Jay turned the handle and pulled the door open, the soft click of the latch echoing louder than it should in the quiet hallway. His heart gave an unexpected lurch as cool air from the landing brushed against his skin.
Marcus stood there on the landing, phone still gripped loosely in one hand, a small plastic bag swinging idly from his fingers. He looked exactly like he always did messy hair falling across his forehead in that careless way, the oversized campus hoodie zipped halfway up, and that easy grin spreading across his face like he had just decided on a whim to show up without a second thought. The afternoon light caught the faint stubble on his jaw, and the familiar scent of his cologne mixed with the faint city breeze drifting up the stairs.
"Hey," Jay said, forcing a smile that felt too tight, the corners of his mouth pulling awkwardly as he tried to keep his voice steady. "Marcus, um… how did you even get my address to my apartment?"
