Dex had no idea what to say. What was it Nick had told him? Just let him talk and listen? “I’m sorry, Palbert. Is everyone a total i***t?”
He thought he heard Al sniffing. His poor Al. Christ. “I guess not everyone, but—” Dex waited even as he hated doing it. Just be patient. He watched Nick finishing up the final pot like he was trying to make the task last, to give Dex space. Hunched over the sink, Nick looked a bit like a dark question mark in the dingy white kitchen.
“It’s like. The teachers are fine, but I’m … Dunno. I guess it’s boring and stupid and I hate it and have no friends. There.”
Well, at least it was concise.
“Pal, I’m sorry. School can be such shit.”
“You didn’t have a s**t time,” Al said, an accusatory edge to his tone.
“Mate, I was gay. It was s**t enough.” A stray
