The morning after that unforgettable night, Milo woke up with a mix of excitement and dread. He'd barely slept, and his heart skipped nervously as he thought about seeing Victor again. But as he made his way downstairs, he was determined to play it cool, as if nothing unusual had happened.
Victor was already in the kitchen, casually sipping his coffee while skimming through his phone. The sight of him, calm and collected, somehow made Milo's nerves worse. He tried his best to act normal, keeping his eyes down as he mumbled a quick "Good morning" and made himself a coffee without so much as glancing in Victor's direction.
Victor noticed the sudden shyness, his own face warming as he remembered the night before. He hesitated for a moment, hoping Milo might bring it up, but it quickly became clear that Milo was avoiding any eye contact, his every action rushed and awkward.
"So, um… busy day ahead?" Victor finally asked, trying to break the tension.
Milo just nodded hastily. "Yeah, very. Lots of things… lots of, uh… work to do." He practically darted out of the kitchen with his coffee, leaving Victor slightly amused but also disappointed. The easy, comfortable moments they'd shared seemed to have disappeared overnight, replaced by this nervous avoidance.
Throughout the week, Milo continued to keep his distance. At work, he made sure to stay in his studio, rarely stepping out except when necessary. If he sensed Victor was nearby, he found an excuse to head in the opposite direction or bury himself in his work. Even when Mr. Henry Kingsley invited Milo for lunch or dinner, he politely declined, making vague excuses that left both Henry and Victor puzzled.
Victor found himself missing the lively conversations and Milo's warm laughter. He couldn't help but feel a bit frustrated, unsure if Milo was just embarrassed or if he'd genuinely upset him somehow.
"Has something happened between you two?" Henry asked Victor one evening, noticing the tension that had crept into their interactions.
Victor shrugged, looking at his father thoughtfully. "I don't know… maybe he's just busy," he replied, trying to sound nonchalant. But deep down, he was starting to wonder if that night had changed things between them more than he'd anticipated.
Days stretched into a week, with Milo dodging every interaction. His nerves hadn't quite settled, and the embarrassment he felt whenever he recalled their conversation only seemed to grow stronger. He started leaving work early, avoiding the Kingsley home altogether, feeling torn between his lingering feelings and his need to keep things professional.
But Victor was growing tired of the distance. He didn't want to let the connection they'd built slip away so easily. And as the week went on, he began to wonder how much longer Milo would be able to keep this up—and whether he should do something to bring Milo out of his self-imposed shell.
***