ALACRITY WITH ME – busy thinking of Liam and happiness to see Charlie again – we, Gabriel, Dylan and I, reach the café cheerfully yet half-panting. The few steps up to the café doors make us even more tired. As we step inside the café, we spot Charlie on the same long table with the booth sofa on each side – the same café table when we met Liam’s girlfriend. I am thoroughly appalled. Please do not tell me we are going to sit here again.
The café is full of students and their babbling conversations. Here and there, every singled and doubled tables are full. Only this long one remains unseated, and we have no other choice but to sit here. I have a bad feeling about this afternoon.
Charlie, when we are approaching him, is unclothing his pea coat. Behin
