By the time Alex and Peter left sometime in the evening, Alex had already warmed up more to Carl. The playfulness in their interactions was gone, but at least he didn't want to beat Carl up anymore.
He even showed Carl the picture Ryan had sent them from his layover. A picture of Ryan holding on to his plane ticket, from the corner of the photo, Carl noticed a familiar, intricate silver wristwatch.
On Valentine's Day, when he first met Anthony, the man had been wearing the same watch. He didn't know why he remembered that little bit of detail, but he did, regardless.
On that day, Carl had immediately sensed Anthony's interest in Ryan the way the man's eyes followed Ryan was something he recognized very well. But Carl had felt secure in their relationship. Ryan had chosen him. And Ryan was his person.
Now, knowing the man was traveling with Ryan while they were more or less broken up filled Carl with a suffocating sense of dread.
