DUE TO A PARTICULARLY IRRITATING CUSTOMER insisting on getting her things individually wrapped , and then chatting to jake for another ten minutes after the store closed , it takes him a while to finally close up , count the money in the cash register , and get his next shift sorted , he’s maybe twenty - five minutes later out of macey’s than he said he would be . his head aches as he swings his backpack onto his shoulder , sending another apology to his boyfriend as he heads out . menlo is closing , and the people milling around are evidently on their way out of the exits . jake dreads the walk home for only a minute , before his attention is caught by something else .
HIS FRIENDS SIT ON THE ROUND COUCHES in the center of the mall , he spots them as he goes down the escalator , brooke in the middle , showing alice and rich something on her phone . jake , ever the romantic , takes his time to admire how the artificial lights show how ginger rich is , the way his smile is sharp and his laugh heard from where jake stood . he cups a hand around his mouth as he steps off the escalator , the energy he lacked at closing seeping back into his muscles . “ RICHEY G ! ” he calls , and he jogs over , throws himself on the couch beside rich , wraps an arm over his shoulders while rich’s slips around his hip , and he kisses him briefly . it’s like a yellow glow sets itself alight in his chest , keeps him warm beneath the thin shirt he wears , and remains when they break apart , before he waves his fingers at brooke and alice , leaning his head on rich’s shoulder as brooke begins her story again for him , and things are so , so peaceful .