Chapter 59 #2
Then the sound of the train horn tore us out of the moment, sharp and sudden, and Alex jerked back instinctively, breath catching as he put a little space between us.
I swivelled toward the tracks, watching the train roll in, my pulse still thudding in my ears, and let out a breath I didn’t realise I’d been holding.
Then Alex laughed - a small, startled sound, like he couldn’t quite believe what had just happened. It slipped out of him before he could stop it.
And it was contagious. I laughed too, the kind that shakes loose the nerves and leaves only the warmth behind.
For a second, we just sat there, grinning like idiots, the train slowing in front of us and the cold air swirling around our knees. His cheeks were still pink. Mine probably were too.
And somehow, the moment felt even sweeter because of it.
“So what will you do for the rest of the day?” I asked, tossing our empty cups into the bin.
Alex shrugged as he stood, brushing dust off his trousers. “Not much. I’ll probably just-”
“Stay in your room?” I cut in, raising my brows as I fell into step beside him.
He gave another shrug, but this one was smaller, almost sheepish. “No, Connor’s not home, so… I guess I’ll just do whatever until he gets back.” He kicked a pebble along the platform. “You?”
“I don’t know.” I stretched my arms over my head as we walked. “I need to get back in the gym, we’ve got a game tomorrow. And then Callum asked if I’d pop round later.”
“You and Callum are really close, aren’t you?” He said, eyes bright as he looked up at me.
I nodded. “Yeah, he’s a pain in my ass, but he’s my pain in the ass, if you know what I mean.”
Alex smiled. “Yeah, I feel the same about Rachel. I had no idea they knew each other.”
“Neither did I. Turns out he’s always milking her for milkshakes.” I laughed, and Alex did too.
“So what will you do at Callum’s?” He asked quietly.
“I dunno, play Xbox, chat shit, maybe go on a drive somewhere?” I sighed. “I can’t really be bothered for it, you know.”
Alex’s head tilted toward me, eyes widening a little. “You don’t want to go?”
“I’d rather be with you,” I said honestly, my hand brushing lightly against his.
He blushed again - that soft, pink flush that crept up his cheeks before he could stop it. He looked away quickly, pretending to focus on the pavement, but the smile tugging at his mouth gave him away.
“But it will be fine,” I added, though my voice didn’t sound convinced even to me.
Alex’s fingers twitched at his side, like he wanted to reach for mine but didn’t quite dare. His shoulders relaxed, though - just a fraction - like something inside him had eased at my words. “How about a game of Xbox later… when I get back?” I asked, nudging him gently.
“Oh, I uhm… can’t.” His hand slipped to his sleeve, tugging it down, adjusting it, hiding something. “It broke.”
“Your Xbox?” My eyebrows shot up.
He nodded, eyes darting away. “Yeah.”
He wouldn’t look at me. Wouldn’t even glance.
“What happened to it?” I asked, keeping my voice soft.
“It just stopped working.” Another shrug, another clipped response.
“Oh.” I frowned. “You gonna get a new one?”
Another shrug. Smaller this time. Like he wished the question would disappear.
“Okay… how about I call you then?” I offered. “Later tonight?”
He hesitated, then looked up at me with those careful eyes. “Maybe just text,” he said quietly. “Is that okay?”
“Yeah.” I smiled, trying to ease the tension tightening his shoulders. “I’ll text you.”
His expression softened - relief, maybe - and he nodded, letting out a breath he’d been holding.
We walked a little further in comfortable silence, our shoulders almost touching until we had nearly reached his road. The air felt lighter after the kiss, like something between us had shifted into place.
“I can…” He shifted his weight, shuffling a little where he stood. “Walk from here.” He looked up at me, almost apologetic.
“You sure?” I asked. We were nearly at his street, but something in me resisted the idea of letting him go. It felt wrong to peel away now, like leaving him mid-sentence.
“Yeah.” He nodded again, firmer this time. “Thank you for the hot chocolate and-” He hesitated, hand sliding up to grip his arm. “Last night.”
“That’s okay,” I said with a small smile, though the truth was I didn’t want to leave him at all. “Sorry for showing up drunk.”
“Don’t be,” he said with a quiet laugh, shaking his head. “You don’t know how much I needed that.”
The way he said it - soft, honest, almost shy - hit me right in the chest. His eyes flicked up to mine, and for a second he looked younger, grateful in a way he didn’t know how to hide.
I stepped a little closer without meaning to, like my body moved before my brain caught up. “I’m glad I came,” I said, voice low.
His lips twitched, the beginnings of a smile he tried to swallow. “Me too.”
The wind tugged at his hair. He pushed it back absently, and for a moment neither of us moved - like we were both waiting for the other to say something else, something bigger.
But he took a small step backward, toward his street.
“I’ll text you,” I reminded him gently.
He nodded, eyes lingering on mine for a heartbeat longer than necessary. “Okay.”
And then he turned, hands in his pockets, shoulders hunched against the breeze - walking away like he didn’t want to, but didn’t know how to stay either.