Page 102 of The New Place

“I thought you fell asleep in there.” Abbot hoped he had, he now realizes, and he tries to push away the thought. Of course he’s happy to have some time with Ned. He always is, and tonight is no different.

No, tonight is special. Momentous.

Ned has his laptop open. Abbot should go back downstairs and leave him to his work, if that’s what he’s doing, but Dan and Cheryl are down there, and Ned is up here, and he stays stuck in the doorway, unsure which he prefers less.

But it’s Ned. Abbot steps into the room and pulls the door shut. Of course he wants to be here, and that isn’t nerves in his stomach at Ned’s expression, the careful way he watches him.

“Abbot,” Ned says.

Abbot turns away, sorting through the bag he brought. “Is Peggy alright?”

“Yeah, she’s fine.”

Abbot quickly strips off his shirt, exchanging it for one he’ll sleep in.

“Hey,” Ned says.

“I didn’t mean to interrupt you.”

“I’m not doing anything. Just waiting for Peggy to get up again in five minutes.”

Abbot nods and takes off his pants too. He pulls on a pair of shorts, and really, perhaps he shouldn’t have changed, because he could have taken Baxter out for a walk. Too late, he thinks, holding his pants, considering if he should put them back on.

“So I really do want to talk at some point,” Ned says. “We don’t have to tonight.”

No, thank you, Abbot doesn’t say, knowing it will just incite Ned. He folds his pants so they won’t wrinkle.

“But like I said, Dad didn’t know to not bring up your mom.”

It’s cold in here and Abbot didn’t pack a sweatshirt. He could wear one of Ned’s and wrap himself in the scent of his clothes. Instead, he rubs at his arm.

“And I’m just worried, what if that’s Peggy? What if she says something and you get upset? How’s she going to take it?”

Abbot’s phone charger is somewhere in his bag. He keeps meaning to leave one here, but he hasn’t, and he searches for it now.

“Abbot?”

“Have you seen my charger?”

“Abbot.”

“It won’t be a problem.”

“Here,” Ned says, holding up his cord.

“Thank you.” His phone has a mostly full battery. He busies himself plugging it in.

“Daddy?” Peggy asks. She must be on just the other side of the door.

Ned rubs his hands over his face and then stands. “Hey, hon.”

“I’m thirsty.”

“I just got you water.”

“But I need more.”

“Alright,” Ned says, and Abbot feels his eyes on him.