After the meeting wrapped up, William couldn’t help but release a long, pent-up breath. He felt like he’d been holding it in the entire time, like if he’d exhaled even once, he’d have given everything away. He leaned back in his chair, trying to shake off the anxiety that had been weighing on him for the last hour.
“Thank God that’s over,” William muttered to himself, running a hand through his hair. “I thought I was gonna die from holding my breath.”
Luke, who had been gathering the papers and preparing to leave, looked over at him with a small, almost amused smile. “You’re cute when you’re nervous,” he said, his voice light, but there was an absolute warmness to it.
William’s heart skipped a beat at the unexpected compliment. “What?” he asked, his voice a little higher than usual as he stared at Luke. He couldn’t tell if Luke was joking or if there was something more behind it.
Luke just shrugged, that same smile still on his lips. “You are,” he said casually, turning to grab his jacket from the back of his chair. “Not bad for someone who looks like they’re about to pass out at any second.”
William couldn’t help but feel the heat rush to his cheeks. His mind was still reeling from the meeting, and now, this? “Yeah, well... I’m glad it’s over. Not the easiest thing I’ve ever done.”
Luke chuckled, slipping on his jacket and giving William a playful look. “You survived, though. And that’s what matters. You did fine.”
William met his eyes, still trying to make sense of the way Luke was acting. Was he being genuine? Or was this just how things were now? Whatever the case, it felt like a small crack in the wall that had been between them for so long. It wasn’t much, but it was enough to make him wonder if things between them could be different.
“Thanks,” William said quietly, suddenly unsure of what else to say.
Luke grinned, his expression softening. “No problem, man. You did well.”
As they walked out of the room together, William couldn’t shake the feeling that, even though everything seemed normal on the surface, there was something new growing between them. And he wasn’t sure whether that scared him or made him feel hopeful.
ns 15.158.61.16da2
