Chapter Text
TFW your barista is a guy you knew in high school 
Bitty?
Barista?
(Also TFW?)
Sorry. Latte came up
I had Coach drop me off at Park Ave
*PERK Ave thanks autocorrect
HS graduation today
(“that feeling when”)
Is that feeling good or bad?
I’m guessing bad.
Based on the :-/
Haha. Yeah
I dunno
It’s just weird
Seeing people who...haven’t really changed?
I used to be scared of him
Now he’s pulling espresso shots and selling me stale blueberry scones
(Really stale. *shudder*)
Scared of him?
Travis was insecure in high school
He took it out on the easy targets
*sigh*
I was an easy target
At the time
Bits.
Are you saying he was a bully?
Not okay, Bittle.
Oh honey. Yeah. He was a bully
Not the worst I had to deal with
Travis was mostly bluster
Bet you had guys like him in the Q
So you’re saying he was a homophobic piece of shit.
You’re so sexy when you get protective, Mr. Zimmermann <3
Bitty.
Yes.
Yes, I’m saying he was a racist/sexist/homophobic asshole
We have a lot of those down here
But the mouthy ones aren’t usually the ones you have to watch out for
Bitty.
There’s something you’re not telling me Bits.
Can we talk about it later?
It’s easier by phone
And I can’t call you right now
I’m at the coffee shop
(Where are you? Aren’t you driving to Pawtucket today?)
Okay.
But I want to know.
I should have asked before.
(We’re waiting for breakfast at Hole In One.)
(Then yes, we’re driving to Pawtucket.)
Are you excited?
About Pawtucket I mean not breakfast
Although breakfast is also good
Okay, I’m Googling Hole in One and you need to try:
The honeywheat
The honey dipped
Oh and the sour cream
Bits. I start training next week.
ALL THE MORE REASON TO EAT THEM NOW
Get your parents to help you eat them
I’m texting your mother right now
Why do you have my mother’s phone number?
She wanted my strawberry-rhubarb crumble recipe
So your dad DMed my mother
Who then emailed her my phone number
...I give up.
ANYWAY
Your mother says she’ll send a report
My mother says to tell you she’ll send a report.
Oh.
Right.
They’re calling our name. Talk to you later.
Talk to you later!
HONEY DIPPED.
Okay, yes. You were right.
They were good.
I liked the sour cream best.
You did?
I bet I could make a deeeeeeeelicious sour cream donut
You know how to make donuts?
Jack
I’ve just never seen you make them?
Jack
Sweetheart
Okay! Okay! I get the point.
There is a Bible study group behind me
Lord help me I am back in Georgia
I want pictures of your place when you get there!
You’ve seen pictures of my place.
That your mother sent me while you were apartment hunting.
It doesn’t have any furniture yet.
We’re going to IKEA tomorrow.
IKEA??
You just signed a $$$$$$$$$$$ contract with the NHL
And you’re buying furniture at IKEA??
I don’t want anything fancy.
What’s wrong with IKEA?
Okay. You can help me pick BETTER furniture when you visit in August.
I’m visiting in August?
...I want you to? Is that okay?
Yes!
Yes of course!
I just. We haven’t talked dates
I need to check with George before I can make plans to visit you.
I’m sorry.
Honey, don’t apologize! It’s your job
I have to work too
Second session of camp ends 7/29
...and I have to be at Samwell for conditioning 8/13
So I could change my ticket
Maybe
Assuming I’ve explained to my folks why…
I’ll help pay to change the ticket.
If you let me.
Are you free to FaceTime?
Ugh. Not yet. Dinner guests
Cousins from Atlanta
Awkward
I can’t get away until after dessert
I wish you were here tonight.
It’s weird sleeping in a hotel room alone.
Your parents got you your own room?
They booked a suite.
They have the room next door.
Papa and I watched the game together and now they’ve gone to bed.
I missed watching the game with you.
Oh Lord
???
Just...it’s embarrassing to remember
I tried not to be obvious
But I was obvious
I’m pretty sure the whole Haus knew I had a crush on you
Why do you think that?
Um.
Because of the way I let you give me foot rubs while we watched the games?
Or that time I “fell asleep” with my head in your lap?
I...was that flirting?
Was that flirting, he asks
THAT WAS FLIRTING OH MY GOD
Oh.
I just thought it was …
I thought you thought I was straight?
I DID
That didn’t stop me from hopelessly flirting with you
And you let me
So I kept … pushing
It was nice.
It was nice, he says
I wish you were here tonight and we could flirt some more.
Your feet are nice to hold in my lap.
I like how they fit in my hands.
Maybe I didn’t realize it was flirting.
But I still liked it.
I’d like to do more.
More?
More kissing.
More foot rubs.
And you falling asleep on me.
Only maybe with fewer clothes on this time.
I’M IN MY PARENT’S LIVING ROOM
WITH COUSIN DOUG AND HIS WIFE ALISON
I just really miss you Bits.
Me too, Jack
Doug and Alison are gonna leave soon
You still watching post-game analysis?
Maybe we can FaceTime in 15-20 minutes?
I’ll be here.