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The first time Paul goes over to Alex’s house is a momentous occasion of an unexpected sort. Paul’s never seen Alex’s old apartment, though he’d been curious enough about the place Alex spent the rest of his life. Alex always seemed embarrassed about the place. But when he calls Paul and invites him over to his house now he sounds eager and excited.
Paul spends the whole drive over wondering what Alex’s space is like and how he’ll fit into it.
When Alex answers the door, smiling shyly, Paul forgets about everything but him. When Alex pulls him across the threshold and kisses him before the door is even closed he laughs with astonishment.
Gemma is perched on a barstool in the kitchen looking like a particularly protective mother bird. Paul met Gemma back when Alex had taken her to vi
