He stood up, the tension around him fading as if it had never been there.
"Let's go inside," Matteo said. "My baby's calling. He's probably awake and noticed I'm not there."
A faint smile lingered.
"He already misses me."
Mark couldn't help but let out a loud laugh, shaking his head at the sudden shift. "Alright, 'Lover Boy,' let's go. Don't keep him waiting."
Matteo swiped the screen to answer as they reached the elevator, his voice instantly dropping into that intimate, private register reserved only for one person. "Hey, babe," he said.
"Where did you go?" Adrian's voice came through, slightly thick with sleep.
Matteo couldn't help but tease him. "Did you miss me already?"
"I thought maybe you fell out the window," Adrian said dryly. "Since you're clearly fine, I'm going back to sleep."
"Alright then," Matteo chuckled, leaning against the elevator wall. "Since you don't miss me, I guess I'll just stay right where I am."
