Semua Bab Case Study: You (MxM Romance): Bab 11 - Bab 20

ADRIANIt was peaceful not seeing Lucas all week.But that peace lasted shorter than I wanted.Unfortunately, I was hit with the heavy reminder that some places carried memories whether you wanted them to or not.Like right now. As I stepped into a place that reminded me of Lucas.The moment I stepped through the entrance of Eclipse, I regretted agreeing to come.Music pulsed through the dimly lit bar, the heavy bass vibrating beneath my feet. Purple and blue lights swept lazily across the room, painting everything in shifting colors. Laughter rose above the music in bursts, mixing with the clinking of glasses and the occasional conversation.The smell was familiar too. Alcohol, smoke, a mix of expensive cologne and cheap perfume.My eyes drifted almost instinctively toward the bar counter. The exact same stool. The exact same corner.That was where I’d been sitting two weeks ago, nursing a glass of whiskey and wondering how the past five years of my life had unraveled in a single da

LUCASHe stopped and turned around slowly.His expression immediately tightened.“What are you doing here?”“I could ask you the same thing.” I shoved my hands into my pockets. “Who was that?”His eyebrows knitted together. “Excuse me?”“The guy inside. The one you were with.”He stared at me for several long seconds.“I don’t see how that’s any concern of yours.”“Why is it so hard for you to just answer a question?”“Mr. Carter—”“I told you to call me Lucas.” His eyes narrowed but he didn’t say a word. “So who is he?” I pressed.“A friend.”“Just a friend?”His expression hardened.“I don’t owe you an explanation.”“Maybe not,” I admitted. “But I’d still like one.”He shook his head. “Goodnight, Mr. Carter.”He started walking away.For a moment, I stayed where I was.However, I couldn’t resist following him.He turned back to me with a sigh.“Are you seriously following me?”“I have nowhere else to go. Can’t head back to campus.”“Why not?”“I’ve had a bit too much to drink.”He

ADRIANBeing in close quarters with Lucas Carter was a recipe for disaster, I was beginning to realize.The guy just had a way of wedging himself in, even when I tried so desperately to keep him out.The fact that I allowed him to come into my house, when I had never done that for anyone else apart from Dylan, was proof of how dangerous he was.And now… as he told me about his mother, I felt a strange tug in my heart. He didn’t say much, but he didn’t have to. It was like he understood. Like he knew exactly how I felt.And because of that, I felt a strange feeling of comfort wash over me.It was unwarranted and unexpected, especially considering who he was. And how much of a threat to everything he was. It was like toying with fire.Which was why he needed to leave now.To be honest, I didn’t know why he was still here.Breakfast should have been the end of it. He should have gathered his things and left right after.Instead, almost thirty minutes later, he was still standing in my k

ADRIANI hadn’t seen Dylan since the day I saw him kissing a woman he supposedly thought of as a sister. The day that I threw his expensive ring to his face.The day he told me that I was a cold, functional robot that wasn’t good at letting people in.A bunch of overwhelming emotions welled in my chest as I stared at him as he stood in my living room.The apartment was eerily quiet after Lucas left.The echo of the slammed door still lingered in my ears.Dylan dropped his duffel bag on one of the chairs with a sigh. He looked too comfortable as he glanced around the apartment.He looked as though it still belonged to him. Like he still had a right to be here.I hated that.“The apartment hasn’t changed much,” he tried with a smile. “Everything is exactly how I remember.”“This way,” I said flatly.Without waiting for him, I walked in the direction of the bedroom.On the way, I pointed to the box sitting in the hallway closet.“Those are some of your things I gathered in a box. The res

LUCASNoah glanced between the two of us, then patted my shoulder.“Catch up with you later?”“Yeah.”I slowly made my way back to where Adrian stood.He didn’t say anything when I stood in front of him. It was as if he was waiting for the room to clear out.As the last person finally left the room, he finally spoke.“You’re mad.”“Is it that obvious?” I asked sarcastically.“What I don’t understand is why.”“Really? We were having such a nice time at your house and then you ditched me for your ex.”His eyes hardened. “I don’t understand why you’re acting so entitled. We are not in a relationship. I owe you nothing.”I knew that, of course. I knew I was being irrational, but it still stung a little to hear that I essentially meant nothing to him.I felt shunned.“Right. Of course.” My fingers tightened on the strap of my backpack. “Bye then.”I turned to leave but his voice stopped me again.“Wait.”I let out a sigh as I turned back around. I wished I could just leave but… yeah.“Wha