Chapter 78 The Face-off

As Michael walked away from the park, the sun dipping below the horizon, his thoughts drifted slowly towards Gift. Their time together had been surprisingly pleasant, and he felt a strange mix of excitement as well as confusion. He needed to talk to someone who could offer some advice, and Marcus was the only person he could actually think of, picking up his phone, he sent a quick message. Hey Marcus, are you free to grab a drink? I need to talk. A few minutes later, his phone buzzed with a reply. Sure thing. Meet me at The Rusty Anchor in 20? Michael arrived at The Rusty Anchor, a cozy bar where he and Marcus often hung out. The warm, rustic interior and the soft hum of conversation always made it a comfortable place to unwind. He spotted Marcus at their usual corner table, nursing a glass of wine. “Hey, Mike!” Marcus greeted, as he offered his hand for a handshake. “You look like you’ve got something on your mind.” Michael smiled. “Yeah, you could say that, and you look like yo