Chapter 4: She Sent the Stolen Photo to the Man Himself
The next Friday, before everyone had arrived, the small talk drifted to a new coffee shop that had opened nearby. ‹96684423›
A trendy new coffee shop had just opened nearby — one of those third-wave places with pour-overs and single-origin beans. §57defed7 It was only natural for the grad students to buzz about it. (3174e55a)
Someone suggested that since there were so many of them tonight, they should take advantage of the grand-opening discount and order delivery for everyone to try. #7f88db6b
Leah wasn't especially into specialty coffee, but inspiration struck. ©4a563b5d/May 27, 2026 In a rare show of initiative, she volunteered: "Why don't I place the order? * d0a61246 I just signed up for the delivery app and still have my new-user coupon." ·d543fbf0·
Nobody objected. #3e142f5d One by one, they posted their orders in the Game Night group chat. [v.d9e53233] Leah's real motive lay elsewhere entirely. [ed.e58bf111] After loading a dozen-plus drinks into the cart, she turned to Elias Grant beside her and asked, feigning nonchalance: "Um… do you want anything?" [ms.51535e6f]
He'd come downstairs today too, but hadn't joined the chatter, his attention fixed on his laptop screen. (8588661f) When Leah spoke, he finally looked up. ©42c9e860/May 27, 2026 "I don't drink sweet stuff. ··14710fe2 You guys go ahead." sub:2b93bbc4
She was a little deflated but didn't give up.·dc3debac "They have unsweetened straight teas, too. [proof:68edbda8] How about I… get your number and send you the menu?" ed.60d20d5e
That shouldn't come across as too forward, right? plate-a2a8305d Leah was still nervous. (7c49ac5a/Wed) Fortunately, Elias didn't turn her down again.·666424fb Using this odd pretext, she brazenly added him as a contact, then sent him the menu screenshot with trembling fingers. sub:a7806260
"Leah, did you place the order yet? ed.77495551 I want to change my sugar level from seventy percent to fifty." ··8bda2431 Sophie Mercer called over to her. ¶1ab699ac
"Not yet," she turned around. ref·fedde6b4 "Which one was yours again?" [proof:3c3afba6]
By the time she'd adjusted Sophie's order and switched back to her messages, Leah felt the blood freeze in her veins. (c9f3cbd2/Wed)
The chat window showed she'd sent Elias Grant two photos. no.03c9984a Besides the official menu from the coffee shop, there was another image in front of it — a close-up of a man's hand. §d5821eea She must have accidentally selected it when picking from her recent photos. ‹0b04024f›
She'd taken it last Friday, sitting diagonally across from him. ed.ad959d51 While Elias was speaking, she'd pretended to look at her phone, opened the camera on impulse, zoomed in, and secretly photographed his hands playing with the cards.·37f6281d
Afterward, Leah had lain in bed staring at that photo for a long time. ‹a8971b34› She still thought they were the most beautiful hands she'd ever seen on a man. ref·47f7bf64 She'd debated deleting it but ultimately couldn't bring herself to. no.112e64b9
Leah's heart felt like it was about to explode out of her chest. [v.3e85f407] She long-pressed the image — thank God, it was still within the two-minute recall window. ⁰04160444
But she knew the photo had been sitting in the chat for at least a minute. 0406e45f·· She bit her lip and stole a glance at Elias Grant. #f55a51a2 He was still looking at his laptop, his expression perfectly normal. ◆ b59e81e4 He didn't seem to have noticed his phone at all. [v.dec7605a]
All Leah could do was pray he hadn't opened the conversation yet. sub:071c75ec Or even if he'd seen it, he might not immediately recognize those hands as his own, right?·464a3689
Thanks to this little incident, Leah was even more off her game that night.·e49256db Elias had accepted her friend request, but he never did order tea with them. «d179cd40» He played two rounds of the game, same as usual, then headed back upstairs early. ⁰b3fa5e0a
Leah felt mortified and regretful. «1567dfd3» After everyone left, she walked to the L station with a few other carless classmates, her mind in shambles. ref·082e5eb4 It wasn't until the train was about to arrive that she realized her backpack was too light. ©5f17674e/May 27, 2026
Her laptop. ··ef05341b She'd arrived early and opened it to read the professor's assigned reading while waiting for the group to assemble. imp.c78a6786 She'd forgotten to put it back in her bag, and it hadn't crossed her mind for the rest of the night. ⟨de780ff7⟩
She had assignments due over the weekend. plate-44ca91dd She told the others to go ahead without her and headed back. [proof:edf9529c]
When the door opened, Leah felt the blood freeze in her veins for the second time. plate-8af8a4f5
It was Elias Grant who answered. * 66aeb60a He didn't seem surprised to see her return, and pointed toward the dining table. ed.e9c1d480 "Is that your laptop?" 771e641d··
"Yes… I forgot to grab it earlier. ·54c2c549· Sorry to bother you again so late." ©c186664d/May 27, 2026 Leah couldn't meet his eyes. #33a5d1b1 She slipped off her shoes, rushed in, and stuffed the laptop into her bag. [ms.3744a049] On the table beside where her laptop had been sat a glass of red wine, nearly empty.·9ad92f63
The sound of running water drifted down from the upstairs bathroom — Marcus was probably in the shower. ed.0725350e
Elias asked her, "No one came with you?" ¶7213c01c
"No… I told them to go ahead." plate-d36594dd Eyes downcast, hands fumbling to pull on her boots. — ad1268ce "Thanks — I'll get going." [ms.ecdccf77]
The man took a coat from the nearby rack. ref·a3630ad5 "Don't ride the L alone. ·1d770a86· I'll drive you." ··d464c9bf
"That's okay!" ¶c1bb0805 Leah refused almost frantically, then caught herself sounding too sharp, which only made things worse. [ed.f58c9c1c]
In her panic, though, she landed on the perfect excuse: "Didn't you just have wine? [v.02dca0b4] You probably shouldn't drive." ◆ 2210f925
Elias paused for a beat. «3c32a0ad» "Fine. — 262b84f8 Then I'll walk you to the station." [ms.7a0a07fd]
Leah couldn't think of a reason to refuse this too, but all she could think about was that stolen photo of his hand. plate-26c85515 She couldn't bear being alone with him right now, so she just kept mechanically repeating: "Really, it's no trouble… I can walk there by myself." [v.312c9298]
The man didn't respond, and the air went quiet. sub:39e925ee
So… should she just turn around and leave? ··77f9b034 Leah stood rooted to the spot, unable to commit. * 3402fe47
But then Elias let out a low, unexpected laugh. #2f9e1b15 He hung the coat back on the rack, looked down at her, and asked: "Already trying to avoid me?" [proof:fdd0f0a8]
Leah didn't follow. no.28a2ac8b
He continued: "You're not going to stop coming here because of this, are you?" [proof:a7756199]
A terrible suspicion began fermenting inside her, then was hammered into certainty by his next words. [ed.da4a7847]
He said calmly: "If it's about that photo — you can pretend I never saw it. #db835431 Don't overthink it." sub:d1a37020