Elias stared for another second, heart still racing from the crowd. The hand on his shoulder was warm, familiar, but not the one he'd first thought. For a split second, when the arms had come from behind, he'd remembered Viktor's hugs during his heat, the way Viktor had held him tight without asking. This was different from all of that.
It was Rowan behind him and for some reason, all he could think about was... Viktor.
Rowan's face broke into a playful pout. He leaned in, voice low so only Elias could hear.
"You didn't answer. Did you miss me?"
Elias rolled his eyes, but a smile tugged at his lips. "Did you miss me?"
Rowan ruffled Elias's hair like he always used to. "Of course I did, idiot. You disappeared from everyone and couldn't reply to any messages,"
He turned to the crowd, raising his voice just enough. "Alright, show's over. Elias got an appointment with me. Move."
