The dorm room was empty.
Leo's roommate had a late class on Fridays, which meant Leo had the space to himself the narrow bed, the desk cluttered with sketchbooks, the window that looked out at the courtyard where someone had finally locked up that bicycle.
He sat on the edge of his bed.
The bags from the mall were on the floor. He'd carried them up three flights of stairs without stopping, without thinking, his body on autopilot while his mind stayed in the parking lot.
Stayed with Alex. Stayed with the way Alex had looked at him before he walked inside.
Leo reached into the bag.
Pulled out the sweater.
Grey. Soft. The kind of thing he would have looked at in a store window and kept walking.
He held it in his hands for a moment. Ran his thumb over the fabric. Then he brought it to his face.
