The days following his heated encounter with Dominic were a blur. Elijah had become a ghost in his own life, caught between the dangerous allure of Dominic's world and the faint echo of his old, carefree self. But today—today he was going to see his best friend.
It had been too long. He hadn't even noticed how much he missed their banter, their normality, their laughter. They had no idea about his tangled mess with Dominic, and that was probably for the best. Elijah needed a moment of peace, away from the suffocating weight of the mafia and the questions running through his head.
He picked up his phone and shot off a quick text to his best friend, Adrian:
Elijah: "Meet me at our usual spot? I need to get out for a bit."
Within seconds, Adrian's reply came through.
Adrian: "On my way. Everything good?"
Elijah quickly typed back, hiding the flicker of unease he felt.
Elijah: "Yeah. Just need a break."
---
When he arrived at their usual café, the familiar smell of freshly brewed coffee and baked goods greeted him, comforting in a way he hadn't realized he needed. Adrian was already there, sitting at their favorite table by the window, his phone in his hand but his eyes scanning the room.
"Elijah!" Adrian called, waving him over with a bright smile. The sight of him brought a small sense of relief, like stepping back into the world he once knew.
He grinned back, shaking off the heaviness that had been plaguing him. "Hey, Adrian."
They sat down, and for a while, Elijah just let himself relax. They talked about their usual trivial things—school, the latest gossip, their mutual friends. But Elijah couldn't shake the nagging feeling that this was all slipping away. His world was no longer as simple as it had been.
"What's been going on with you lately?" Adrian asked suddenly, his eyes narrowing as he studied him. "You've been distant, man. I mean, you never cancel plans."
Elijah hesitated, trying to find the right words. He didn't want to lie, but he didn't want to burden him with the chaos of his life. "Just... personal stuff. It's been a lot, you know?" He chuckled awkwardly. "Trying to figure some things out."
Adrian raised an eyebrow. "Things? What kind of things?"
Elijah felt his stomach churn. He couldn't tell him. Not about Dominic, not about the dangerous pull between them, not about the way Dominic had kissed him and left him feeling like everything he knew was changing.
"I don't know, Adrian. Just… life," he finally said, forcing a smile.
Adrian studied him for a moment longer, then shrugged, seemingly accepting his answer. "Okay, man. But if you need to talk, you know where to find me."
Elijah gave him a small nod, grateful for his understanding.
As they sat there, laughing and chatting, Elijah couldn't help but feel a small pang of guilt. He missed this. He missed being himself, without the weight of Dominic's world pressing down on him. But, deep down, he knew he couldn't ignore it forever.
The pull was getting stronger every day. Dominic had made it clear: Elijah was his. And no matter how much he tried to fight it, he wasn't sure how much longer he could resist.
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