He reclaims the phone almost delicately, careful not to let his fingers brush against Jude's. Jude, whom he finds himself wishing he could box into a neat category but can't quite. Are they enemies? Allies? Nothing at all? Right now it feels like they're old school friends who have bumped into one other somewhere unexpected -- or at least how he imagines that would feel, because it's never actually happened to him. Ridiculous:
He disappeared.
He disappeared.
But he said it once already to barely any reaction and let's not talk about that anymore for the sake of whatever weird semi-combative equilibrium they've managed to slip into in the absence of the battle plans Near had hoped for.
"I have a job." (The "you asshole" is implied.) "A -- boyfriend." Slight hiccup, "boyfriend" is never not an embarrassing word to speak out loud, juvenile, but still better than the available alternatives. "I was supposed to see him later." Like he's doing plenty of things. Like he's built himself up a full and fulfilling life and hasn't been hanging around solely because waiting around for Jude has kept him anchored to one spot for too long.
He adds a couple of items to the cart, then glances at Jude's vindaloo, contemplating a surreptitious update to extra spicy. He doesn't go through with it, completes the order before he can give into the temptation that is at least as juvenile as calling the grown man he finally texts a quick cancellation to a boyfriend.
"Anyway, don't you kind of hate me?" He kind of hates Jude, figures the kind of feeling is mutual.
He disappeared.
He disappeared.
But he said it once already to barely any reaction and let's not talk about that anymore for the sake of whatever weird semi-combative equilibrium they've managed to slip into in the absence of the battle plans Near had hoped for.
"I have a job." (The "you asshole" is implied.) "A -- boyfriend." Slight hiccup, "boyfriend" is never not an embarrassing word to speak out loud, juvenile, but still better than the available alternatives. "I was supposed to see him later." Like he's doing plenty of things. Like he's built himself up a full and fulfilling life and hasn't been hanging around solely because waiting around for Jude has kept him anchored to one spot for too long.
He adds a couple of items to the cart, then glances at Jude's vindaloo, contemplating a surreptitious update to extra spicy. He doesn't go through with it, completes the order before he can give into the temptation that is at least as juvenile as calling the grown man he finally texts a quick cancellation to a boyfriend.
"Anyway, don't you kind of hate me?" He kind of hates Jude, figures the kind of feeling is mutual.