Gun jolted awake to the sound of his phone ringing on the nightstand. The early morning light filtered through the hotel curtains as he fumbled for the mobile, blinking sleep from his eyes. He groaned when he saw the caller ID—it was Jason.

  “Jason?” Gun’s voice was still thick with sleep as he answered.

  “Dad, where are you? We’re having breakfast,” Jason’s voice chimed on the other end.

  “I’ll be there soon,” Gun reassured him. “Just… finishing up here.”

  Before he could say more, he felt a shift in the bed beside him. He turned to find Cassius lying next to him, his hair a mess from sleep, a zy smile creeping across his lips.

  “Morning,” Cassius murmured, his voice warm and drowsy.

  Gun blinked at him in surprise, hanging up quickly. “How did I get into bed?” he asked, voice sceptical but pyful. “Don’t tell me you carried me here like some perfect gentleman?”

  Cassius chuckled, propping himself up on one elbow. “I might’ve helped guide you. You fell asleep on the couch, and I wasn’t about to let you wake up with a sore neck.”

  Gun narrowed his eyes in mock accusation. “The perfect gentleman, huh?”

  “Guilty as charged,” Cassius replied, his grin widening. “What do you say? Breakfast in bed? I know a pce that delivers the best croissants.”

  Gun hesitated, rubbing his face. “I can’t, actually. I’ve got to get back to my kids.”

  Cassius raised an eyebrow, taken aback. “Kids? You didn’t mention children.”

  Gun sighed, shifting to sit up against the headboard. “It’s not exactly the kind of thing I bring up in a conversation,” he began. “They’re not biologically mine. They’re my te boyfriend’s—Kai. Their mother’s in a mental clinic, so I’ve taken responsibility for them after he… passed.”

  Cassius was silent for a moment, processing the weight of the words. “I had no idea. That’s… That’s a lot to take on. You must love them very much to take on that kind of responsibility.”

  Gun’s expression softened as he thought of Jason, Elijah and Adalynn. “Yeah, I do. They’re family.”

  Cassius admired him with respect, his smile fading into something more thoughtful. “You’re a good man, Gun.”

  Gun felt a warmth in his chest at the sincerity in Cassius’s tone. He smiled faintly. “Thanks, Cassius. But I really should go check on them. We’ll do breakfast another time.”

  *

  Back at Chang Min’s home, Gun stepped inside to find his kids at the breakfast table, ughing over a cartoon pying on the t.v. The sight made his heart warm, and after giving each of them a quick hug and asking if they were okay, he headed into the kitchen, where Chang Min was sipping tea.

  Chang Min gnced up, eyebrows raised. “You’re back ter than expected. How was the ga?”

  Gun leaned against the counter, rubbing the back of his neck. “It was... interesting.”

  Chang Min’s lips curved into a knowing smile. “Interesting?”

  “There was this guy,” Gun started, catching Chang Min’s immediate interest. “Cassius. We spent most of the night talking, and I don’t know… I just felt so comfortable around him. It’s been a long time since I’ve felt like that.”

  Chang Min set his cup down with a soft clink. “And why do I get the feeling this is the first time you’ve met someone like him since Kai?”

  Gun’s face turned thoughtful. “Because it is.”

  There was a brief pause before Chang Min spoke again, his tone gentle but firm. “It’s been three years, Gun. Kai would want you to be happy. You don’t have to carry his memory like a weight on your shoulders.”

  Gun swallowed, looking down at the table. He knew Chang Min was right, but that didn’t make it easier to let go of the past. “I don’t know if I’m ready.”

  Chang Min’s gaze softened as he reached across the counter and squeezed Gun’s hand. “You don’t have to be ready for everything. Just… maybe give this Cassius a chance. Go on a date with him. See where it goes.”

  Gun thought about it, his mind swirling with memories of the night before, the way Cassius had made him feel comfortable, like he could breathe again. He realised he didn’t want to let that feeling slip away.

  After a moment, Gun pulled out his phone and stared at the screen. “You’re right,” he said, almost to himself, before dialling Cassius’s number.

  The phone rang twice before Cassius answered, his voice smooth and confident even in the morning. “Gun. What a pleasant surprise.”

  “Hey,” Gun said, feeling a little nervous for reasons he couldn’t quite expin. “I was thinking… if you’re free ter, maybe we could have lunch?”

  Cassius’s smile was almost audible through the phone. “Lunch sounds perfect.”

  Gun smiled, a hint of excitement bubbling up in him. “See you then.”