Page 94 of Your Pace or Mine
Best to rip the bandage off. His phone buzzed immediately with Reggie’s reply.
Reg
Are you sure that’s a good idea? You’ve been a mess.
Jamie
I was wrong about a lot of things.
Reading back his own message, he felt a little foolish. He had been so quick to accuse Darius of judging him, but he’d been the judgmental one all along, hadn’t he?
Reggie responded quickly.
Reg
Ok, you need anything?
Jamie
No, I’m good. I’m better than good actually Reg… I’m really fucking happy.
Reg
Catch up tomorrow? 11am @ Elle’s
Reg
I knew you’d find a way. Love is like a marathon, right?
Jamie
Thanks for the motivational quote. Get that off a poster in the Asda?
Reg
Nah, mate, thought of it myself. I’m a right poet.
Jamie leaned back against the tube door, his eyes closed for a moment as it rumbled back towards his flat.
Love.
Reggie had been joking around, but despite the heightened emotions the marathon seemed to have brought about, Darius hadn’t actually said the words. And Jamie wasn’t going to be the one to say them first. He’d already told Darius his feelings once and had them thrown back in his face. This time, he was going to guard his heart as best he could.
When he finally got out, he had a message from Darius.
Darius
Free next weekend? I’ve been working on something and I’d really love for you to be there when we launch it.
Saturday? Did he not want to see him until Saturday?
Jamie
Of course, what is it?
Darius wouldn’t reveal the secret, though. He insisted Jamie would just have to wait until Saturday to see.
Reggie was practically bouncing with excitement in front of the tattoo parlour on Brick Lane the next morning, two bagels in hand. Jamie could see him from way off. The cobbled streetswere fairly deserted, other than the snaking queue at the bagel shop. Colourful graffiti murals covered walls and closed shop shutters around him, as a handful of early commuters rushed past Jamie on their way to a trendy coworking space nearby. Jamie walked towards Reggie, surprised by the lack of pain in his legs. He’d expected to be hobbling around for days, but was only a little slower than usual today.
