Four rounds later, the world was leaning. Ethan found himself laughing—actually laughing—at a story Liam was telling about a failed model he’d tried to build out of toothpicks and stolen sugar packets. “And then,” Liam gasped, clutching his stomach, “the Professor walked in, and the whole thing just... pffft. Collapsed,like a house of cards.” “That happened because you didn't calculate the humidity!” Ethan pointed a finger at him, his movements loose and sloppy. “You can’t use sugar as a bonding agent in a humid studio, Rossi! It’s basic chemistry!” “You’re such a nerd,” Liam groaned, but there was a softness in his eyes. “A beautiful, stuck-up, brilliant nerd.” Ethan froze as the word beautiful hung in the air, vibrating between them Liam didn't take it back. He didn't blink. He just sat there, his jacket discarded, his sleeves rolled up to reveal the tattoos on his forearms—intricate geometric patterns that Ethan had spent nights secretly trying to decipher from across th
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