Elijah finally made a way for himself, stepping back to look at the person who had called his name.
"Hey, Lhiam…" Elijah's voice was casual, as if he hadn't been standing so close to me just a moment ago.
My heart began to pound even harder. It wasn't because of the tingling warmth from Elijah's closeness, but because Lhiam was here. He was standing just a few feet away, looking straight at us. My gaze stayed
stubbornly fixed on the ground. I didn't dare to meet Lhiam's eyes.
"Is the practice over?" he asked, a teasing glint in his voice. It made my breath hitch.
Elijah chuckled softly. "Not yet," he replied, his tone light.
Lhiam's lips curled into a smirk as he let his gaze wander to me. "Hmm… and who's this? your new boy?"
My heart stuttered. I felt a flush of panic flood my chest, and I had to resist the urge to meet his eyes.
"Oh, I wish I could…" Elijah said playfully, and let out a laugh that only made me glare at him secretly—what the hell was he saying?
"He's my godfather's son," Elijah finally admitted, and I could feel my body trembling at the mention.
"Oh… but why's he hiding?" Lhiam asked, his tone amused but edged with curiosity. I prayed he wouldn't ask more. I didn't want him to see my face.
Elijah's eyes flickered to me, his teasing smile still there. "Yeah, hey brat, why are you hiding like that?" he said, giving my shoulder a playful pinch that made me jump.
Oh my God. This was the worst scenario possible. Yes, I wanted to see Lhiam—I'd dreamed about it countless times—but not like this. If he found out about me and Elijah, he'd think it was all just a ploy to get close to him.
And Lhiam…
Lhiam would hate me for sure. More than he probably already did. The thought of that rejection made my stomach twist.
I couldn't stay here a second longer. My mind screamed for escape, and my body obeyed. I grabbed Elijah's wrist and yanked him forward, practically dragging him away from Lhiam.
"Let's go home," I said, my voice firm but my eyes still downcast, refusing to meet Lhiam's gaze.
"Hey, brat, wait—" Elijah's confusion was obvious, but I didn't care. I just needed to run, to get away from this moment before it broke me completely.
I didn't stop until we reached the parking lot, my breath coming in harsh gasps. I risked a glance over my shoulder, and there was Lhiam, just standing there. Watching. My heart clenched painfully—I wanted to talk to him so badly, but not now. Not with Elijah by my side.
And Elijah… he'd be a problem too. He might tell my dad. He might ruin everything and force me back to the US, away from Lhiam forever. I couldn't let that happen.
When we finally reached the car, Elijah turned to me, his eyes narrowed in suspicion.
"What?" I snapped, trying to act like nothing had happened.
"I thought you didn't want to go home," he said, squinting at me. His hand rested casually on the headrest of my seat as he leaned in, his expression half-curious, half-amused.
I bit my lip, searching for another lie to cover my panic. "Ahm… I—I'm hungry. I want to go home and eat," I muttered, rubbing my stomach for effect.
He sighed, his shoulders relaxing as he settled back into his seat. "You could've just told me that, you know." He started the engine, glancing at me with a small grin that told me he'd bought the excuse.
"Where do you want to eat? Let's eat somewhere." he asked, and I could almost melt with relief that he didn't seem to suspect anything.
"Ahm… Mc—" I began, but he cut me off by pressing his index finger against my lips.
For the second time. My eyes widened in disbelief, and I immediately slapped his hand away.
"You're not eating fast food." he said, his tone warning but his smirk still there.
I glared at him, my frustration boiling over. "Hey, can I make another rule?" I said sharply, my voice tinged with irritation.
He raised an eyebrow. "Again? What is it?"
"Don't fucking touch my lips with your dirty hands again." I snapped, my cheeks flushed with a mix of embarrassment and anger.
He laughed, as if I'd just said the most amusing thing in the world. "Alright, alright. Rule accepted," he said, half serious, half playful.
But then he did something that made my stomach do a slow, uncomfortable flip. He brought his fingers to his own lower lip, lightly tracing it, his hooded eyes flicking back to me.
"But… my lips touching yours is allowed?" he asked, his voice lower, laced with something that felt like a challenge—something that made me shiver.
My eyes widened. I swallowed hard, unable to speak. My heart thudded nervously in my chest as his meaning sank in. I sat there frozen, feeling like a rabbit caught in the headlights.
He let out a sharp laugh. "Fuck, I wish you could see your face right now. It's priceless." He leaned back in his seat, still chuckling.
I forced myself to look away, crossing my arms and scowling at the road ahead. "Don't fucking joke around like that again," I snapped, slumping into my seat with a frustrated sigh.
He only laughed more. God, I hated him. I really, really fucking hated him.
But I needed to keep my focus. This was my chance to learn something—anything—about Lhiam from Elijah. He didn't know how much Lhiam meant to me, and I had to keep it that way.
"Who is he?" I asked, my voice soft, careful.
Elijah glanced at me, his brow furrowed. "Who?"
"The guy you were talking to… earlier," I said, leaning my head against the window to hide my face.
"Hmm… his name is Lhiam?" he said lightly, as if he was only now realizing who I meant.
"Lhiam?" I repeated, feigning innocence. I already knew his full name. I'd spent nights whispering it to myself.
"Yeah. My best bud," Elijah said, glancing at me sideways. "Why? Interested in him?"
More than you'd ever know. But I just shrugged, playing it cool. "He's… kinda cute."
He's not just cute—he's ridiculously handsome, and I'm fucking in love with him.
He fell silent at that, so I peek at him.
His easy smile faded, I felt the shift in the air, like a sudden cold draft in the warmth of the car. I couldn't tell what he was thinking.
I looked at him, trying to read his expression. "N-not that he's my type," I stammered, panicking at the idea that he might be connecting dots about me and Lhiam, "But… actually he is… I mean, I wouldn't—"
"He's off-limits." Elijah's voice cut through my rambling, calm and final.
I froze. My heart seemed to stop beating altogether. "Why?" I asked, my voice small, but my hope was written in every line of my face, hoping that what I'm thinking right now is not true.
He didn't hesitate. "Lhiam has a girlfriend."
The words landed like a punch to the gut, knocking the breath from my lungs.
He has a girlfriend.
And it wasn't me.
My whole world seemed to collapse in that moment. The air felt heavy, suffocating. I turned my face to the window, hiding the tears that threatened to spill. I'd spent so long dreaming about him, hoping against hope. But now… it felt like all of that hope had been snatched away in an instant.