[BL] Dear Hushand, I want divorce-Chapter 105: We could share a room.

Elijah entered the modest home with a grateful smile. Grandpa clapped him on the back with his usual hearty welcome, guiding Elijah toward the living room.

"Make yourself comfortable, son," Grandpa said warmly. "This house may be small, but I bet you’ll like it here. Peaceful. No noise, no rush."

Ash, who was standing nearby, added quietly, "It’s not much, but I hope you’ll feel at ease. The atmosphere here...it’s different from the busy city life."

Elijah nodded, looking around. The small but quaint house already felt more like home than anything he’d known in years. "It’s perfect," he said softly, his gaze landing on Ash.

Ash studied him curiously, noticing the brief hesitation in Elijah’s voice. "What about your company?" he asked, his tone betraying a hint of worry.

Elijah’s business was massive; it wouldn’t just run itself.

Elijah hesitated for a moment longer before shaking his head with a soft smile. "There’s no need to worry about that right now. The company can wait."

Something in Elijah’s words left Ash feeling unsettled, but before he could press further, Grandpa reappeared with a tray of fresh fruit, offering some to Elijah. Elijah accepted a piece with a polite nod but found his attention drifting back to Ash almost immediately. He couldn’t help it.

Watching Ash move around the house, helping Grandpa and going about the simple routines brought him a sense of calm and happiness that he had long forgotten.

Elijah rested against the back of the couch, his gaze never straying far from Ash. Every time Ash smiled softly at Grandpa or worked his hands with gentle precision, Elijah’s heart swelled with an indescribable warmth. He had finally found his husband again, the man he had spent so many nights searching for.

Despite his words earlier about not forcing Ash back, Elijah’s mind was already made up. He knew he couldn’t push Ash to return but he was ready to stay here as long as it took to win him over again. If Ash wasn’t ready to return to the city, then Elijah would stay in this quiet little home forever if that’s what it took.

Elijah had realized something in his time apart from Ash—his love for Ash went beyond mere possession or control. It wasn’t about forcing Ash into a role or position anymore; it was about creating a space where Ash could feel safe, loved, and free. Even if that space meant staying here with Grandpa, away from the life they used to share.

Elijah smiled to himself, a soft, fond smile that tugged at the corners of his lips as he watched Ash carefully peel fruit for Grandpa.

Ash finally caught Elijah’s gaze from across the room, and for a brief moment, their eyes locked. Ash quickly looked away, still awkward and unsure, but Elijah’s smile only grew warmer. He would wait. He would always wait for Ash.

Elijah chuckled softly to himself, taking a bite of the fruit Grandpa had offered him, but his thoughts never strayed far from Ash. His baby. His love. And now, his purpose.

He shifted awkwardly on the couch, guilt flickering across his face when Ash asked how he’d found him.

"Ryder helped me," Elijah admitted, his voice soft. "He got Noah to talk."

Ash’s eyes widened with concern, his voice quickly growing sharp. "Noah? Noah wouldn’t just tell Ryder where I am. What did Ryder do? Did he blackmail him?"

Elijah immediately raised his hands in defense, trying to calm Ash down. "No, no. I swear, Noah is fine. Ryder didn’t hurt him or do anything drastic. He just...persuaded him."

Ash frowned, not entirely convinced. "What kind of persuasion? If Ryder did something to Noah, I swear—"

"Ash, I promise," Elijah cut in gently, "Noah is okay. I’m sorry I even involved him. I know you didn’t want people finding out where you were. I should have respected that."

Ash shook his head, sighing. "It’s fine. Just as long as Noah is okay." His voice dropped to a more serious tone, his eyes darkening with quiet anger. "But if I find out Ryder did something..."

Elijah smiled apologetically. "Ryder’s not a bad guy. He’s rough around the edges, but he wouldn’t hurt someone. He was just helping me."

Ash still looked unconvinced but dropped the subject for now. His shoulders relaxed a bit, and he let out a deep sigh. Before he could say anything more, Grandpa re-entered the room, his usual boisterous energy filling the space.

"So, Elijah," Grandpa said, grinning as he walked over. "Where are you planning to sleep? You look like you could use a bed after sitting there all stiff."

Elijah winced slightly, his back aching from sitting too long. "Yes, I could really use a place to lay down."

Ash opened his mouth to speak, quickly pointing to the guest room down the hall. "There’s a guest—"

But Grandpa cut him off with a wave of his hand, laughing heartily. "What guest room? He’s your old friend, isn’t he? Of course, he’ll be sleeping in your room! You two should catch up and talk all night."

Ash froze, his eyes widening in disbelief. He could feel the heat rising to his cheeks as Grandpa beamed at them both. "Grandpa, I—"

"Don’t be shy now!" Grandpa chuckled, slapping Elijah on the shoulder again, making him wince slightly. "Old friends have a lot to talk about! You boys enjoy yourselves!"

Elijah couldn’t help the excitement fluttering in his chest as he glanced at Ash. The idea of being so close to him, sharing a space again—it made his heart race in a way he hadn’t felt in so long. He smiled, trying to hide the eager glint in his eyes.

Ash, on the other hand, closed his eyes and sighed, feeling utterly defeated. How in the world was he supposed to sleep in the same room as Elijah? His heart raced just at the thought of it. It had been so long since they’d shared a bed, and the mere idea of it now felt like too much.

But as Elijah smiled at him—warm, genuine, and full of that familiar affection—Ash couldn’t bring himself to argue. He just sighed and nodded, resigning himself to whatever would come next.

Ash stood by the bed, hands working as he fluffed the pillows and straightened the sheets. He could feel Elijah’s eyes on him, watching every movement. It made his skin prickle, his nerves on edge.

"I’ll sleep on the floor," Ash said quickly, trying to distract himself from the tension that had settled thick in the room. He avoided Elijah’s gaze, focusing on making the bed neat and tidy. "You need to rest properly with your injuries. The bed is yours."

Elijah, lounging against the doorframe with a playful grin, tilted his head. "Ash, come on. You know I’m not going to let you sleep on the floor."

Ash’s hands stilled for a moment before he resumed smoothing the blankets. "I’ll be...fine. It’s not a big deal."

Elijah pushed off the wall and walked closer, leaning on the edge of the bed as Ash stepped back instinctively. "Then how about this," Elijah teased, eyes gleaming with amusement. "I’ll sleep on the floor, and you take the bed."

Ash shot him a look, his cheeks flushing slightly. "Don’t be ridiculous," he muttered, crossing his arms in a poor attempt to look stern. "You’re injured. You can’t sleep on the floor."

"Then what’s the harm in sharing?" Elijah asked innocently, though his grin betrayed the devilish amusement behind his words. He stepped closer, closing the small gap between them, his voice dropping a little lower. "It’s not like we’ve never shared a bed before."

Ash’s heart leaped into his throat, and he quickly looked away, feeling the heat creeping up his neck. "T-That was different," he mumbled. His mind flooded with memories of those shared nights, their closeness, their warmth. But this wasn’t the same. They weren’t the same anymore.

"Oh?" Elijah’s grin widened as he caught the shift in Ash’s mood. "How was it different?" he asked, voice dripping with curiosity.

Ash glared at the floor, cheeks fully reddened now. "You know what I m-mean, Elijah."

Elijah chuckled softly, clearly enjoying Ash’s awkwardness. "You’re shy," he teased, leaning in closer. "Come on, It’s just a bed. I promise I won’t bite...unless you ask. Or are you scared that something might happen if we sleep together?"

Ash’s eyes snapped up to him, wide with both surprise and embarrassment. He sputtered for a moment, trying to find the right words, but nothing coherent came out. Elijah’s laughter filled the room, and though it was lighthearted, Ash felt like sinking into the floor from sheer embarrassment.

"You’re such a—" Ash began, but Elijah raised an eyebrow, grinning as if daring him to finish that sentence.

"Such a what?" Elijah asked playfully.

Ash sighed, shaking his head, finally giving up on trying to argue. "Fine. You win," he muttered, exasperated. "But I’m still sleeping on the floor."

Elijah watched him for a moment, that familiar affection softening his gaze. He could see how shy Ash was, how flustered he’d become. A part of him felt guilty for teasing him so much, but another part couldn’t help but enjoy seeing Ash like this—vulnerable, cute, and a shy kitten.

"Alright," Elijah said finally, stepping back with a mischievous smile. "You do what makes you comfortable. But just know...you’re missing out on some quality warmth here."

Ash rolled his eyes, unable to stop the small smile tugging at his lips. Elijah could be insufferable sometimes, but there was no denying the charm behind his teasing.

Still, Ash busied himself with finishing the bed, determined not to let Elijah win any more ground.

Elijah settled onto the bed, still watching Ash as he moved around the room. "But seriously," he said more softly this time, the teasing edge gone from his voice. "You don’t have to be shy with me, Ash. I just want you to be comfortable."

Ash paused, glancing at Elijah before nodding quietly. "I know," he said softly, his voice barely above a whisper.