Chapter 19

The car ride was lively, as it always was when the whole group was together. Henry was in the front passenger seat, while Adrian and Lucas sat in the back seats behind Alex and Miles. Easton was driving, humming along to the music, while the brothers in the back were talking over each other, teasing Adrian about whatever random thing came to mind.

"Okay, but seriously," Alex said, leaning forward between the seats to address Lucas. "Did you hear what Adrian tried to do this morning?"

Lucas raised an eyebrow, clearly curious but already bracing himself. "what?"

Henry leaned into the conversation with a smirk. "Tried to cook," he said, his grin widening at the thought.

Lucas blinked, surprised. "Wait, tried?"

The twins burst into laughter. Alex added in between chuckles, "More like failed miserably. Dude broke glass all over himself."

Adrian's face flushed with embarrassment, his fingers gripping the seatbelt. "I did not! Okay, fine, maybe I did, but shut up!" He could feel his ears burning as his brothers laughed harder.

Lucas, trying to hold back his laughter, finally gave in and cracked a grin. "You cooked? That's adorable." His words only made Adrian's embarrassment grow, though there was something about Lucas' teasing tone that made Adrian's heart flutter in spite of himself.

Adrian groaned, face in his hands as he slumped in his seat. "Why do you all have to be like this?"

Easton glanced at Adrian through the rearview mirror, catching his embarrassed expression, and she gave him a sympathetic smile. "It's alright, Adrian. At least you tried."

"I'm never trying again," Adrian muttered under his breath.

As soon as they got into the house Adrian quickly grabbed Lucas' wrist, pulling him upstairs to escape the endless teasing.

Once they were safely in Adrian's room, Adrian locked the door behind them with a sigh of relief. He collapsed onto the bed dramatically, face-first into the pillow, his shoulders shaking in embarrassment.

Lucas kicked off his shoes and sat next to him, chuckling softly. "I can't believe you actually tried to cook."

Adrian buried his face deeper into the pillow. "Shut up. It was just eggs." His voice muffled, but the humiliation still burned through him.

Lucas smiled warmly, his voice gentle as he nudged Adrian with his shoulder. "That's actually kind of cute."

Adrian peeked up, his face still burning, but something about Lucas' tone made the heat in his cheeks fade just a little. "Yeah, well, cute doesn't help when you break things."

Lucas laughed again, but it was teasing in a way that didn't sting. "You'll get the hang of it, I'm sure."

Adrian sighed and shifted, opening Easton's computer to load up a show to distract himself. Lucas scooted closer, settling against the pillows with his legs stretched out, making himself comfortable.

They watched the screen in silence for a while, but Adrian wasn't really paying attention. His thoughts kept drifting back to Lucas. The way his messy brown hair fell into his eyes, the slight dimple in his cheek when he smiled, the way his lips parted when he was focused on something. Adrian's heart twisted painfully in his chest.

Lucas would never like me back. The thought kept replaying in his mind, louder and louder. He felt stupid, pathetic. He couldn't even cook without messing things up. What could someone like Lucas ever see in him?

Suddenly, Lucas turned his head, his warm brown eyes meeting Adrian's. "What's wrong?"

Adrian quickly looked away, afraid his thoughts would be too obvious. "Nothing," he muttered.

Lucas raised an eyebrow but didn't press further. "If you say so."

A few moments later, Easton's voice called up from downstairs. "Dinner!"

Adrian and Lucas made their way downstairs to find Elijah already home from work, sitting at the table with the twins. Easton set plates of tomato pasta in front of everyone, and they sat down to eat, the sounds of laughter and banter filling the room.

"Eat without making a mess," Elijah warned, his gaze settling on Adrian as he set his fork down.

Adrian frowned. "Why are you looking at me?"

The twins snickered from the other side of the table.

Dinner went smoothly until, of course, the twins decided to spice things up.

"So, Lucas," Henry started casually, a sly grin on his face, "Did you know Adrian still has a teddy bear?"

Adrian choked on his food, his cheeks flaring red with embarrassment. He could feel all eyes on him, and he wished he could sink into the floor and disappear.

Lucas raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "Oh really?"

"Muffin," Miles added with a grin that nearly split his face.

Adrian kicked Miles under the table with all the strength he could muster. "Shut up!" he hissed, but it only made the twins laugh louder.

"Leave him alone," Elijah said with a shake of his head, his voice a little stern. But even he couldn't hide the tiny smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

Lucas turned to Adrian with a warm smile, his voice teasing but kind. "That's actually really cute."

Adrian wanted to die. His face was on fire, and he kept his head down for the rest of dinner, only daring to look up when he had finished.

After dinner, the boys settled in the living room to pick a movie.

"Let's watch a horror movie," Henry suggested, a wicked grin spreading across his face.

"No," Adrian said immediately, shaking his head.

"Too bad," Alex smirked. "You're outvoted."

Adrian groaned, already preparing for the nightmare ahead.

Half an hour into the movie, Adrian was hiding behind a pillow, peeking out only occasionally, his heart pounding with every jump scare. But the worst part? Somehow, during one particularly intense scene, he had ended up pressed against Lucas, his head resting on his shoulder.

And Lucas didn't move away.

He just... stayed there, letting Adrian lean against him, his warmth a comfort Adrian didn't want to lose.

Adrian's eyelids grew heavy, his exhaustion finally catching up to him. The last thing he remembered before drifting off to sleep was the feeling of Lucas beside him, close and warm, and the sense that, for just a moment, everything was okay.

And then, sleep took over.

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Word count: 1042

Hey Guys Thanks for reading this story so please be nice and kind. I am sorry if there are any spelling mistakes or bad grammar.

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More chapters will be coming out soon.

*EMMA HETHRON*