Chapter 69
Adrian woke the next morning in his new Stanford apartment feeling like he'd been hit by a truck.
Jet lag. Time zone adjustment. The emotional devastation of leaving Dante behind.
All of it combined into a physical ache that made getting out of bed feel impossible.
But orientation started in two hours, and he couldn't miss his first day.
He dragged himself to the shower, unpacked enough clothes to look presentable, and made coffee with the cheap machine he'd bought at Target during his brief shopping trip yesterday.
It wasn't their coffee maker. The one he and Dante had picked out together.
That was still back East, in their apartment that was now just Dante's apartment.
Everything here felt wrong. Too new, too unfamiliar, too much like starting over instead of moving forward.
His phone buzzed.
Dante: Good morning. Remember to eat breakfast before orientation. Love you.
Adrian smiled despite everything.
I will. Love you too.
