Page 23 of The Freshman

“You live ten minutesaway, don’t you?”

Alfie turned to Marie, then checkedover his shoulder to make sure it was him she addressed. “Me? Yeah… not too far.”

“I could give you a ridehome. It’s on my way.”

Glen muttered something under hisbreath, and Alfie looked at him.

“Erm, I’m all right. Ilike the walk.”

“But I think it mightrain.”

Alfie frown at Marie’s sudden abilityto tell the future. He turned to her, then winced at the jolt ofpain up his neck.

“Your neck hurt? I couldgive you a massage.”

Alfie held his hands up in surrender.“Thanks, but I’m fine.”

“It looks like it hurts.I’m good with my hands. I’ll sort it out.”

Glen bashed his heel into the drawersof the desk and muttered more words Alfie couldn’tdecipher.

He gestured to Glen, then Marie.“Look, I don’t wanna get in the way of this.”

She shook her head. “There’s nothingto get in the way of.”

“Not now you’ve called ita day,” Glen snapped.

“I need to think about myfamily,” Marie said, eyeing the floor.

“Then why you trying yourluck with Alfie?”

“I only offered him a ridehome.”

Alfie jumped to his feet and raisedhis hands. “Don’t involve me in this, and for the record, I swaymore toward Glen.”

Heat filled his face at his admission,but he didn’t know why.

Then Henry laughed, his phlegm riddenlaugh, and his eyelids peeled back. “I told you to keep that toyourself, and here you are, jumping up and down and shouting itout.”

“I just wanted to stopthis from escalating, and that was the quickest way of stoppingit.”

Marie’s mouth popped open, but nowords followed.

Glen had a smug smile on his face andflexed his eyebrows before stilling them with a look of panic. “I’mstraight.”

Alfie clapped and nodded. “Good foryou. Roll call?”

They nodded and followed himout.

Henry shoved the glasses back over hiseyes and sunk into his chair.

Alfie knocked on door 149 with hisforehead. His face hadn’t cooled, and he still reeled withembarrassment. “Queenie?”

“Yep. I’m here, but you’rekilling me with the hour checks. Give them a rest.”

Alfie sighed through his nose. “Sorry,protocol after a suicide attempt.”

“For the last time, Iwasn’t trying to top myself.”

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