LOGIN~DAMIEN~“Dad, are you even listening?”Ella’s voice pulls me out of the fog, and I blink, forcing my attention back to the dining table.She’s staring at me, her brows slightly furrowed, her spoon halfway to her mouth.Gabriel is quieter. Too quiet.“I’m listening,” I say, even though I have no idea what she just said.I pick up my coffee and take a sip, but it tastes like nothing.Everything tastes like nothing these days.“You’ve been weird,” Ella mutters.“I’m not weird,” I reply flatly.She raises a brow. “You just called cereal ‘soup’ five minutes ago.”I pause.Did I?“Eat your food, Ella.”She rolls her eyes but obeys, mumbling something under her breath.I glance at Gabriel.He hasn’t touched his food.His eyes are distant, his jaw tight, his fingers clenched around his fork like he’s holding onto something invisible.He’s been like this… ever since that day.Ever since he went to Holly’s house last.I'm really curious to know what happened there,
~DAMIEN~I foolishly expected Holly to show up on New Year's Day.But she didn't, and I have never hated a day this much in my entire life.The house was too quiet.Not the peaceful kind of quiet… no.That one was loud and echoed. A silence that pressed into my chest and sat there like something heavy and suffocating.I was standing by the window in the living room, staring outside at nothing in particular. The streets were unusually calm, a stark contrast to last night’s chaos—fireworks, laughter, celebration.People welcoming a new beginning.And there I was…drowning in an ending.I was holding my phone in my hand all through, even though I didn't remember when I picked it up, but I remembered why I was holding it.I was glancing at the screen over and over again for a message from Holly, or a call from her, but I got nothing from her.No “Happy New Year, Damien.”My grip tightened unconsciously.“She’ll text,” I muttered under my breath, more to convince mys
~HOLLY~It's finally New Year’s Day.I wake up to silence,but not the peaceful kind.Not the soft, comforting quiet that makes you want to stretch and smile and breathe in a fresh start.No.This kind of silence is… heavy.It presses down on my chest the moment my eyes open, like something is sitting on me, refusing to let me breathe properly.For a few seconds, I just lie there, staring at the ceiling, blank and empty.Then it hits me.New year….A new beginning. A fresh start.That’s what it’s supposed to feel like, right?It's supposed to feel exciting, hopeful, full of possibilities.But all I feel is… nothing.My hand slowly reaches for my phone beside me.My heart does this stupid little hopeful flutter as the screen lights up.Maybe…maybe there’s a message.Maybe they texted.Maybe…..My breath catches as I unlock it quickly.And then, nothing.No notifications. No messages. No missed calls.Just… nothing.My chest tightens painfully.Not from one person,
~HOLLY~I can’t breathe.I swear I can’t breathe.The words I love you are still echoing in my head like they’ve carved themselves into the walls of this room.Gabriel loves me.My best friend.My person.The one who knows everything about me… except this.Except the one truth that would ruin everything.I just stare at him, speechless.Completely, utterly speechless.My lips are slightly parted, but nothing comes out. Not a single word. Not even a whisper.Because what can I say?My brain is scrambling, trying to catch up with everything he just said, but my heart… my stupid, confused heart… is pounding too loudly for me to think straight.“Say something, Holly…” he murmurs, his voice softer now, almost fragile.I swallow hard, but my throat feels dry.“I…” My voice comes out faint, shaky. “I…”Nothing.Nothing follows.God, why can’t I talk?Why can’t I just say something?Gabriel takes a slow step closer, his eyes never leaving mine.“I love you, Holly,”
~HOLLY~The apartment falls into silence again after Gabriel leaves.But this time, it feels suffocating…..too quiet, too empty.I just had a big fight with my best friend, and I have never seen him act this way before.I stand there, frozen.My heart racing, my chest tight.Did I just lose him?Is he gone forever??The thought sends a wave of panic through me.No.No, that can’t be it.He’ll come back.Right?He always comes back.…Right?I wrap my arms around myself, pacing slowly across the room.My fingers tremble as I drag them through my hair, my breathing uneven.“Why did I say that…?” I whisper to myself, my voice barely audible.The argument replays in my head—every word, every expression on his face.The hurt.The anger.The disappointment.“I didn’t mean it like that…” I murmur, shaking my head as if I could undo everything.I glance at my phone on the table.For a moment, I hesitate… then grab it.My thumb hovers over his name.Call him.Apologize.
~HOLLY~The next morning comes too quickly.I barely have the energy to get out of bed, but I force myself to.I need to act normal, think normal, be normal.Even if nothing about my life feels that way right now.I’m in the middle of making tea when I hear a knock on my door.My heart skips just once.I already know who it is.Only one person can be here this early in the morning.I walk to the door slowly, my fingers hesitating on the handle for a brief second before I pull it open.Gabriel stands there , fresh, annoyingly handsome, and holding a bag of groceries.“Good morning to you too,” he says casually, walking past me into the apartment like he owns it.I blink.“You didn’t even wait for me to invite you in,” I say, following him into the room.“I don’t need permission,” he replies, dropping the bag on the counter. “This is an intervention.”I sigh, closing the door.“Another one?” I ask.“Yes,” he says firmly. “This one is more serious. So you be
~DAMIEN~I begin the way she did, by lathering her back. Her body is so soft and smooth and I decided to be very careful with her.I rub her gently, being sure not to give her any pain.Instead of trying a massage like she did, I run my hands up and down her shoulder blades
~HOLLY~Oh my God!I can't believe I am doing this. Can't believe I am jerking him off in the bath tub.But that is exactly what I am doing.I watch, mesmerized, as my hands move over his huge cock. He is so exactly the opposite of Troy, my ex, that it doesn't feel real. I
~DAMIEN~I help her step out of the bathroom and into the bedroom, careful and steady, as if she might still float away if I let go.I walk to the bedroom where she dropped the clothes I gave her earlier.“Like I said, you can wear my clothes,” I say gruffly, already turning my
~DAMIEN~My cock is getting harder each passing minute.It seems like the more I try not to think about this curvy little human pressed against me, the more that is all I could think about.Holly seems to be having trouble falling asleep also. She shifts restlessly against me,







