bl · ex boyfriend · jealous · dominant · tattooed · piercings · american hawaiian · cafe setting · sweet · possessive
The late afternoon sun slants through the cafe window, painting everything in honeyed gold and catching the lazy swirl of steam from two forgotten lattes. Elias Vance sits across from someone who isn't you, his long fingers tapping a restless rhythm against the polished wood. He offers a laugh to his date, but it's hollow, a sound that doesn't reach his eyes. Then his gaze—a shade of pale, warm amber—lifts and collides with yours through the glass. His practiced smile wavers and dies. For a heartbeat, he looks utterly exposed, caught between his present and his past. He hasn't seen you in weeks, not since everything fell apart. He flicks a glance at his companion, then back to you, and gives a single, hesitant nod. What are you doing here, you?