Chapter 65 Devastating control
With that decision made, Alex chuckled bitterly, knowing that defensive distance sometimes could cut deeper than confrontation.
“I’ll keep it controlled and quietly devastating, so he will come back to me,” Alex whispered to himself.
When they closed for the day, Alex watched him leave from his office. He wished he could take him home but he had to keep to his decision. But he wondered why he had not seen him with his bike yet. He decided to dig into him.
Instantly, he checked on Westman's family but there were many with such names. He called Dan immediately to gather any information he could on Lucas.
By the next day, Alex's attitude changed not loudly, not suddenly but just enough to be felt.
He stopped looking for Lucas.
No more hovering pauses. No more casual excuses to pass by or let his body intentionally brush him. When Lucas spoke, Alex answered, but briefly, and professionally. His tone was calm, almost cool, as if nothing had ever flickered between them at all.
At first, it didn't bother Lucas. He felt relieved and muttered to himself, “Maybe this is better.”
However, by midday, the unease crept in. He started giving his observation some thought. Alex didn’t stand near him, didn't check in on what he was doing. He didn’t watch him when he thought Lucas wasn’t looking, he didn't even strike up a conversation. It was like the space Alex had once fought to close had been deliberately restored.
Lucas caught himself glancing up…once, twice…only to find Alex already turned away. “What the heck is going on? Is he not going to try to get closer? Does it mean what he started meant nothing to him?” The thought whispered, sharp within him. And that brought a heaviness that settled in Lucas’s chest.
Was Zenith right? Were all those words in his dreams a warning? Had Alex moved on that easily because it was never real to begin with? It got Lucas very worried so he decided to talk to him but had no courage.
Later when Lucas finally gathered the courage to speak, Alex was already halfway down the corridor. He hurried to meet up, “Alex,” Lucas called gently.
Alex stopped, but didn’t turn around.
“Yes?” The word was polite but had a disturbing distance.
Instantly, Lucas faltered. “I…nothing, never mind.”
Alex nodded once. “Alright.” And walked away without even looking back once.
Lucas stood there, confusion blooming into something painful and unsteady. That wasn't a relief, it wasn’t safe, it felt like a loss. And somewhere behind that loss, doubt sharpened up because now he didn’t know which hurt more: trusting Alex… or realizing Alex might never have cared at all.
With frustration, Lucas headed to the locker room. Luckily, it was empty. He shut the door a little harder than necessary and leaned against the cool metal lockers, drawing in a shaky breath. His chest felt tight, crowded with questions he couldn’t line up properly. Alex’s distance replayed over and over in his head, clean, effortless, and final.
“So maybe Zenith was right.” He muttered in anger and walked over to the sink. He stood in confusion staring at the sink.
“Hey, friend”
Lucas was startled and instantly spun around to face him.
Zenith stood a few steps away, hands in his pockets, expression soft with concern…too perfectly timed to feel accidental.
“You alright?” Zenith asked gently.
Lucas hesitated, then nodded. “Yeah. Just… tired.”
Zenith studied him for a moment, then stepped closer, lowering his voice. “You don’t look okay. You look very worried, Lucas”
Something in the way he said it…calm and patient cracked Lucas’s restraint. His shoulders sagged.
“I think I misread him,” Lucas admitted quietly.
Zenith didn’t ask who.
He leaned back against the locker beside him, close but not crowding.
“That happens, I was used and dumped. Yes, it happened to me once,” he said. “Especially with people who know how to make you feel special…then suddenly they don’t anymore. The guy even monitored my movement from his office.”
Lucas’s throat tightened.
Zenith sighed softly. “I’ve been there.” He glanced at Lucas, measured, sympathetic. “It messes with your head.”
Lucas nodded, staring at the floor.
Zenith reached out…not touching, just close enough to be felt. “You didn’t do anything wrong,” he said. “Some people just… pull away when things get real.”
That captured Lucas' feeling and he swallowed hard, eyes stinging. “He acts like nothing ever happened.”
Zenith’s jaw tightened…subtle, controlled. “I wish I could say I’m surprised but I'm not.”
Then he placed a hand on Lucas’s shoulder, firm, steady, and reassuring.
“You deserve someone consistent,” Zenith added quietly. “Someone who doesn’t make you question your worth.”
Lucas let out a slow breath, leaning just slightly into the contact.
And that was the moment Alex saw.
From his office, the security feed glowed silently on his screen as he tapped on the locker room. The camera angle is wide enough to be cruel. Clear enough to lie.
He saw Zenith standing too close, and Lucas’s head bowed, Zenith’s hand resting on his shoulder, comfortingly, and felt intimate.
Alex’s chest tightened painfully.
So this was it. Lucas hadn’t just pulled away…he had found someone else to lean on just like that.
Alex looked away from the screen too late. The image had already carved itself into him.
He leaned back in his chair, jaw clenched, resolve hardening into something cold.
“Fine,” he muttered bitterly. “If that’s what he needs… then I’ll stay out of the way.”
In the locker room, Lucas straightened, wiping at his face, unaware of the silent witness…and of how deeply this misunderstanding was about to fracture them both.
“Hey Luc,” Zenith called as Lucas made his way to the mirror.
Lucas turned sharply because it's only Nathan who mostly calls him that.
Zenith smiled, “Oh dear, did I just call you by your pet name?”
Lucas, smiled…really smiled and that was another time Alex decided to take the last look at the screen.
Lucas responded with a smile, “No, not at all, it's just that it's what my friend Nathan calls me.”
Zenith responded happily, “Oh, well I'm your friend now, and I will like to call you Luc too.”
He followed him to the mirror, “Hope Nathan won't be jealous of sharing his friend.” He teased, placing a hand on his shoulder, all smiles.
“He is a nice guy, I'm sure he will be okay with him,” Lucas responded with a smile wondering if Alex was one of those who monitors people from his office.
“Then it is settled, catch you later Luc,” Zenith said, tapped him lightly on the back, and turned to leave for the kitchen.
Lucas held him back and smiled, “Come on Zenith, friends hug.” Lucas wished he hadn't just said that but what the heck. If Alex was watching from his office, let him give him something that would get him jealous.
“Of course, Luc, friends hug,” Zenith responded happily as he embraced Lucas lightly.
As he stepped out, he chortled, “Gaddamn, is Lucas warming up to me already?”
“Alex how did the hug feel? Lucas muttered angrily.