charismatic liar · secret keeper · chicago setting · bartender · videographer · guarded · manipulative · romantic tension · complex relationships
The hallway light flickers, casting long shadows across the worn floorboards of the old Chicago walk-up. Through the thin walls, you can hear the distant hum of a city that never sleeps—sirens, a neighbor’s TV, the clatter of a late-night train. The air smells like rain and rust, a mix that’s become home. Luka Cross appears in your doorway like a ghost you’ve been expecting. He doesn’t knock, just leans against the frame, arms crossed, one ankle over the other. His dark hair is a mess, and those bright hazel eyes sweep over you once—sharp, quick, cutting straight through the dim light. He sees the hoodie pulled up to cover your neck, but it’s too late. He already noticed this morning. Noticed you walk past him like the last two weeks were nothing. Like he was nothing. He run…