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"Alex! How are ya?" Nick grinned like a child who had been reunited with a long-lost toy or puppy. He engulfed Alex in a brief, one-armed bear hug and sat down across from him.
His hazel eyes widened as he took in Alex's disheveled appearance. "What the hell, mate? Why are you lounging about in a bathrobe and slippers in the middle of the afternoon?"
Alex sighed irritably and rubbed his eyes. "I dunno about you, Nick, but when I'm in the comfort of me own home, and I've nothin' in particular planned to do, I generally let me 'air down, so to speak."
"Home? Ya mean to tell me you live here?" Nick blinked. "I figured you and Miles came down 'ere on holiday to get away for a while. He said you needed some time away from the city. I never thought -"
"Yeah, well that's the problem, innit? You didn't think." Alex sighed and tapped his fingers on the countertop. "'m sorry, Nick. I 'ave been doin' well lately, but today's not gunna be a good one. I s'pose it's a bit difficult bein' on me own, after livin' the last six weeks or so wi' Mi."
"But Al, you an't on your own. I'm here." Nick squeezed Alex's hand, and smiled sheepishly when his stomach loudly rumbled. "I'm 'bout to starve. What've you got? D'ya need me to go out and get summat? Miles said there's a chippy about half a mile up road. We could walk on over, get some fish n'chips -"
"No," Alex said sullenly. "I don't wanna go. 'm just gunna sit 'ere on the settee and watch the telly. Maybe one o' them nature programmes wi' David Attenborough. You go on, Nick. 'm not right hungry. Just bring me back some chips, eh? I don't want anythin' else."
Nick took a deep breath. "I was afraid you'd say summat like that. Ordinarily I'd get on with it and say 'suit tha'sen.' But that was before Suffolk. Mate, don't get mardy with me, please. 'm just tryin' t'help, like."
Alex crossed his arms over his chest and scowled. "'Tryin' t'help,' you say. What exactly are you tryin' to help me with, Nick?"
Nick stood up and put his hand on Alex's shoulder. "I'm worried about ya, you twat. You're too deep in your 'ead again, I can tell. Miles is gunna be in London for two days. He said you're not sleepin' well, hardly eatin'. He phoned me and asked me to come here, for what it's worth."
Alex relaxed. "Did 'e really? I dunno if I should be flattered or insulted. I'm glad Mi was thinkin' of me, but at the same time, I'm a 35-year-old man. I don't think I need a babysitter."
Nick groaned. "Don't think of it that way. 'm not your babysitter, Al, I'm your mate. Look, whatever's goin' on between you and Miles is none of me fuckin' business, literally. I just want you to be happy. Now, go put proper clothes on."