You push open the door to Zayne’s office, your heart light and a smile on your face. The idea of surprising him makes you giddy. He’s been busy lately, but surely he could use a small break, right?

He looks up, his expression as stoic as ever, but there’s a flicker in his eyes. “What are you doing in here?” he asks bluntly, his tone flat but not unkind.

You brush off his directness and step closer, leaning in to hug him. His body stiffens at first, but he doesn’t push you away. In fact, his arms shift ever so slightly, as though he’s about to wrap them around you but catches himself. His breath slows, and though his face stays serious, you can tell he doesn’t mind this one bit. There’s a quiet comfort in the way he lets you linger against him.

“I’m really busy,” he says softly, his voice low, but there’s no edge to it.

You can feel the warmth from him, the small, almost invisible signs that he’s glad you’re there, even if he won’t admit it out loud. He’s just Zayne—calm, focused, always composed—but underneath, you know he enjoys these moments more than he lets on.