That’s such an unexpected compliment that for a second I genuinely don’t know what to do with it.
Then I glance at Blue shyly and meet his eyes.
His expression is calm, unreadable, almost blank, but I’m nearly certain that’s just the mask he puts on when he doesn’t want anything to show.
And there’s one thing I’m sure of now.
Blue isn’t just jealous.
He finds me attractive too, and the realization sends something warm straight through my chest.
The rest of the day passes in those small stolen moments, catching Blue looking at me during meetings, while he works, when he thinks I’m not paying attention.
Every one of those looks lands like a soft, sweet tingling, and if I’m being honest, it affects me a hell of a lot more than Benny’s hand brushing against my arm ever could.
???
Wednesday finally comes. I put on my tux and wait for Blue in the living room.
Blue walks into the lounge, adjusting the cuff near his wrist, and I literally short-circuit for a second.
I just stand there staring like an idiot because I did not expect Blue’s usual minimalist thing to somehow turn into this level of elegance and swag. From a distance, his outfit doesn’t even look that different from what he normally wears, although the tailored coat reaches mid-thigh and fits much tighter around his waist, flaring out slightly at the hips. But it’s still dark. Still simple, with no unnecessary details anywhere. Yet everything just looks like somebody took his normal style and pushed it several levels higher using nothing but tiny refinements.
The fabric catches the light when he moves, deep navy almost fading into black, and the long tailored jacket makes him look slimmer and more ethereal than usual. Combined withhis pale skin and those bright sapphire eyes, he seems almost unreal.
His hair is styled in a way that makes it seem like it falls loosely over one shoulder in soft dark waves, but I can tell it definitely isn’t random. One ear is exposed, and I notice something strange there. Some kind of piercing… or maybe not. A thin silver line runs along the curve of his ear, disappearing slightly into the lobe, and it almost looks like… part of his body. But I’m pretty sure I’ve never seen it there before. Some kind of bizarre decoration fused directly into the skin?
Under the ceiling lights, the dark navy color of his hair with that weird sapphire sheen matches perfectly with the color of his jacket. Even his glasses somehow look more elegant tonight instead of overly technical.
There’s also something pinned to his lapel, a thin decorative needle tipped with a sapphire. On his hand I notice a narrow ring, probably platinum, with a very minimalist design. His nails, which is rare for him, are painted a translucent pale blue.
He’s wearing a collarless shirt made from some holographic material that catches the light in a strange way, creating an almost glowing effect beneath the jacket.
Blue finishes adjusting his sleeve and finally notices me near the window. His eyes move over my tux quickly.
"Gerard is already waiting with the limousine," he says calmly. "We should go."
For a second I’m completely stunned.
Geez, Gabriel. Say something normal.
"Yeah. Right." I clear my throat quietly. "You look… stunning tonight."
The second it leaves my mouth, I start regretting it.
Blue looks at me for a few seconds without giving anything away. No smile. No thank you. But he heard it, and I somehow know he low-key reacted positively. Phew…
Then he simply turns and walks toward the elevator like nothing happened, and of course I follow him immediately.
The elevator ride feels intense.
Blue stands beside me perfectly still, with his hands behind his back. Meanwhile, I keep looking at him every few seconds.
He’s turned slightly so the side where his hair is brushed back faces me, and my attention keeps drifting back to that small ear of his and the silver line running along it.
"Interesting piercing," I finally manage to say.
"It’s not a piercing."
