Chapter Twenty-Five:AdamThe Way He Cared
973 Words
Three days.
That was how long Alex had been gone.
And somehow, Adam had gotten used to something he never expected to become normal.
The messages.
The calls.
The constant check-ins.
At first, he thought it was strange.
Because Alexander Hayes was not the type of person he imagined sitting somewhere in another country and asking:
Did you eat?
How is your painting going?
Are you home yet?
But Alex did exactly that.
Every day.
Almost like clockwork.
And the strangest part?
Adam liked it.
He liked knowing someone was thinking about him.
He liked the quiet concern hidden behind Alex’s serious tone.
Although…
There was one thing he was still trying to understand.
Alex had become slightly possessive.
Not in a way that made Adam uncomfortable.
Just…
Very Alex.
Very direct.
Very certain.
Don’t stay out late.
Don’t forget to eat.
Tell me when you get home.
Call me when you’re settled.
It was almost funny.
Adam had never liked being told what to do.
Never.
He was the person who followed his own path.
The person who left home at seventeen and built a life from nothing.
The person who painted whatever he felt and refused to let anyone control his choices.
Yet when Alex said those things…
Adam listened.
And he couldn’t even explain why.
Maybe because underneath the firm words, he could hear something else.
Concern.
Real concern.
Alex wasn’t trying to control his life.
He was trying to make sure Adam was safe.
And somehow…
That made all the difference.
⸻
Adam was sitting across from Noah at their usual cafe when his phone vibrated again.
Noah looked at him immediately.
“Again?”
Adam glanced at his phone.
A message from Alex.
He smiled slightly.
“Yes.”
Noah leaned forward.
“Does Alexander Hayes ever stop texting?”
Adam laughed.
“I don’t know.”
He opened the message.
Alex: What are you doing?
Adam typed back.
Adam: Having lunch.
A few seconds later.
Alex: Where?
Adam looked at the screen.
Then replied.
Adam: At the cafe.
Another message came almost immediately.
Alex: With who?
Adam shook his head, amused.
Adam: Noah.
A pause.
Then:
Alex: What are you doing?
Adam stared at the message.
“Noah, he literally just asked me what I’m doing.”
Noah laughed.
“He likes knowing.”
Adam rolled his eyes but smiled.
Adam: Eating. Talking. Normal things.
The reply came.
Alex: How is your day?
Adam answered.
Adam: Good. How are your meetings?
This time, Alex took longer.
Alex: Fine. Busy.
Adam could imagine him saying it.
Short.
Simple.
Like admitting something was difficult was not part of his vocabulary.
Then:
Alex: When are you going home?
Adam blinked.
He looked at the time.
Adam: Alex, I literally got here an hour ago.
A moment later:
Alex: Okay.
Then:
Alex: Have fun.
Adam smiled.
Then another message appeared.
Alex: But not too much fun.
Adam laughed.
Noah raised an eyebrow.
“What?”
Adam turned the phone around.
Noah read the message.
Then burst out laughing.
“He’s unbelievable.”
Adam smiled.
“He is.”
Alex: When you get home, call me.
Adam replied.
Adam: Okay.
Then:
Alex: Where are you going after lunch?
Adam looked at the message.
Adam: The gallery. I have some customers coming to see paintings.
The response was immediate.
Alex: Okay.
Then:
Alex: After that, go home.
Adam laughed quietly.
Adam: You know you sound very bossy, right?
A few seconds passed.
Alex: I know.
Adam stared at the answer.
No denial.
No excuse.
Just acceptance.
He smiled.
Adam: I’ll call you when I get home.
Alex: Good.
⸻
Later that evening, Adam did exactly what he said he would.
He went to the gallery.
Finished his work.
Spoke with customers.
Spent time surrounded by the thing he loved most.
Painting.
But throughout the day, there was always that small thought in the back of his mind.
Alex.
The man who had somehow entered his life so unexpectedly.
The man who was hundreds of miles away but still somehow present.
When Adam finally returned home, he changed into comfortable clothes and looked at his phone.
Before he could call, it rang.
Alex.
Adam smiled as he answered.
“Hi.”
“You’re home?”
The first thing Alex asked.
“Yes.”
“Good.”
Adam laughed softly.
“You really needed confirmation?”
“Yes.”
There was something comforting about how honest he was.
They talked about the day.
About work.
About random things.
Nothing important.
Nothing dramatic.
Just conversation.
Then Alex asked the question he always asked.
“Did you eat?”
Adam smiled.
“Yes.”
“Good.”
A pause.
Then:
“What are you wearing?”
Adam looked down at himself.
“You’re asking that again?”
“Yes.”
“The usual.”
“What does that mean?”
“A T-shirt and sweatpants.”
“Comfortable?”
Adam smiled.
“Very.”
“Good.”
Adam laughed.
“You really like knowing everything.”
“About you?”
A pause.
“Yes.”
The answer was quiet.
Simple.
And it made Adam strangely happy.
They continued talking.
The sound of Alex’s voice became softer.
The room became darker.
Adam wasn’t even sure when it happened.
One moment, he was listening.
The next…
His eyes were heavy.
His thoughts became slower.
The conversation blurred into the background.
He heard Alex say his name.
“Adam?”
A sleepy hum escaped him.
“Yeah?”
“You still awake?”
Adam tried to answer.
But he couldn’t.
Not properly.
His eyes closed.
And somewhere between Alex’s voice and the quiet comfort of knowing someone was there…
He fell asleep.
Still on the phone.
Still connected.
And for once, Adam didn’t question it.
He simply let himself rest.
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