Fine Line

4.1 - slowly unraveling

THE WAY Alexandre and Nick met was a tale like no other.

The two men met at a gym in Paris just two blocks away from Nick's apartment building. Alexandre went there because the paparazzi were scarce in that area while Nick worked out there because it was convenient. There wasn't a McDonald's nearby to tempt him.

Nick's therapist had suggested he start working out to help him out with the stress he'd been feeling regarding his younger brother and moving to an entirely new country on his own. He was thankful he listened to her because he would've never caught sight of the dark-skinned beauty that was Alexandre.

The first time Nick had ever seen Alexandre, he had been bench pressing seventy kilograms when his eyes fell on the model who was running on a treadmill with music pouring out of his earphones. Nick almost dropped the barbell onto his chest.

After that day, he always kept an eye out for the man. He had made it his personal mission to make Alexandre notice him. Whether it was by wiping the sweat off his forehead by using his shirt whenever he caught him looking at him (just to show off his defined abs), or by making a shitton of noise by 'accidentally' dropping the dumbbells.

Nick wanted Alex to notice him. It didn't matter how he did it, he managed to catch his attention at some point.

Ever since then, it became a game– show off to the other whenever they were 'looking their way' (which was code word for openly gawking). Alexandre would turn into his goofy self and pose like he did in his photoshoots while Nick would deliver some of his atrocious pick-up lines.

The one that got Alex?

"Do you believe in love at first sight? Or should I walk by again?"

The line had been delivered as Nick crossed the path in front of the treadmills to get to the stationary bike. It earned him a loud, boisterous laugh from the unusually attractive man. He asked Alexandre out on a date at the end of their gym session. The latter obviously agreed and the rest was history.

Alexandre was attracted to Nick's confidence and boldness. He loved how honest he was, he loved how he didn't take anybody's shit and Alex absolutely loved how much Nick loved him.

He missed him. After their dispute (Alexandre still refuses to call it that), Nick had been even more distant than he already was. He had to go back home to finish some 'work things', leaving Alex behind in New York to continue attending fashion shows on his own. Nick obviously texted and called his husband– he even picked Alexandre up at the airport– but he barely conversed with him.

It's been weeks since their argument and the silence had grown tenser. Their house was silent– Nick left early in the morning and came back late at night, narrowly avoiding his husband. Date nights were awkward– they listened to each other rant about their lives, but that was that.

Alexandre, though, wasn't angry at his husband for behaving the way he was.

A baby was a big deal to Nick, and it would take some time for him to... to what? Was Nick trying to convince himself that he didn't need a baby? Or was he trying to find a way to end it with Alex?

The silence and distance were driving him crazy. Alexandre hated that he didn't know what his husband was thinking. He hated that he was to blame for the way things were unraveling. Despite being a people pleaser, Alex also drew the line at certain points– and he had to draw it here.

He didn't want a baby.

And he didn't know what that would do to their relationship.

–––

– 20/08/20

SORRY SORRY SORRY FOR DISAPPEARING

I JUST MOVED TO UNI AND SHIT AND IT TOOK ME SO LONG TO GET SETTLED IN (especially with the online classes)

Anywhoooo, here's 5 drama filled chapters for you!!!!