Summary: “Is that normal?” Eric clutches his coffee in his lap and fusses with his seatbelt. “Meet and greet at Tim Hortons?”
“It’s worse when we’re together. Especially now that Jack’s got a Cup.”
To his credit, Bob doesn’t say what the truth probably is: People are used to Bob and Jack. They aren’t used to Jack and Eric. That’s the novelty of the equation. As Bob and Jack argue playfully over who is more famous, chirps flying left and right, Eric feels the sinking again. Eric lifts a hand to his sternum, presses his fingers against his jacket, and breathes to relieve the tension.
The tightness doesn’t go away. Not for a good long while.
Eric has graduated, Jack has proposed, and their first Christmas in Québec is going to be amazing if Eric can get out of his head long enough to enjoy it.