Kayden stepped out of the car, his head slightly lowered, as if the morning sun was too bright, or maybe it was just the weight of Thaddeus's eyes on him. He didn't dare glance back, afraid his shyness might give him away.
From the back seat, Thaddeus followed every step he took, watching the way Kayden's shoulders tensed, the careful pace of his walk toward the campus gates. A quiet smile curved his lips, a mix of pride and something softer he wouldn't name.
"Let's go," Thaddeus murmured to the driver, still looking at Kayden until the boy finally disappeared into the crowd.
The moment Thaddeus's car pulled away, Kayden finally exhaled, as if he'd been holding his breath the whole time. Goodness… he muttered under his breath, half-smiling to himself. Pretending was working, better than he expected. And if it kept going this way, it was only a matter of time before Thaddeus would be his officially.
