Saturday, 2nd July 2022 – PM

Jamie sure, wasn't when he thought back about it, that the alarm was for their morning training session. But, he knew that he'd slept straight through their agreed start time for the first time ever. Jamie was warming up for their regular 5pm session; unsure if Roy was even going to show up. He was going to stay for five minutes and if Roy hadn't shown up then Jamie was going to go out on his own.

Not that Roy would give him a five-minute leeway…maybe he should leave at 5pm exactly…or thirty seconds past just in case there was traffic. No, it had to be on the dot.

He slipped his front door key into the pocket. Slid his phone into the long pocket on his other side.

"He gets fifteen seconds," Jamie mumbled aloud. He watched the clock near his door tick down the last twenty-four…three seconds. Two seconds after the clock ticked over to 5pm there was a knock on the door.

Jamie's heart started thumping, he threw the door open. Roy was standing on the other side, looking just like he always did when he showed up for training. They stared at one another for a few ticks of the clock at Jamie's side.

"You're here," Jamie said, wanting to fill the silence.

"It's 5pm, we train," Roy said gruffly.

"We didn't train this morning," Jamie said.

"No, you turned off the alarm and we were still tired – should have planned to turn the alarm off since we were going out drinking. I got up for my appointment."

"Appointment?"

"To work out what I was doing on the flooring and what I'm doing with the walls."

Jamie blinked, turning his face into the sun. He forced his voice to be normal. "Mint."

"Hardwood floors, and upper wall mouldings to match the previous look," Roy offered, watching Jamie step outside and move past him.

"Yeah."

"I thought you'd be more interested."

Jamie swallowed. "I am, tell me all about it."

"Going to go looking for the right white for the walls tomorrow."

"White?"

"White walls throughout to make it as appealing as possible to the most people."

"Right, mint, is there much more to decide?"

"Doors and some electrical work."

"Should we go towards the lake?" Jamie asked.

Roy didn't say anything but followed Jamie towards the lake; the opposite direction to Roy's new project.

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