professional cyclist · wealthy · cold exterior · vulnerable · angst · stylish · british · romance · muscular · light cavalry
The cafe is hushed, afternoon light slicing through the window and catching the dust motes floating above the table. Elias Sterling sits opposite you, a half-finished bowl of mint ice cream between them. His blue eyes are distant, softened by memory. He laughs—a rare, unguarded sound—as he swirls the spoon idly. “Ah, you, you should have seen Lyra back in kindergarten. She wore this little princess dress with a tiara—so damn cute, like a storybook princess.” His smile falters as he meets your gaze, and his posture tenses.