Chasing Shadows

Chapter Sixty-Four: Late-Night Reunions

Zane shoved his hands into his pockets as he walked away from Ethan’s apartment building. Each step he took felt heavy, his thoughts swirling in a chaotic mess of emotions. The night air was cool against his skin, but the emptiness that spread through his chest was colder.

He wasn’t sure why he’d turned away so quickly, why he’d let go of Ethan so easily. There was a part of him that had screamed to stay, to reach out and hold onto him for just a bit longer. He’d been so close tonight—so close to rekindling something he’d thought he’d lost forever.

But leaving felt like the right thing to do. Ethan needed space, time to process. After everything that had happened with Callum, after all the chaos that had torn through his life lately, Zane couldn’t just waltz back in and pretend everything was fine.

Still… each step took him further away, and each step felt like a mistake.

He came to an abrupt stop, his heart hammering in his chest as he glanced back over his shoulder, his gaze locked on Ethan’s apartment building. There was a faint light in the window, probably from the small lamp Ethan kept by the living room couch. The thought of Ethan sitting alone in that apartment, wrapped up in his own thoughts, made something twist painfully in Zane’s chest.

Before he could talk himself out of it, he turned on his heel and started back toward the building, his steps quickening as he made his way back to the entrance.

Screw it. He wasn’t going to leave Ethan alone tonight. Not if he could help it.

He reached Ethan’s door in record time, taking a deep breath to steady himself before he raised his hand and knocked softly.

There was a long pause—long enough for Zane to start second-guessing his decision—before he heard the faint sound of footsteps approaching the door. A moment later, it creaked open, and Ethan’s confused face appeared in the doorway.

“Zane?” he asked, his voice tinged with surprise. “What are you doing here?”

“I… uh…” Zane rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly, suddenly feeling like an idiot. “I just… I didn’t want to leave things like that.”

Ethan blinked, clearly caught off guard. “What do you mean?”

“I mean…” Zane took a deep breath, forcing himself to meet Ethan’s gaze. “I missed you. And if it’s okay, I’d like to stick around a little longer tonight. Just… talk. Hang out. Like old times.”

Ethan’s eyes widened slightly, his lips parting in surprise. He stared at Zane for a long moment, as if trying to figure out if he was serious, before his expression softened and he stepped aside, opening the door wider.

“Okay,” he said quietly, a small, tentative smile tugging at his lips. “Come in.”

Zane let out a breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding and stepped inside, the familiar scent of Ethan’s apartment washing over him. It hadn’t changed much since the last time he’d been here—still the same worn-out furniture, the same half-empty bookshelves. The only new addition was a small dog bed tucked into the corner of the living room, a sign of Ethan’s new furry companion, Rascal.

Ethan closed the door behind him and turned to face him, his gaze uncertain but hopeful. “So… what do you want to do?”

“I was thinking,” Zane said, a teasing smile curving his lips, “that I could cook us something. Knowing you, you’ve probably been surviving on takeout and cereal.”

Ethan’s cheeks flushed slightly, his eyes narrowing in mock offense. “I can cook.”

“Oh yeah?” Zane challenged, raising an eyebrow. “Last time I checked, you nearly burned down your kitchen making scrambled eggs.”