The screen flickered, and there was Leo—on his bed with messy hair and that old gray hoodie that looked so soft, the one Alex always remembered.
The afternoon sun hit him just right, lighting up one cheek, turning him gold.
Alex forgot to breathe for a second.
"Hi," he managed, voice barely above a whisper.
Leo smiled, and the tension in Alex's chest eased. "Hi."
They just stared for a moment. Not awkward, but not exactly peaceful either. Charged. Comfortable, in its weird way.
"You look tired," Leo said after a beat.
Alex laughed, shaking his head. "I keep hearing that."
"That's because it's true."
"You're one to talk."
Leo's smile grew. "Fair."
Alex leaned back, phone propped on a pile of books. "So, what were you doing before I called?"
"Just got back from seeing Aiden. The guy who runs the coffee shop were I used to work."
"Used to work at?"
