Page 62 of Freshman

Liam stalked off, barging his way through the back doors of Glam.

Alfie pushed off the wall, took Liam’s advice and went home.

15

Alfie winced as he answered the phone. Expecting an earbashing from Tia, he fisted one hand in his duvet and dragged it up to his face.

“Hello,” he croaked.

There was a groan on the other end of the phone, followed by a “You sound as bad as I feel.”

Unlike Tia, Alfie’s sickness wasn’t due to alcohol but a lack of sleep. After getting a taxi home, he’d trudged up to his room, crawled into bed, then stared at the ceiling for hours. He’d known the sun had risen from the lines of pink orange and the vibrant yellow coming from his undrawn curtains.

“I’m okay,” Alfie promised. “Did you enjoy the rest of your night?”

Tia hummed. “I ended up going home with Sarah.”

“Really?” Alfie raised his eyebrow. “Well, you said you were curious…”

“And I still am on that front.” Tia smirked. “She was holding back my hair while I vomited for most of the night.”

“Shit.”

“Too many Jägerbombs.”

“I’m sorry I wasn’t there to help.”

“Nah, you’re fine.” Tia sighed. “Why didn’t you just tell me?”

Alfie stiffened. He bit his lip hard enough it hurt.

“Alfie?”

“Tell you what?”

“That you’re into older guys.”

He blinked. “What?”

“Max saw you sneaking out the back with some guy that, according to him, looked ancient. Look, I get it, finding older men attractive, but why not tell me? If you’d have told me, I wouldn’t have given Max hope.”

“You shouldn’t have given him hope anyway.”

“You’re both gay guys—”

“We’re not the only gay guys,” Alfie said almost desperately. “You can’t match us up and assume we’ll get together.”

“It would’ve been ideal, that’s all.”

Alfie’s brows pulled together harshly. “Ideal?”

“Yeah, you’re both my friends. It would’ve been cool if you got together.”

“Sorry to disappoint you, but it’s not going to happen.”

Tia hummed. “So…the guy yesterday, what was his name?”

“Liam.”

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