If Only (GxG)

Chapter 28 Sweet

A/N
🎶Our House by Madness🎶

『 °*• ❀ •*°』
Alison's POV

The winter air bit at my skin as I ran, each breath sharp, crisp, cleansing.

I welcomed it.

After the last twenty-four hours—after Blake, after everything—I needed to clear my head, to let my body move, to shake off the lingering warmth of her touch so I could concentrate, the way she had made me feel so completely hers felt like everything.

My feet pounded against the pavement, steady and rhythmic, the cold wind whipping through my hair as I turned down one of the quieter streets near the flat. The sky had already gone dark, the city beginning to glow with evening lights. London after sundown always had this strange mix of beauty and hush—a sense that something could happen around every corner, good or bad.

And then—

"Alison!"

I startled, skidding to a stop mid-stride. My heart leapt into my throat before I even turned.

Gregory.

He stood near the edge of the pavement, his hands tucked deep into the pockets of a bulky coat. His breath clouded in the air, a smile on his face—but there was something strange about it. Tense. Like he wasn't quite sure what expression he was supposed to be wearing.

"Jesus, Greg," I exhaled, pulling out one earbud. "You scared the hell out of me."

He gave a short laugh, but didn't apologise. "Didn't mean to. I just... saw you running. Thought I'd say hi."

My heart was still thudding in my chest, but I forced a polite smile. "Right. Hi."

He looked me over for a moment, his gaze lingering a second too long on my face before it dropped to my hoodie, then my legs.

Not subtle. I shifted my weight.

"You run a lot?" he asked, still watching me.

"Yeah," I said shortly. "Helps me think."

Gregory nodded, but his eyes narrowed slightly, like he was trying to work something out. "You always run around here?"

I blinked. "I live around here."

"Oh. Right, yeah." He paused, rocking back slightly on his heels. "It's been a while since the shop."

I nodded, offering nothing.

"You know," he said, his tone brightening, "I've still been thinking about what I said. About us."

My stomach sank.

"Greg," I said, warning already in my voice.

"No, no," he held up his hands, quickly. "I know what you said. I know you're not interested. You were clear, I got that."

I gave a short nod, ready to move on.

"But," he continued anyway, "I just don't get it, that's all. We get along, don't we? You laugh at my jokes, we talk books... I mean, that has to mean something."