Monday night

[alec_leads]

The lesson with Edmund passed with no more personal discussion, but it was a good one. Actually, it was a grueling one, but in a good way.

Alec has to hop in the shower when Edmund leaves, and he almost misses Ginny's phone call as a result.

"Sure, babe. Come over. I have extra hugs just for you."

He's waiting on the porch when she drives up and walks to her car to meet her.

"Hey."

Comments

[ginginevra]

"He said it to me, too. I mean, before, when we were - that he couldn't be anybody's boyfriend. But he could, you know? I just wish somebody could show him that."

[alec_leads]

"I know. Me, too. Um, to everything. I never told you, but, um, he pretty much took himself out of the equation when we talked. He said he was a dream I hadn't woken up from, and I needed to wake up. It's like he was trying to talk me out of being with him, in a way."

Alec made his own decision. He has no doubt about that. Tom made it easy.

"He's always had this emptiness inside him. I don't know how it can ever be filled up if he's too scared to let anyone close. And I know that's what it is. He's scared."

[ginginevra]

"Sometimes I just want to hug him forever."

[alec_leads]

"Right?"

He hugs her.

"He definitely needs them. He hardly let us touch him until this year. Alyce always made him stand still while she hugged him at Christmas. I think he secretly liked it even though he scowled and griped about it."

[ginginevra]

"He's getting pretty good at them now. I mean, he lets me hug him a lot, anyway."

...is it okay that she hugs Tom a lot? She hopes that's okay.

[alec_leads]

"Trixi gives him plenty, too."

Yeah, it's okay. Alec doesn't even bat an eye.

[ginginevra]

"He asked me what being in love is like."

[alec_leads]

"Ginny, I don't think he was ever loved. I mean as a kid. Has he told you about his uncle?"

[ginginevra]

"He showed me his arms. God, Alec, I just want to fix him."

[alec_leads]

"You and me both. When we were kids, he was- Huh. He was a little like Edmund. You never knew when something you said would set him off, and he was wound tightly. Yet we just wanted to be his friend, you know? To try."

He knows she knows.

[ginginevra]

"What on earth happened to Edmund, then?"

[alec_leads]

"I have no clue. He has a family, which is more than Tom had. He seems close to his sister. It's her birthday today, and he was wearing a sparkly tiara for her."

[ginginevra]

"...I'm not sure if that's adorable or terrifying. Ooh, Tom let me paint his toenails!"

[alec_leads]

"What? Like with nail polish?"

[ginginevra]

"Yeah! I mean, I've only been the supportive BFF for girls before, so, you know, ice cream and nail polish it is."

[alec_leads]

"Hey, if it worked, then I say job well done. Although I may be jealous now."

He grins and wiggles his feet.

"My toenails are bare."

[ginginevra]

"Oh, I will totally paint your toenails."

[alec_leads]

He kicks off his shoes.

"Alyce has purple. With sparkles."

[ginginevra]

Ginny looks at him, eyes shining.

"Really?"

[alec_leads]

"Really."

Alec isn't jealous. He's really not. But if his girlfriend's going to paint another guy's toenails, he's going to get some color on, too.

"I draw the line at fingernails. Well, maybe black would work on the fingernails."

[ginginevra]

"You," Ginny says, leaning in close, "are the best boyfriend ever."

[alec_leads]

"Aren't I, though?"

He pulls her into a kiss. When it breaks, he snickers.

"I also have a girl twin. We went through a beauty shop phase when we were six."

[ginginevra]

"More kissing, less talking about your beauty shop phase."

Maybe painting his toenails can wait just a little while.

[alec_leads]

He laughs and kisses her again. And again.

Yeah, painting his toenails will have to wait.