The air inside Axel's apartment was thick with tension as the family settled into the living room. On one couch, Draco, Lana, and Axel's grandmother sat shoulder to shoulder, stiff and silent. On the other, Jayvaughn and Axel sat side by side, their knees brushing, fingers just barely touching. The silence between them was long, almost unbearable, stretching like a string about to snap.
The already dressed Axel sat upright, anxiously twiddling his thumbs in his lap. Jayvaughn, on the other hand, was remarkably calm—too calm.
Finally, it was Draco who broke the silence, his voice low but heavy with meaning. "What exactly is going on between the two of you?"
Axel opened his mouth, ready to say something, anything to ease the tension. But before he could speak, Jayvaughn reached over and clasped his hand gently, lacing their fingers together with quiet confidence. Then, without a flicker of hesitation, he turned to face Draco and offered him a smile that could disarm a boardroom.
