Chapter 121

Chapter 121
Jace woke to a soft brightness spilling through the curtains, the kind of slow morning light that made everything look gentler than it really was. He blinked against it, waiting for his thoughts to catch up to his body. No hangover this time. No pounding behind his eyes. Just a dull heaviness in his chest.

He turned his head automatically to the other side of the bed.

It was empty, as it had been for weeks now.

He stared at the hollow space for a long moment, an old familiar ache curling deep in his ribs. That side used to hold warmth— Elias’s warmth. The indent of his body. The faint scent of the cologne that used to cling to the pillow even after he left for work.

Not anymore.

Not now that everything had fallen apart.

Jace exhaled slowly and rolled onto his back, trying to shake the memories off. Today was not meant for thinking about Elias. He had decided that, firmly, the moment he opened his eyes. He did not have the strength for that kind of self-inflicted pain so early in the morning.

He rubbed his hand over his face and finally got up, feet hitting the cold floor. He stretched the stiffness from his shoulders, grabbed a sweater draped over the edge of the bed, and made his way downstairs.

The house was quiet, it was too quiet. But not in a suffocating way. More like everything was waiting and holding still.

When he reached the living room, he paused.

Something lay on the coffee table.

A bouquet.

Not extravagant, not too loud and not too luxurious. Just… pretty. Soft colours like pale pinks, whites and greens. Arranged with an almost gentle hand.

Jace frowned, an uneasy confusion threading through his chest.

He stepped closer.

The flowers did not seem like they were store-bought. They looked freshly picked. Arranged carefully ad thoughtfully.

Beside them was a small card, the envelope tucked neatly under the bouquet as if whoever placed it there wanted to keep it from slipping away.

Jace stared at it.

Then stared longer.

Then, he rubbed a hand over his forehead because he already knew. He did not want to know, but he already knew.

He reached out and picked up the card.

It was not sealed.

He slid it open.

“For the days that feel heavy ... you do not have to carry them alone.” – M

Jace let out a very slow breath.

Morgan.

Of course.

He set the card down, not sure what to do with the feeling lodged behind his ribs. Gratitude? Guilt? Or something warmer he did not want to acknowledge.

He ran a thumb absently along one of the petals. They were soft, almost trembling with how fresh they were. As if Morgan had gotten them this morning.

Jace took another breath and stepped back, putting some distance between himself and the flowers.

At that moment, he heard quiet footsteps from the hallway.

Morgan appeared, hair damp from a recent shower, fresh T-shirt clinging to his frame. His eyes flicked from Jace to the flowers, then back to Jace again.

He did not smile, not fully, but there was softness at the corner of his mouth.

“You found them,” Morgan said simply.

Jace swallowed. “They were hard to miss.”

Morgan nodded, stepping closer but keeping a polite amount of distance. “They reminded me of something you said last week....At dinner.”

Jace tensed, instantly remembering.
He had told Morgan— carelessly and stupidly that Elias had wanted to end their relationship. He had said it because he needed the words out of his chest because he felt like he could not breathe holding them alone anymore.

He had not said it to invite anything.

He had not said it to open a door.

He had just said it because he was tired.

And Morgan… had listened.

He always listened.

Morgan’s voice was low and gentle. “I thought… maybe something soft might help.”

Jace let out a sharp exhale and dragged a hand through his hair. “Morgan, you did not have to do that.”

“I know,” Morgan said. “I wanted to.”

There it was.
The thing Jace did not want to hear.

Morgan stepped closer, still careful. “You deserve gentleness, Jace.”

Jace closed his eyes briefly. “Morgan…”

But Morgan continued before he could stop him. “You deserve someone who knows you are hurting and does not look away.”

Jace opened his eyes, meeting that steady gaze.

Morgan did not flinch or hide his feelings. His feelings were right there, open and patient and warm, the exact opposite of everything Jace was ready for.

“I just wanted to brighten your morning,” Morgan added quietly. “Not overwhelm you.”

Jace sighed, long and dragging. “It is not overwhelming. It is just… unexpected.”

Morgan nodded. He seemed to accept that, but the warmth in his eyes did not dim.

Jace looked back at the flowers. “They are beautiful. Really. But you did not need to do all this.”

“I know,” Morgan repeated softly. “But I wanted you to feel seen. Especially after what you told me.”

Jace’s stomach twisted painfully.

The conversation at dinner had been a moment of weakness, one he wished he could pull back into his chest and hide forever. He did not want Morgan stepping into the space that pain created. He did not want him trying to fill something that still belonged to Elias, no matter how broken it was.

Jace took a steadying breath. “Morgan, listen… about that. About Elias. It is not—”

“I am not asking questions,” Morgan said immediately. “I am not trying to replace anything.”

Jace stared at him.

Morgan’s voice softened further. “But I would not pretend I do not care.”

Silence stretched in the space between them, thick but not suffocating.

Jace turned slightly, unsure how to stand, how to respond, how to even breathe without feeling like he was saying the wrong thing.

Then he saw something else on the counter.

Another envelope.

He frowned. “Is that also for me?”

Morgan glanced over. His cheeks went faintly pink. “Maybe.”

“Morgan,” Jace said, his voice a warning now.

Morgan walked over, picked up the envelope, and brought it to him. Not sheepishly.... Not boldly..... Just with quiet intent.

Jace took it hesitantly. Inside was a simple card. A hand-drawn sketch of a sunrise.

Underneath, Morgan’s handwriting read:
“For the one that lights up my World.”

Jace’s chest tightened sharply.

He closed the card and held it at his side. “This is… sweet and thoughtful. But Morgan, you are being too romantic.”

Morgan’s eyes flickered. “Is it too much?”

“Yes,” Jace whispered, more to himself than to Morgan. “Yes, it is.”

Morgan nodded slowly, his jaw tightening just a little, but not in anger, it was just in disappointment. He tried to hide it.

Jace exhaled. “I am not ready for anything serious. At all. And I do not want you thinking that I am.”

Morgan looked at him for a long moment, expression unreadable. “I hear you.”

“And…” Jace hesitated, swallowing hard. “And I do not also want Mila dragged into anything. She does not deserve confusion. She does not deserve… to see me with someone and get hurt.”

Morgan’s expression softened instantly. “I would never do anything to hurt her.”

“I know,” Jace said quietly. “But children do not really understand the same way we do. If she sees us being… close, she might think it is something permanent and to be honest it is not.”

Morgan’s gaze flicked to the side, his jaw tightening again. It did not seem like it was in frustration, but in something like resolve.

Jace stepped back, the space between them widening. “So you have to take it easy. No more flowers....No more cards..... No more… gestures.”

Morgan nodded once, slowly. “If that is what you want.”

“It is.”

Silence.

Heavy, but not hostile.

Then Morgan spoke again, his voice steady “Jace, I respect what you are saying. I would not do anything that makes you uncomfortable.”

Jace let out a breath he did not know he was holding. “Thank you.”

“But,” Morgan added softly, “just because you are not ready now does not mean you never will be.”

Jace flinched.

Morgan held his gaze—not with pressure, not with demand, but with a quiet, stubborn hope that made Jace’s stomach twist.

“I am not expecting anything today,” Morgan said. “Or tomorrow.... Or next month. I am not asking for anything from you.”

“Good,” Jace whispered, though his voice was unsteady.

“But I am not going to pretend I do not care,” Morgan continued gently. “And I am not going to pretend I could not wait if waiting was what it took.”

Jace’s heart thudded painfully.

“Morgan…”

Morgan stepped closer, not enough to touch but just enough to make sure every word landed exactly where he wanted it to.

“I am not asking you to love me,” he said quietly. “I am not even asking you to consider me. But you deserve someone who looks at you and sees everything you are, not just what you have survived.”

Jace’s throat tightened.

“And when you are ready,” Morgan finished in a whisper, “even if it is a long time from now… I will still be here.”

Jace closed his eyes, feeling the weight of those words settle deep...too too deep.

He shook his head his voice cracking. “You should not wait for me please.”

Morgan smiled faintly. “That is not your decision to make.”

Jace opened his eyes, startled.

Morgan continued, soft but firm. “You can set boundaries. You can tell me what you are not ready for. I will respect all of it. But you can not tell me how my heart should work.”

Jace’s lips parted. He did not know what to say.
He did not know how to stand here and absorb all this without breaking.

Morgan stepped one inch closer again, not enough to cross a boundary, but enough for his voice to sink in like warmth.

“I believe you will heal,” Morgan said quietly. “And when you do… you might look around and realize someone has been beside you the whole time.”

Jace shook his head again, but softer now. “I can’t think about that.”

“You do not have to,” Morgan said. “At least not now.”

Jace looked at the flowers again.
The soft colours....The card....The kindness he wasn’t ready to receive. He swallowed hard.

“You really have to slow down with the romance,” he said, trying to steady his voice. “I mean it. I can not take that right now.”

Morgan nodded. “I will slow down.”

“And stop trying to… comfort me like that,” Jace added, gesturing vaguely toward the bouquet.

Morgan glanced at it, a quiet expression crossing his face with a mix of regret and understanding.

“Alright,” he said. “No more flowers.”

Jace exhaled with relief.

Morgan took one step back, giving him space. “But I am still going to care.”

Jace let out a breath, shaky and resigned. “I know.”

“I would not hide it,” Morgan added. “But I would not push you.”

Jace nodded. “That is all I am asking.”

Morgan hesitated, then smiled softly. It was almost sad, but still warm. “Okay.”

The two of them stood in the quiet living room, not touching, not moving, the flowers sitting like a question, that neither of them fully knew how to answer.

Jace looked at the bouquet again and whispered, “I do not think I am ready, Morgan.”

Morgan’s voice came back steady. “I know. And that is alright.”

Jace looked up at him.

Morgan’s eyes held something he did not want to say aloud “I will wait for you regardless. I will fight for my love. I would not give up on you, Jace.”​