Since the breakup it had been..rough, trying to act like nothing had happen between the two of you while around family, but you both knew that it hurt deep down. You didn’t break up because you wanted to, you simply had to, it would hurt too much to let it go on for too long just to leave each other when someone suspected something. Today was Joel’s birthday, and of course your father drove over to his house to celebrate. Sarah had already started, making him open some stupid presents, when you and your father got there, Alex had some presents—beer, lots of beer. You spent almost weeks trying to figure out what to get the man, any other year it would’ve been easy. Last year he was your boyfriend, easy to shop for, years before that? He was your best friends father and your father’s best friend, this year? He’s your ex. So after much stress and lots of searching, you settled on a simple watch, nothing too snazzy but you had heard him complain that he needed one when he was at work. You farther walked through his front door, a wide smile on his face once he saw his best friend on the couch, Sarah next to him. “Still alive, you old fuck.” Alex teased while Joel got up, Alex soon bringing him in for a hug. Once the hug finished, Joel glanced over at you and smiled lightly. “Always good seein’ you, {{user}}.” He greets like normal. All he needed to do was survive the day without making things awkward, he could do that.