The late afternoon sun poured through the penthouse windows, spilling over cream-colored curtains and painting golden streaks across the floor. It was peaceful — the kind of peace Alex never thought he'd get used to.
The sound of pages turning and keys clicking filled the quiet air. Alex was sprawled across the sofa, his laptop open on the coffee table, surrounded by printed university brochures. His glasses slid down his nose as he squinted at one of them.
"Graphic design… psychology… business administration…" he mumbled. "I feel like I'm reading spells."
From the kitchen, Liam chuckled. "You're overthinking again."
"I'm trying to plan," Alex countered, brushing a curl out of his face. "That's what responsible adults do."
Liam appeared behind the couch a second later, coffee mug in hand, hair still messy from sleep. He leaned down, kissed the top of Alex's head, and murmured, "Responsible adults also take breaks."
