Resisting

Yuzuru finished his performance calmly as if he didn't drive her absolutely crazy with all of the teasing.

He left the ice just in time for Brian to come in and politely send them away.

As Yuzu packed his things, she decided that inviting him to dinner wouldn't be such a bad idea.

"You want to come to dinner?"

She asked casually, making him turn and smile apologetically.

"I can't..."

She was disappointed at the answer but on for a few seconds before he spoke again "How about in a few days? I have some meetings and I can only do them at night because of timezones."

"You don't have to justify anything."

"Maybe. But I don't want you to think that I don't want to go. I wish I could be eating your food instead of listening to nonsense for a few hours, but it's work..."

"Of course. I understand."

"I do promise to accept that offer before I go."

"When are you going?"

"Next Monday."

She couldn't help but feel sad. They didn't even have a week before he was gone, probably for good.

"We still have a few days" he said, getting far too close to her and cupping her cheek lovingly, making her heartbeat increase drastically in just a few seconds.

There weren't many boundaries between them, but this was on a whole new level.

Alex barely even noticed the whole thing, too caught up in putting his stuff away.

The moment was gone almost as soon as it started, even if his hand lingered slightly in the same position for a while longer, only to stop when Alex turned around and so did Yuzuru, almost as if trying to hide the tension that was so obvious between them.

"Mommy, I'm ready."

"Okay, we should go."

"What about Yuzuru?"

"What about me?" He asked Alex with a small smile.

"No dinner? I thought you were friends again."

"We never stopped being friends, baby."

"Yes, but now you sit together again and are closer. I thought Yuzuru was coming to dinner again."

"Your mom invited me, but I have some meetings from Japan to attend. Not today, buddy."

"Tomorrow?"

Yuzuru flinched slightly at the question. His schedule must have been hectic if he was struggling this much to find time for things.

"Maybe Sunday, ok?"

It was now Mia's time to wince. Sunday, just before he went to Japan.

"Okay! I can't wait!"

"Me too, buddy. Me too." Yuzuru ruffled Alex's hair for a few seconds before hugging him goodbye.

"You don't need a ride?" Mia asked with a smile.

"I rented a car" he said with a gentle smile.

"I thought you didn't drive."

"I do... But I rarely drive in Japan so I take that habit here too. It's still more convenient to have one."

"Yeah."

The hug greeted her this time and Mia's senses were filled with his pleasant scent engulfing all of her body in warmth.

"Can I have your number?" He whispered in her ear.

"What for, Mr. Hanyu?"

"So I can text you when I feel lonely."

They were still hugging at that time and she smiled into his shoulder. It felt too good to be like this and she didn't necessarily want them to part, even if they had to.

"Give me your phone" she eventually said as they get some distance between them.

"You know not a lot of people have this number, right?"

"Worried I will share it with the world?" She teased.

"I'm just telling you that I don't share it with a lot of people, so you should use it..."

She added her contact quickly and texted herself to get his as well.

"What app do you use? I'm not paying international messages to cheer you up."

"You have Line?"

"No, but I can always install it."

"Looking forward to that first message then."

"I will see you soon. Good luck with your meetings."

"Thank you, Angel."

The damn nickname was back again and it made her flush just as much as the first time.

"Just go" she almost begged, ignoring the look her son was throwing her.

And he did. As soon as his warmth left her close space she missed it, just like it was supposed to always be present.

"Mom?"

"Yes, Alex?"

"Do you like Yuzuru?"

Mia was just glad she wasn't drinking anything because the question was certainly enough to make her spit whatever she could be drinking.

And how do you even answer that question?

"Just as much as you do, of course."

"I think he likes you too."

And just like that, her son had managed to confuse her once again. As if she needed any more confusion about the whole thing. If her 8-year-old could tell that something was going on then any other person could and it bothered her.

Not that she had any shame about liking Yuzuru in that way, but she hated that it was so obvious.

And even if the decision to be friends protected her heart, her body wasn't having any of it, not when he kept teasing like that.

Maybe texting was a good thing. At least she didn't have to look at his smirk while they spoke and in the end, it allowed them to keep in contact when he left in a few days, even if not constant, it was better than nothing.

It was only when she arrived home from the rink that she noticed the message waiting for her.

'I wish I could be with you instead of these boring meetings.'