After settling into other seats, side by side, only then did Axel look satisfied, more satisfied than he had looked earlier when he saw Dallas sitting with other people, the chairs beside him filled with people who weren't him.
The tension that had been clinging to Axel that morning seemed to loosen just slightly as he leaned back in his seat, his shoulders dropping as though something inside him had finally settled.
Dallas sat stiffly beside him, trying not to react to the heat radiating from Axel's body toward him. The proximity felt overwhelming in a way he hadn't expected.
For a second, he couldn't help but wonder how things could change so fast.
Not a week ago, he would sit with Axel like this without a second thought. He would look at him, talk to him, and nothing like this would happen.
His heart wouldn't race. His skin wouldn't feel too warm. His thoughts wouldn't spiral just because Axel was close enough that their arms almost brushed.
