Chapter 172: Who Even Falls For Their Bully?! (BC)
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That evening, the dining room was softly lit by the chandelier, its crystals casting a warm glow over the long mahogany table filled with roasted lamb, fluffy garlic mashed potatoes, and a vibrant mix of winter vegetables steaming in their dishes.
Adrien and I found ourselves sitting next to each other, whether by chance or some odd twist of fate, I couldn’t quite tell—but that little space between us felt both cramped and strangely expansive. Each time his sleeve brushed against mine as he reached for the water pitcher, it sent a jolt through me, and I focused intently on my plate, hoping no one caught me hovering my fork over the food without actually eating it.
Across from us, Mom and Keith were wrapped up in their own little bubble, just like they always were after their romantic getaways. Keith had his arm draped over the back of Mom’s chair, his fingers tracing lazy circles on her shoulder while she leaned into him, giggling softly at something he murmured.
Ew, please teach me how to evaporate or something.
They shared stories of their anniversary trips, their eyes sparkling with joy, which made me feel both happy for them and a bit embarrassed, tales of stolen kisses in snowy vineyards, intimate dinners under twinkling lights, dancing to old songs on terraces overlooking the hills.
Occasionally, Keith would punctuate a memory with a kiss on Mom’s temple or a squeeze of her hand, making her blush like a schoolgirl. Adrien and I exchanged quick glances each time, a shared cringe we’d honed over the weeks, though tonight, his eyes diverted from mine almost instantly.
I couldn’t help it, my gaze kept drifting to him. The soft glow highlighted the sharp angle of his jaw, the dark fringe of his lashes when he looked at his plate, and the subtle movement of his throat as he swallowed.
He was too handsome in that effortless way that had always made my stomach twist, even during the times I couldn’t stand him. And now... my mind kept replaying that moment in the hallway in vivid detail. The heat of his body pressing against mine, the urgent slide of his mouth, the low sound he made when I kissed him back.
Who would have thought the guy who along with his friends, made fun of me for being gay...was not so straight himself?