Gravity (Greenford #2) - Romeo Alexander Page 0,38

drink like I used to, not if I want to be able to do anything the next day. Back in the day, I could be hungover in the morning and able to function fine at work or class the next afternoon. Now? Shit, I’m useless all day and don’t feel much better until I wake up the next day.”

Caleb chuckled. “And just think, it’s only further downhill.”

“I can deal with some of the stuff that will come with getting older, but the hangovers and the heartburn from greasy food are just the worst.”

“And yet you took us to Henry’s anyway.”

“That’s what an antacid before bad food does for you. And hey, sometimes good food is worth suffering for.”

“We’re going to have to agree to disagree on whether or not it was considered good.”

Samuel snickered, absently wiping his hand on his jeans as though getting a lingering smear of grease off. Caleb shook his head, he’d told the man to use the wipes that the restaurant had sitting on the table, but either Samuel didn’t think he’d needed to or simply forgot.

“So, how much longer will it take to finish unpacking?” Samuel asked.

Caleb grimaced. “Ugh. Way too long. I can’t believe I even have that much stuff left over. Probably doesn’t help that I haven’t exactly been dedicating a large amount of time to doing it either.”

Samuel nodded, pausing as they waited for the next crosswalk signal to change. “If you’d like, I could come over and help.”

“Oh, it’s not exactly something that’s a thrill to do,” Caleb muttered, thinking of the disaster that was his apartment.

Samuel snorted. “Yeah, I know. But I’m offering because I know it can’t be fun, and not just because it’s a lot. I’m sure there’s a lot of memory sorting and emotional bullshit that comes with it, and if you don’t have to do it alone, you shouldn’t.”

“Ah, you should have been a writer. You have such a way with words,” Caleb told him with a grin.

“I’m very eloquent. I’ve been told that quite often, I’ll have you know,” Samuel said with mock dignity.

“And how drunk were the people that told you this?”

“That was not the subject of this discussion.”

Caleb laughed softly and decided to tell the truth. “It wouldn’t be so bad to have some help. If only because some of the stuff I need to be told to get rid of. Think you're up to the task?”

“Only if you’re willing to put up with me during a stressful and tedious task.”

“I think I can manage.”

“And you say I have a way with words.”

Caleb bumped him with his shoulder, smirking. “If you’re willing to put up with all that bullshit, then I’m more than happy to have you along to help.”

They determined that Wednesday would be the next best day for them to get together and start on the project. Samuel tried to get Caleb to promise he wouldn’t do too much of the unpacking in the meantime, but they’d both known that would be a lost cause. As slow as Caleb was with the task, he still couldn’t stand just how long it was taking. As long as he was doing something to get the job done, he could feel like progress was being made.

Their separation from one another at their cars was far less awkward and tense than it had been going to their separate beds the night before. The only moment of any real note was when they hugged each other goodbye. There was a brief moment where he swore he heard Samuel take a deep breath and his body going taut. A few seconds later, they split apart with smiles and waves, driving off in their own vehicles.

Yet even as they went in opposite directions, Caleb couldn’t shake off the sensation that there was still the same gravity from the night before, tugging them closer and closer to one another again.

Samuel

Wednesdays were half days for him, with only a couple of morning classes to deal with. Samuel typically used the last half of the day for any casework that he might have, and if there was none, he might try to be responsible and get a leg up on the rest of his work. Usually, though, he spent it as free time, considering it the perfect opportunity to wind down in the middle of the week before he had to go back to being responsible the next day.

Lucas, however, seemed bound and determined to ruin the relaxed mood of the