Chapter 24 - Adrian

I walked into the office, the familiar hum of the place filling the air. My mind was still lingering on the morning, the way she had smiled at me, teasing me with that mischievous glint in her eyes. But the moment I stepped into the office, the noise of the world came rushing back.

Nick was the first to greet me, of course. He leaned back in his chair with that all-knowing smirk plastered on his face. The second he saw me, he couldn't help but make a remark.

"Well, well, well," Nick drawled, his eyes scanning me from head to toe. "Look who decided to grace us with his crumpled shirt today. Did you get dressed in the dark, or is this your new 'I'm too cool to care' phase?"

I let out an inward sigh. Of course, Nick would comment on this. I knew exactly what he was getting at. The shirt was crumpled—something that would've driven me crazy under normal circumstances. But today, it didn't matter. It was just a reminder of this morning and the woman who had somehow turned my world upside down.

I stood up straighter and shot him a look. "It's called character, Nick," I replied coolly, pretending to adjust the shirt as if I wasn't thinking about how she had stolen it right off my back. "You wouldn't understand."

Nick raised an eyebrow, his grin widening. "Oh, I understand just fine. It's just that your wife—" he paused dramatically, "—must be having a hard time keeping up with you. What's next? Mismatched socks? Not even bothering with a tie?"

I couldn't help but smirk. "You'll have to talk to her about that. She knows exactly what she's doing."

The thought of her and how she had playfully taken my shirt and still managed to make me smile made my chest tighten. I may have let her have her fun, but damn, I couldn't help but feel something else when I thought about her scent lingering on the fabric.

Nick chuckled, shaking his head. "You're something else, man." He leaned back in his chair, throwing me a knowing look. "But I'll say this—you might want to iron it next time. You've got a meeting with the board in an hour."

I waved him off, already knowing he was right. But it didn't matter. Today, I had other things on my mind.

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As we walked through the front door, the scent of something delicious wafted through the air. I couldn't help but smile—Seraphina was in the kitchen, cooking again. There was something about seeing her so focused, so at ease in her element, that made my chest tighten with a feeling I couldn't quite describe.

Nick, as always, had a sly grin on his face, nudging me as we entered the kitchen. "Man, she's making broth," he said, glancing over at me. "You know, I could help. You know, if you want me to."

I rolled my eyes, but I knew better than to not entertain his teasing. "Oh, really?" I replied, a sarcastic edge to my voice. "And what exactly would you do to help? Burn the kitchen down?"

Nick shrugged dramatically, a mischievous twinkle in his eye. "I could be useful. I've got skills, you know. I can't just sit around like you, being all helpful by standing in the corner looking like you're about to get a surprise proposal."

I couldn't help but chuckle at that. My gaze naturally drifted over to Seraphina, who was stirring something in the pot, clearly unaware of Nick's antics.

"Go ahead and help her," I muttered to Nick, knowing the kitchen was about to become a battlefield. "But don't blame me if she asks you to leave."

Nick leaned against the counter, waiting for the right moment to pounce. He turned his attention to Seraphina, and with a grin that made me want to roll my eyes, he approached her. "Hey, Sera," he said, "I'm totally great at this. Just tell me what to do."

Seraphina raised an eyebrow, clearly amused but also slightly wary. "Well," she said with a mischievous smile, "you can drain the broth into the sink. Just make sure you don't mess it up."

Nick eagerly nodded, his smug grin widening. "Don't worry, I've got this," he said, before confidently walking over to the sink and grabbing the pot.

My eyes narrowed as I watched him, sensing that something was about to go wrong. I leaned against the doorframe, silently watching.

Nick proceeded to pour the broth down the sink.

I blinked. "Nick, what the hell are you doing?"

Seraphina, whose back had been to him, whirled around at the sound of my voice. The shock on her face quickly turned to fury as she stormed over to Nick.

"Did you just drain the broth?" she practically yelled, her voice rising with disbelief. "I told you to drain it, not dump it down the sink!"

Nick, unfazed, shrugged with exaggerated innocence. "I thought that's what you meant. Was it wrong?"

"You don't just dump it down the sink, Nick!" Seraphina snapped, frustration flashing in her eyes. "You're supposed to strain it and keep it!"

I stepped forward, trying to ease the tension. "It's alright, babe," I said, my tone more calm than I felt. "It's just broth. We can make more."

But I could tell by the way she was seething that it wasn't just about the broth. The frustration was bubbling over, and I could see her control slipping.

As Seraphina continued to berate Nick for the broth disaster, I stood off to the side, watching with a mix of amusement and something else—something a little darker I couldn't quite place. I had seen her argue with Nick like this before, but this time felt different. She was so at ease with him, letting her frustration pour out without hesitation. There was no guard, no hesitation. And the way Nick just shrugged it off, making a joke out of it, made me feel like an outsider in the moment.

My gaze flickered from Seraphina's expressive face to Nick's playful grin, and something twisted in my chest. It wasn't that I didn't trust Nick; it was just... the way she seemed so comfortable with him. It made the tight walls I'd built around myself feel even more confining.

I couldn't remember the last time I'd seen Seraphina this open with me. Sure, we had our moments—those rare, intimate conversations where I could feel her letting her guard down, but they were few and far between. She'd always been a bit... guarded with me, like she wasn't quite sure how much of herself she could give. Maybe it was the past, or maybe it was just who she was. But the difference was hard to ignore. With Nick, she was a completely different person—no filters, no walls, just Seraphina.

I wanted that side of her. I needed to see that side of her. But I wasn't sure how to break through the distance that lingered between us.

Nick caught my eye from across the room, his grin widening when he noticed the slight frown on my face. "What's wrong, man?" he asked, stepping toward me with a teasing look. "You look like someone just stole your ice cream."

I forced a smile, shoving down the wave of insecurity that threatened to show on my face. "Nothing," I said, the word feeling hollow. "Just... thinking."

Nick raised an eyebrow. "Thinking, huh? About what? How to make up for not doing anything in the kitchen?"

I let out a breath, my smile shifting into something more genuine. "Maybe. But also... I don't know. Just trying to figure something out."

Nick gave me a knowing look, his gaze flickering to where Seraphina and I were standing, then back to me. He'd always had this uncanny ability to read me, even when I didn't want to be read. "She's not easy, is she?" he said, a low murmur, like he was sharing a secret.

I glanced at Seraphina, who was now focusing on the stove, her attention diverted. "No," I muttered. "She's not."

Nick's grin faded into something more serious, like he could sense the shift in the air. "She's... complicated, man. But you already know that. You're not going to get through to her by just trying to be Mr. Perfect."

I clenched my jaw, pushing back the frustration that began to build. "I'm not trying to be perfect. I just..." I trailed off, unsure of what I was even trying to say. Was I trying to get Nick's approval? Was I seeking some kind of validation that I could be the one to make her feel open, feel safe?

"Look, I get it," Nick said, his voice softer now. "But you've gotta let her be herself. She's got walls up for a reason, and that doesn't mean she's keeping you out. Just means she's trying to protect herself. And that's not something you can fix overnight."

I swallowed hard, Nick's words hitting too close to home. Maybe he was right. Maybe this wasn't something I could control. But seeing Seraphina let her guard down with him, even in the middle of a ridiculous kitchen argument... it stirred something in me that I couldn't ignore.

As she turned back to me, a smile curving her lips as she shot me a teasing look, I realized I wanted her to want to let me in. I wanted to be the one to see the real Seraphina, to be the one she didn't have to hide behind walls for. But maybe I'd been pushing too hard, trying to force a connection that wasn't ready yet.

For now, I could only watch as she made her way to the stove, her focus back on the meal in front of her.

It wasn't easy, but I'd have to be patient. Maybe, just maybe, I could earn her trust in time.

We were all at the office, the usual bustling energy of the workday in full swing. Nick had made some off-hand comment about some "important" meeting he had scheduled with a potential client, and of course, Seraphina was all ears.

"Don't forget to take notes for me," she teased, a playful tone in her voice. "You're not the best at keeping track of things, Nick."

Nick rolled his eyes but grinned. "Hey, I know how to handle my business," he shot back, nudging her shoulder in that familiar way.

I leaned against the doorframe, my hands in my pockets, watching them interact. I knew they were friends, had been for a long time. But something about the way she laughed at Nick's jokes, the way they easily slipped into their back-and-forth banter... it always struck me the wrong way.

I'd never been the jealous type—well, not before Seraphina. But seeing her look so effortlessly comfortable around him, it was starting to eat at me. Why didn't she talk to me like that? Why didn't she joke around with me the same way she did with him?

"You're awfully quiet today, man," Nick said, pulling me out of my thoughts.

I forced a smile, trying to push the discomfort down. "Just busy, that's all."

Seraphina gave me a quick glance before turning back to Nick. "Busy with work or busy being moody?" she teased, her eyes sparkling with that same ease she always had with him.

Her words stung more than I cared to admit, but I laughed it off. "Moody? You're one to talk," I replied, trying to keep things light.

Nick snickered, but Seraphina just smiled at me, her gaze softening for a brief moment. I wanted to say something, anything to break this weird distance between us, but the words got stuck in my throat.

Nick leaned in, lowering his voice to a playful whisper that was clearly meant only for Seraphina. "You're gonna get yourself in trouble hanging out with him all the time, you know?"

She chuckled, tapping his arm lightly. "Oh, don't worry. I can handle him."

A pang of something sharp hit my chest. You can handle me? It felt like a statement she would make to someone she was completely comfortable with. Not that I didn't want her to be at ease around me—I did—but the way she said it... it felt so casual, so natural, while I was still fumbling around, trying to figure out how to get her to open up.

And then there was Nick, just there with her, always on her level, effortlessly sliding into her space, making her laugh in a way that I could never quite manage. Maybe that was the problem. Maybe it wasn't that she didn't want to open up to me... maybe it was that I couldn't break down the walls I had built around myself. And now, here was Nick, breezing through everything with ease, making me feel like an outsider in a room that should have been mine.

"I'll leave you two to it," I said, pushing off from the doorframe. "Got some stuff to take care of."

Seraphina looked at me with concern in her eyes, but I waved it off. "I'll be fine. Just need a minute."

As I walked away, I could feel Nick's gaze on me. It wasn't pity. It was understanding, and it made the whole thing worse. I had never felt more like I was losing her.

But maybe I was just being paranoid. Maybe I was just scared of feeling left behind while Nick seemed to slip right into her world without a second thought.

I shook my head. No, I couldn't let that be the narrative. I wasn't going to lose her. Not without a fight.

I had planned the evening meticulously. I had asked Seraphina to meet me for dinner, wanting to spend some quiet time together, just the two of us. After everything that had happened lately, I thought it would be a good chance for us to reconnect. I was looking forward to it.

As I walked toward the restaurant, I saw her standing by the entrance, checking her phone. I smiled, knowing she was waiting for me. But as I got closer, I froze. Nick was already there. I stopped just a few steps behind them, hidden from view, but close enough to watch.

I couldn't hear their words, but I could see her smile. It was that genuine, carefree smile—the kind I hadn't seen directed at me in a while. They were laughing about something, and it made me pause, my feet rooted to the ground. I watched Nick's easygoing nature as he leaned in slightly, saying something to her that made her laugh again.

I felt my stomach twist, an uncomfortable mix of jealousy and frustration rising inside me. I wasn't even sure why it bothered me this much. We were friends, after all, weren't we? But seeing her so comfortable, so open with him, when I couldn't seem to get through to her the same way, hit harder than I expected.

I pulled out my phone, my fingers hovering over the keys. I couldn't bring myself to walk up to them, to interrupt whatever moment they were having. So, I sent her a text instead.

"I can't make it tonight, something came up."

I watched as she checked her phone, her expression shifting slightly. She probably didn't think much of it, not realizing how much the sight of her and Nick together affected me. But I couldn't leave. I couldn't stop watching. There was something about the way they interacted, so effortlessly, that made me feel... insignificant.

They made their way into the restaurant, still chatting and laughing, and I found myself standing there, watching them through the window. I couldn't explain why I felt this knot in my chest. Maybe it was the way she seemed to glow in Nick's presence, the ease with which they fell into conversation. It wasn't like I hadn't seen her laugh before, but something about this felt different. It was almost like she didn't need me, like she was perfectly fine on her own without me.

I stood there, feeling stupid for watching them, for letting my insecurities take over. But my eyes kept drifting back to the window, watching her laugh, watching her enjoy herself with Nick. I told myself I should leave, that this wasn't healthy, but I couldn't pull myself away. I wasn't ready to admit what I was really feeling, even to myself.

She deserved to be happy, I reminded myself. And if that meant she was happy with Nick, I should just accept it. But it was hard, so damn hard, to fight this feeling in my chest.