Chapter 57 Lucas’s resolve
Either way, Alex knew one thing for certain. The damage wouldn’t be small.
That night, none of them could sleep well.
The next day at work, Lucas became a shadow of himself.
He arrived early, kept his head down, and buried himself in tasks that didn’t require conversation.
Every time Alex got close to Lucas’s station, Lucas found a reason to keep his distance. If Alex turned toward him, Lucas turned away. Short answers replaced smiles. Distance replaced warmth.
Alex noticed immediately.
It was subtle—but Alex knew Lucas too well already not to feel it. The easy closeness from the night before was gone, replaced by something sharp and deliberate…avoidance.
“Lucas,” Alex called softly when he intentionally passed by the prep station.
“I need to finish this,” Lucas replied without looking up, hands moving faster than necessary.
Alex hesitated, then stepped closer. “Did I do something wrong…”
“I’m busy, Alex,” Lucas cut in, voice polite but firm.
It was too firm to tell Alex that something was definitely up. The words landed like a slap to the face.
Throughout the morning, Alex tried again and again. A pause at Lucas’s station. A gentle question. A quiet request to talk later. Each attempt was met with an excuse, a deflection, a wall that grew higher every hour.
By midday, Alex’s patience snapped—not in anger, but in fear.
He caught Lucas in the corridor just outside the storage room, blocking his path before he could slip away again.
“Lucas. Please. Talk to me.”
Lucas stopped abruptly, shoulders stiff. For a second, he said nothing. Then he laughed softly—but there was no humor in it.
“What is there to talk about?” he asked, finally lifting his eyes. They were guarded now. Distant.
“You tell me,” Alex replied, searching his face. “You won’t even look at me today.”
Lucas’s jaw tightened. “Maybe I shouldn’t have been looking at you at all.”
Alex frowned. “What does that mean?”
“It means,” Lucas said, breath shaking despite his effort to stay calm, “that I forgot something important.”
“And what’s that?”
“That you don’t just walk away from people without hurting them.”
The words hit hard. Alex went still. “Lucas…”
“You broke up with my friend, Alex.”
Silence crashed between them.
Alex’s chest tightened. “You know.”
“Yes, I found out last night that it was you.” Lucas continued, pain flashing across his face now. “And the worst part? You knew he was my friend. And you still let this happen.”
“That’s not fair,” Alex said quickly. “I didn’t plan this. I didn’t even think…”
“That’s the problem,” Lucas snapped, voice low but sharp. “You didn’t think about Nathan. Or about me.”
“I care about you, Lucas. I've always cared about you even before I found you…even before I met Nathan.” Alex said, the words spilling out before he could stop them.
Lucas flinched as if struck. “Don’t,” he whispered. “Please don’t say that.”
“Why not?”
“Because caring has consequences,” Lucas replied, eyes shining. “And I won’t be the reason my friend hurts more than he already does.”
Alex reached out instinctively, then stopped himself. “Lucas, listen. I never meant to hurt Nathan. And I would never use you to replace him.”
“I don’t want to be anything to you,” Lucas said, voice breaking despite his resolve. “Not now. Not like this.”
The door behind them creaked as someone passed, reminding them where they were. Lucas straightened, pulling himself back together piece by piece.
“This is work,” he said quietly. “Let’s keep it that way.”
He stepped around Alex and walked off, leaving Alex standing there with a heavy heart. His hands shook, the collision finally started and the damage was already real.
Meanwhile, Zenith noticed tension almost immediately. His interest in Lucas had made him hover like a hawk.
The day before, Alex and Lucas had moved around each other with an unspoken rhythm…shared glances, quiet smiles, a closeness that didn’t need explaining. But today, that rhythm was gone. In its place was tension so sharp it could be tasted.
Zenith’s eyes narrowed slightly as he watched from across the kitchen.
Lucas kept his focus locked on his station, shoulders tight, expression closed. Alex hovered more than necessary, then pulled back, frustration etched into every line of his face. They didn’t joke. They didn’t exchange looks. They didn’t even stand near each other unless work forced it.
“Hmm, Interesting,” Zenith whispered to himself. Then, in no time, he wiped his hands on his apron and took his time approaching Lucas, choosing his moment carefully. “You’re unusually quiet today,” he said lightly. “Is everything okay?”
Lucas didn’t look up. “I’m fine, Chef Zenith.”
Zenith smiled. The kind of smile that tested boundaries. “You don’t have to be so formal with me. Not after yesterday. I see you as my friend now.”
Lucas paused for half a second…just long enough for Zenith to notice. Then resumed chopping. “I prefer to keep things professional at work.”
That only intrigued Zenith more.
He lingered, leaning against the counter. “You know,” he continued casually, “if you ever need someone to talk to, I’m a very good listener.”
“I don’t need anyone. I'm fine, okay,” Lucas replied flatly.
From across the kitchen, Alex stiffened. He watched the exchange, jaw tightening, hands curling at his sides. Zenith noticed that too, and something smug flickered across his face.
Zenith stepped even closer to Lucas, lowering his voice. “You don’t have to shut everyone out just because one person disappointed you.”
That did it…Lucas dropped the towel in his hands and finally looked up, eyes cold. “You don’t know anything about me, Zenith,” he said quietly. “And I would appreciate it if you stopped trying to know.”
Zenith raised his brows, amused. “Straight to the point. I like that.”
“I don’t care,” Lucas replied, already turning back to his work. “Please excuse me.”
Zenith stepped aside as Lucas passed, but his gaze followed him, calculating and intent.
Alex caught Lucas near the sink moments later. “Zenith’s pushing,” he muttered under his breath. “You don’t have to entertain him.”
Lucas didn’t even slow down. “You don’t get to protect me. I can take care of myself.”
The words cut deeper than Lucas intended, but he didn’t take them back. He couldn’t.
Alex stopped short, watching him walk away again.
Meanwhile, Zenith observed it all from a distance, satisfaction curling in his chest. “So the door between them had cracked, that's so fast. What the heck happened?” Zenith's curiosity piqued. “Well, that's good for me,” he whispered happily.
Later, he tried again, offering help, praise, and proximity. But Lucas shut him down every time, and he did it politely, firmly, and remained unavailable.
By the end of the shift, Zenith’s interest had not faded, but Lucas’s resolve had hardened. He wouldn’t be pulled into anyone else’s game.
And Alex, watching Lucas choose distance over comfort, realized something painfully clear,
Zenith wasn’t the only one paying attention anymore.