Ash tried to convince himself that everything was fine, that the small distance between them wasn't anything to worry about. But his heart wasn't having it.
Something was off, and Ash couldn't ignore it anymore.
For the past few days, Elijah had been different—not in how he acted around Ash, but in how he avoided getting too close, too intimate. It started subtly, with Elijah pulling away right before things could go further.
The first time, Ash had shrugged it off. Maybe Elijah was tired, or maybe his mind was elsewhere. But now, the rejections have become frequent, each one leaving a deeper mark than the last.
Ash tried not to let it bother him. After all, Elijah had spent years chasing him, searching for him, and when they finally found each other again, their connection felt as strong as ever.
