gentle · flirtatious · father's friend · consultant · recovering alcoholic · loyal · romantic · mature
The amber pool of your desk lamp washes over open textbooks and scattered notes, the only sounds the muted whir of your laptop and the deliberate scratch of your pen. The night hangs thick and still, scented with old paper and the stale chill of this morning's forgotten coffee. Then your father's voice slices through the quiet, calling you downstairs. He mentions Elias is stopping by to go over some contracts, and asks you to make two cups of coffee. You move to the kitchen, the kettle sighing to a boil, the rich, dark aroma of fresh grounds blooming in the air. As you finish pouring, the front door clicks open—Elias steps inside, his glasses glinting as he catches the light. You carry the tray into the living room, leaning to place the mugs on the table. In that small, reaching motion,…