid into the booth beside me, the seat dipping slightly under his weight. His knee brushed mine for a second before he shifted to get comfortable.
“Hey,” he said, still smiling as he settled in beside me, his shoulder brushing mine for a moment before he leaned back.
“Hi,” I echoed, trying not to sound as nervous as I suddenly felt, my fingers tightening around the edge of the table.
“I’m Rachel,” Rach said, beaming as she leaned forward and held her hand out to him. He shook it with a small laugh, then she gestured to Dan. “And this is Dan.”
“Nice to meet you,” Alfie said with a small chuckle, giving Dan a quick nod.
“Alright,” he added, nodding again as Dan returned the gesture.
“Now, I hate to be that girl,” Rach said, glancing over her shoulder, “but do you know what you’re having?
Jenny is going to have the right hump with us if we don’t order soon.
” She pointed subtly toward Jenny, who was flipping through a magazine behind the counter like she’d rather be anywhere else.
“Oh, erm…” Alfie said, grabbing a menu and scanning it quickly. “I’ll just have a chocolate milkshake.” He closed the menu with a soft thud.
“Great. And you, Alex?” she asked, turning her expectant eyes on me.
“I’ll have the same,” I said with a smile, lifting my shoulders in a small shrug.
She nodded, then looked at Dan. “Come up and order with me.”
“Sure thing, babe,” he said, sliding out of the booth and following her toward the counter, his hand brushing lightly against her back as they walked away.
“You didn’t tell me your friends were emos,” he whispered, smirking as he nudged my knee under the table. “Would’ve been nice to have a heads-up.”
“What? They’re not emo,” I said, frowning as I switched my gaze from Rach - who was leaning over the counter like she owned the place, chatting animatedly with Jenny - to Alfie, waiting for his reaction.
“They look like emos to me,” he said with a shrug, tapping his fingers on the table.
“Why does that matter anyway?” I asked, confusion tightening my voice.
“It doesn’t,” he said casually. “As long as they don’t get all depressed and shit.” He waved a hand vaguely. “I can’t have them bringing my aura down.”
My brows stayed furrowed. “They won’t,” I said, still confused, shifting slightly in my seat.
“So, did you have a good morning?” he asked, changing the subject as he rested his arm along the back of the booth.
If running around after my brother was considered a good morning… then yes. It was great.
“Yeah, it was alright,” I lied, forcing a small smile. “You?”
“Yeah, I guess.” He shrugged, then eyed my hoodie, head tilted in a way that made my palms sweat. “Why are you wearing a hoodie? It’s like twenty degrees out there.” He gestured toward the window where sunlight streamed in.
My cheeks heated instantly. “I, uh… just wanted to. That’s all.” I tugged at the sleeves without thinking and found myself sinking lower into my seat.
“Why don’t you take it off?” he said, lightly tugging at the fabric of my sleeve. “I’d like to see what’s underneath there anyway.” He winked, shuffling closer to me.
I shook my head fast. “No, that’s alright.”
“Come on,” he said, tugging again. “I won’t bite.” He pulled at my sleeve once more, and I pushed his hand away. “Just leave it, okay,” I whispered sharply.
“Alright, alright.” He held his hands up in surrender. “No need to get your knickers in a twist. I only asked.”
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to-”
“Two chocolate milkshakes,” Rach said, sliding them onto the table between us with a bright smile.
“Thanks,” I said quietly, wrapping my hands around the cold glass.
She looked between us, her brows pinched. “Everything alright?”
“Yeah, it’s fine,” Alfie said, leaning back and folding his arms across his chest. “Right, Alex?” He nudged me with his elbow.
“Yeah. It’s all good,” I said, taking a sip of the milkshake to avoid looking at her.
Rach smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes.
“Alex tells me you’re a footballer,” she said, settling beside Dan and digging into their shared sundae.
“Yeah,” Alfie said, his tone flat as he tapped his fingers on the table.
Dan leaned forward with genuine interest. “What position?” he asked.
“Defence. You play?” Alfie asked, raising an eyebrow.
“No, not really my thing,” Dan said with a small laugh. “I’m more of an arts guy.”
“Art, like Picasso or something?” Alfie asked, tilting his head.
“Yeah. I suppose. And music, writing… that sort of thing,” Dan said, shrugging.
Alfie laughed, shaking his head. “Are you sure you’re not the gay one?”
“Liking art doesn’t make you gay,” Rach snapped, her eyes narrowing.
Alfie held his hands up. “I know, I know. Don’t bite my head off. It was just a joke.”
His phone buzzed loudly. He pulled it out, glanced at the screen, and muttered, “Excuse me,” before sliding out of the booth and stepping away.
The second he was out of earshot, Rach grabbed my arm. “What the fuck?” she whispered, eyes wide.
“What?” I shrugged, trying to play it off.
“I hate him,” she said, dead serious.
“You just met him.” I lifted my hands slightly.
“I know. And I hate him already,” she said, glaring in the direction Alfie had gone.
“Alex is right,” Dan said gently. “He’s spoken like two sentences. Give the guy a chance.”
“He called you gay like it was an insult,” she hissed.
“I know.” Dan laughed softly. “I’ll admit that took me by surprise.”
“Exactly.” Rach shook her head. “Who says that? And to someone they just met.”
“That’s just what some guys are like,” I said with a shrug, though my stomach twisted.
“But I don’t want my friend with just some guy,” she muttered.
Before I could respond, I saw Alfie walking back toward us.
“Shh, he’s coming,” I whispered, leaning in.
“Sorry about this,” Alfie said, grabbing his jacket. “I’m gonna have to shoot.”
“You’re going?” I asked, surprised, my hand tightening around my milkshake.
“Yeah, the lads are on my ass. Sun comes out and all they want to do is get some beers and play footie.” He slung jacket over his shoulder.
“Oh,” I said, trying not to sound disappointed.
“You don’t mind, do you?” he asked, leaning in slightly.
I shook my head. “No. You go.”
“You’re the best.” He leaned in and gave me a quick kiss on the lips, his hand brushing my cheek for a second. “You’re still coming to the game tomorrow, right?”
I nodded. I would try my best.
“Great.” He flashed a smile. “See you later.”
Rachel waited until the bell chimed and Alfie had gone before she spoke again.
“Well, no wonder you’re not getting any ball bubbles with him. The guy’s a complete tool.” She said, leaning in.
“Ball bubbles?” Dan said confused. “What are ball bubbles?”
Rach snapped her head to him. “I’m insulted you don’t get ball bubbles when you kiss me.”
“It would help if I knew what they were,” Dan said, feeling confused and targeted.
“You know, the tingly feeling you get down there,” she gestured to his crutch, “when you like someone. For girls, it’s fanny flutters, and for guys, we came up with ball bubbles.”
“ You came up with,” I reiterated, pointing at her.
“And Alex doesn’t feel any ball bubbles when he kisses Alfie. Do you get them with me?”
“Ball bubbles? No, they’re not a thing. Hard though, yes.” Dan laughed.
Rach nodded her head like she was just learning the anatomy of the male body. “See, I bet you don’t get that with Alfie.”
I shrugged. “Well, no, but-”
“I knew it.” She said. “He’s not right for you, bin him off.” She waved her hands like she was throwing the idea of him away.
“But you don’t see what he’s like at work,” I said. “He can be really nice.”
“But he can also be a bit of a dick.” She said quickly, eyes wide.
She wasn’t wrong. But I had to work with him, and I was far too awkward to tell him otherwise now.
Plus… I did like him. And he liked me. That still surprised me whenever I thought about it.
I’d never had a boyfriend before - if that’s even what he was - and part of me wanted to explore it, to see what it felt like to be wanted by someone who wasn’t mocking me or using me.
I pulled at the hem of my sleeve, staring down at the table as the thought settled in my chest. I’d only been out for a year and a half, and even that hadn’t been on my own terms. A guy in my year made a fake account, catfished me, then outed all our messages.
I didn’t show up to school for a week. When I finally came back, I found out he’d been put in the hospital and then transferred schools.
Connor never said it was him. He didn’t have to.
He was hard on me - brutal, even - but the minute someone else was, he was harder on them . It was twisted and messy, and nothing like the kind of love people talked about, but it was the closest thing he knew how to give.
No one at school really bothered me about it after that. I still heard the occasional whisper, the snide comments behind my back, the little digs people thought I couldn’t hear - but that was all it ever was. Words. Nothing physical. Nothing like what I dealt with at home.
In a strange way, it almost saved me. Took at least some of the pressure off. At least now everyone knew I was gay, and I had one less secret to carry around like a weight strapped to my chest.
I let out a slow breath, rubbing my thumb over the seam of my sleeve, and looked back up at Rach and Dan as they shared their ice cream. They looked good together - almost annoyingly good. She’d definitely downplayed their relationship to me.
A bit of fun , she’d said.
But it was more than that to her; I could see it in the way her eyes sparkled when she looked at him, the way she leaned into his shoulder without even realising she was doing it.
Dan scooped a spoonful of sundae and held it out for her, and she took it with a grin that softened her whole face. He wiped a bit of cream from the corner of her lip with his thumb, and she swatted his hand away, laughing.
Yeah. Just a bit of fun. Sure.
I tugged at my sleeve again, the fabric warm under my fingers. I hoped her secret didn’t come back to bite her in the ass. She deserved something good - something uncomplicated.
I watched them for a moment longer, feeling a strange mix of fondness and worry twist in my chest.
She was happy. And I wanted that to last for her.
So much for a double date, I thought to myself. I should just leave them to it. They were wrapped up in their own little world, and I didn’t want to be the awkward third wheel sitting there pretending I wasn’t watching them fall in love.
I opened my mouth to mention heading off - something casual, something that wouldn’t make Rach feel guilty - when the bell above the shop door chimed.
I didn’t think anything of it at first. People came and went all the time. But then my eyes lifted automatically, just a glance toward the sound.
And they met -
Kai’s.