chapter 15

Adrian's pov

I sat across Neal, staring at my laptop , the soft hum of the fan was the only sound filling the empty room. A week. Seven whole days since I last saw her. It felt longer, like time had stretched, making every hour without her presence feel heavier.

I hadn’t expected to miss her this much. We weren’t anything—at least, not yet. But ever since that night, when I held her closer to me. when her eyes had met mine like she saw something in me worth looking at. I hadn’t been able to shake the feeling that she was different. That she mattered.

My phone sat on the office table, untouched. I had thought about texting her a hundred times, but what would I even say? Hey, I can’t stop thinking about you? Too much. Hope you’re doing well? Too little. So I said nothing.

Sighing, I ran a hand through my hair, frustration bubbling in my chest. Was she thinking about me too? Or had she already moved on, leaving that night as nothing more than a passing moment?

I stretched out, pressed my face into my palms. I hated this feeling—this strange, aching absence of someone who had never even been mine to begin with.

But still, I missed her. And I wasn’t sure when that would stop. I heard her boyfriend was back in town that's why she never came around. Kind of ticks me off, but I had to keep a distance since she already warned me from the beginning. Life definetly sucks without her besides me.

'' Get your head in the game. You have been distracted since you last saw her. '' Neal stated. His eyes fixed on my direction.

'' Nope, I don't think so. '' I lied.

'' Dude just accept it. She has already gotten into your skin. ''

'' One more word from that mouth of your's and you are a dead man. '' I warned.

He shushed up but his eyes were the most annoying ones I've ever seen. Deep down I knew he was indeed speaking the truth. She had already gotten under my skin. Now it was way harder for me to just let her go.

Suddenly my phone rang. Sam texted. She had been of great help to me. Every Nadia's move, she told me. This particular information made me get all excited.

"What?" Neal asked curiously.

I turned the phone to his direction to see for himself.

"Guess we are back in business." he stated getting up.

In the basement I didn't let Neal drive. He was way too careful of a driver and I was loosing patient every time I think of her.

"Things really do change." Neal teased.

"What's that supposed to mean?" I asked knowing clear what he meant by that.

"You know what I mean."

The rest of the drive went by with Neal complaining of my overspeeding. At a point we got slowed down by a police car which I declined and sped away. That would cost me a lot but I did not want to keep her waiting for so long.

"We are at the basement parking come pick us up." Neal spoke through his phone.

At the end of the line I could hear Sam say an okay before the line went silent. Couple of minutes later I saw her coming from the furthest end near the elevator.

"You came fast. I thought it would take you half an hour it's barely twenty." she stated.

"Someone got all so excited." he directed it to me.

Snobbing them I walked past them to where the elevator was. Clicking the button it didn't work. "Out of order Mr." Sam said walking to the direction she came from.

"Stairs." I spoke.

Both laughed at me. Gaining up courage I took pace and walked slowly behind them. First second third stairs I was already tired. Been long since I went to the gym. Business issues have been all around my neck that I forgot to care for my body.

"We are here. " Sam announced while taking a deep breath.

She too was tired. On my left Neal looked as if he was dying.

"Water." he whispered.

There we were walking to the furthest end of the hallway. I spotted a door half way opened which then Sam announced we had arrived. Upon seeing her lying on the couch covered with a blanket, felt so amazing. She has been shutting me out of her life but now I wanted to make a stand. She wasn't going to stand me up the second time.

"Bel, don't be rude. Say hi." Sam spoke sitting down next to her.

That was when she raised her eyes to where both Neal and I stood after he had shut the door.

"Aidan." she said my name.

For a second there everything in me came crumbling down. Even though I so bad wanted to see her, this was going way beyond what I had planned to do to her.

"Can I talk to you in private." I directed it to her.

She looked confused for a moment then threw away blanky as she slipped in her fluffy shoes on. Directing her way to a slim hallway that lead somewhere.

"Don't stay too long am opening a bottle of wine now. If you miss it that's your damn business." Sam shouted as we both drifted away in the dark hallway.

There I was following her close behind a centimeter away, one wrong move and I'd be invading her privacy. Soon she opened a door that led to a more brighter room. The bed, the bed side neon light, the two sitter couch, the makeup table and the head to toe mirror, I knew then it was her room.

Suddenly, I gently grabbed her by the hair, tucked it between my fingers and pulled her closer that her eyes and mine were aligned.

"Did you miss me?" I whispered, eyes fixed on her lips full of lust.

I missed so much what they tasted like. Been dreaming about them. Now I was fifty fifty about what I wanted. I didn't want to put her in dilemma between choosing me and her boyfriend.

" Aren't we supposed to talk?" she asked.

"That doesn't ask my question." I stated taking her a step back pinning her against the wall near the door.

"Aidan, you know I can't..."

Two weeks apart had done little to quiet the storm inside me, but as my eyes locked again with hers, guilt wove itself into the longing that hung in the air. The memory of our little chat felt distant, overshadowed by the deeper conflict we both carried. Her heart ached with the weight of her divided emotions, torn between the life she knew and the undeniable pull she felt toward me. This I knew. I searched her face, her own expression a mix of hope and hesitation, as if battling the same moral tide. The space between us was charged with everything I couldn't say-an unspoken acknowledgment of the impossibility of me making her mine, yet an equally undeniable truth: in this moment, I couldn't stay away from her, no matter how much it hurt.

"Please, I need you." I confessed the bitter truth.