Espresso in The Rain

Noah had never been kissed like this before.

Elias wasn't just kissing him—he was holding onto him like he was afraid to let go, like he was afraid that if he loosened his grip, Noah would disappear again. The desperation, the raw emotion, the way Elias' fingers trembled against his skin—it was too much, and yet not enough.

Noah melted into him, his hands fisting the back of Elias' shirt, anchoring himself in the moment. The scent of coffee lingered on Elias' skin, mixed with something uniquely his own. It was familiar. It was home.

When they finally broke apart, their breaths mingled in the small space between them.

Elias pressed his forehead against Noah's, eyes fluttering shut. "Tell me this isn't a dream."

Noah let out a soft, breathless laugh. "If it is, we're both having the same one."

Elias exhaled, almost like he was releasing all the tension he'd been carrying since Noah walked out of his life. He lifted a hand, cupping Noah's cheek, his thumb tracing slow, deliberate circles against his skin.

Noah leaned into the touch before whispering, "What happens now?"

Elias' fingers tightened ever so slightly. "That depends… Are you staying?"

Noah hesitated for only a second before nodding. "I'm staying."

Relief flooded Elias' face, his lips parting as if he hadn't dared to hope for that answer. He let out a soft, almost incredulous laugh before pulling Noah into another embrace.

Noah let himself be held.

For the first time in weeks, he wasn't lost.

---

Later That Night

The apartment above The Roasted Heaven was the same. And yet, it felt different.

It felt like a place where things had broken.

And now, it was a place where things were being mended.

Noah sat on the edge of the bed, watching as Elias moved around the room, flicking on the warm bedside lamp. They had been silent since coming upstairs, both lost in their own thoughts, in the weight of everything that had just happened.

Finally, Elias turned to him. "I never told you everything, did I?"

Noah looked up. "About what?"

Elias sat beside him, staring down at his hands. "About why I left my corporate job. About why I started The Roasted Heaven."

Noah waited.

Elias let out a slow breath. "I used to think success meant power. I wanted to climb the ranks, prove myself in the corporate world. And for a while, I did. I had everything—money, status, a future that looked perfect on paper."

He paused.

"But I wasn't happy."

Noah studied him, listening carefully.

Elias rubbed the back of his neck. "It took me years to realize that I was chasing something that wasn't mine to begin with. My family expected me to follow a certain path, to be the version of myself they thought was best. And I let them."

Noah frowned. "How did you get out?"

Elias gave a small, rueful smile. "I walked away. One day, I just… left. No safety net, no backup plan. Just an idea and a ridiculous amount of caffeine." He let out a breath. "I wanted to create something real, something that belonged to me. That's how The Roasted Heaven started."

Noah absorbed the words, feeling the weight behind them.

He had spent so much time wondering about Elias' past, about what had shaped him into the man he was today. And now, sitting here, hearing it firsthand—it made Noah realize something.

They weren't so different.

"I get it," Noah murmured.

Elias turned to him.

Noah exhaled, staring at the floor. "My mom always expected me to follow the life she mapped out for me. Engineering was her dream, not mine. And I let her dream for me because I didn't know how to say no." He glanced up at Elias. "I still don't know if I have the courage to change things."

Elias reached over, taking Noah's hand in his. His grip was firm. Reassuring.

"You don't have to figure it out all at once," Elias said softly. "But if you ever decide to choose a different path… I'll be here."

Noah's chest ached.

It was so simple. And yet, it meant everything.

He squeezed Elias' hand. "Thank you."

Elias smiled. "Always."

The tension between them shifted. Not gone, but lighter—something mended rather than broken.

Then Elias tugged Noah closer. "Stay with me tonight."

Noah hesitated. "Are you sure?"

Elias gave him a look. "I lost you once. I'm not letting that happen again."

Something warm bloomed in Noah's chest.

He reached up, cupping Elias' face before pressing a soft kiss to his lips. It was slow, unhurried—a promise more than anything else.

When they pulled away, Elias brushed his fingers against Noah's cheek. "Come to bed."

Noah didn't need to be asked twice.

He let Elias guide him under the covers, their bodies fitting together naturally. As Elias wrapped an arm around him, pressing a lingering kiss to the top of his head, Noah felt something he hadn't in a long time.

Peace.

And for the first time in weeks, he fell asleep without feeling lost.