Chapter 2 His Shadow, His Crutch, Never His Choice

The diner smelled like burnt coffee and mop water

Tessa moved through the tables like a ghost wearing someone else's skin, her apron stained, sneakers still soaked from the storm that morning, and her smile-the hollow, tip-hunting kind-just another mask she couldn't take off

Nathan had already texted her twice

"Thanks for last night. You're the best"

"Can you bring my lucky hoodie tomorrow? Game day"

No apology

No explanation

Just routine, like she was part of the furniture in his chaos

She hadn't replied

She poured coffee at table six, dropped pancakes at nine, floated through her shift trying not to think about how easily he got to sleep through the fires he set while she walked around carrying buckets to douse the flames. Her wrists ached. Her neck screamed. Her phone buzzed again and this time she didn't check. She didn't want to know what version of herself she had to become today

"Blake," someone called from the counter. "Corner booth. New customer"

She turned, pen already ready, mind guessing-eggs, maybe, or a double stack with bacon-until she saw him

Dorian Cross

Again

Seated in her section like he owned it, like it wasn't strange at all. Navy coat, black shirt, sleeves rolled up to his elbows, silver watch catching the light like it had something to say. He held a coffee mug with one hand, calm and slow, like he had nowhere else to be and all the time in the world

Her heart skipped. She lowered the pen

He looked up and smirked

"Miss Blake"

She moved toward him, cautious and unsure if she should feel flattered or worried or just quietly afraid that he'd come back at all

"Mr. Cross," she said, because names were easier than truths

"You're working yourself thin," he said, not like a question, more like he already knew

"You make a habit of stalking your son's... friends?"

He let out a soft breath of amusement

"If I wanted to stalk you, you wouldn't know I was doing it"

She swallowed, turned halfway, jotted down an order from a nearby booth without listening, hoping her cheeks weren't burning as badly as they felt

Dorian reached for the sugar, stirring it in slow

"You're smart. You know what he's doing to you"

"I don't need a lecture"

"I didn't offer one"

"I have other tables," she muttered, stepping away

He didn't stop her

She barely made it three steps before Zara fell in beside her, sharp eyes flashing like sunlight off broken glass

"Girl, who the hell is that? And why does he look like he could pay my tuition and still afford to break my soul in half before dessert?"

Tessa exhaled through her nose

"Long story"

Zara bumped her with a shoulder

"Tell it. Let me live in your drama for a minute"

"He's Nathan's dad"

Zara blinked

"No. Fucking. Way"

Tessa nodded, tight

"He showed up outside Nathan's last night. Offered me a ride"

"And you got in?"

"I didn't... plan to"

Zara raised an eyebrow

"You don't accidentally get in a man's car like that unless your heart's already halfway melted"

"I didn't sleep with him, Zara"

"Yet," Zara said, with a smirk that knew too much

Tessa didn't reply. Because the word echoed louder than it should've

Back at the dorm, the air was thick-heat, silence, and something unspoken lingering just behind every breath

Zara sat cross-legged on her bed, picking at the lint on her leggings

"You're in love with a man who only loves himself, Tess. That's your poison"

Tessa paced

"I've known him since we were sixteen. We've been through everything. He just... needs time"

"No, he needs therapy. You need someone who sees you, not someone who disappears into your kindness"

Tessa stopped

"If he fails this class, I lose my scholarship. I can't afford to walk away"

Zara's voice was lower now

"So you'll keep babying him? Let him drag your future down with his?"

Tessa didn't answer

She just grabbed her notes, shoved them into her bag, and left before her silence became something she couldn't take back

Nathan's house was quieter than usual

She let herself in with the spare key from under the mat. The living room was clean-for once. No beer cans. No pizza boxes. Just a bowl of cereal half-eaten on the counter and music playing low from the kitchen

"Nathan?" she called

No answer

She moved toward the stairs, already irritated that he wasn't ready to study. He probably slept through the afternoon again. She climbed slowly, fingers grazing the rail-and froze

A girl's laugh

Moaning

Sheets rustling

Bedroom door cracked open

Her breath hitched

Stomach knotted

Of course

Of course

She turned to go, already retreating, but that's when she heard a voice. Not Nathan's

Dorian

Talking. Low. In the guest room across the hall

With Nathan's mom

Her chest tightened like a vice. She backed away, step by step, like maybe if she moved slow enough, her shame wouldn't notice

She hit the last step and shoved the front door open too fast

Outside. Heat wrapped around her like punishment. Her heart beat loud in her ears. Anger burned up her spine like hands wrapping around her throat

She wanted to cry

To scream

To burn the house down

But all she did was sit on the porch steps and bury her face in her hands

Minutes passed

Maybe longer

The door creaked open again

She didn't have to look up

Dorian sat down beside her, quiet. Present. Saying nothing

They sat in silence, side by side, not touching, not speaking

Eventually, he broke it

"You knew," he saidShe nodded

"And you came anyway"

She looked at him, eyes glassy, jaw tight

"Because I still want to believe he's worth saving"

"And do you?"

She didn't answer

He pulled a silver handkerchief from his jacket and placed it in her lap

She wiped her face

Didn't thank him.

He didn't need gratitude,Only her attention

Back at the dorm, Tessa dropped her bag with a soft thud

Zara looked up from the couch, remote in one hand, noodles in the other

"You look like shit"

"Thanks"

"Where'd you go?"

Tessa hesitated

"To tutor Nathan"

Zara frowned

"And?" Tessa opened her mouth.Closed it..Took a breath

Zara narrowed her eyes

"Wait... Did you cry? Did he-" "I saw his dad again"

Zara blinked "Okay... and?" Tessa collapsed onto the bed

Zara paused the show

"Tessa... You do know that's Nathan's father, right?" Tessa froze

Her chest cinched tight. Breath goneZara tilted her head.

"You didn't know?"

"I knew," Tessa whispered

But now it felt different Now it felt dangerous

Now it felt like the beginning of something she couldn't undo.