Chapter 25 - Seraphina

I felt a small pang of guilt as I read Adrian's message. I'd been looking forward to spending time with him tonight. It had been a while since we had a chance to relax and just enjoy each other's company, without distractions. But he couldn't make it, and I understood. He was always so busy, so wrapped up in his responsibilities. Still, a part of me couldn't shake the feeling of disappointment.

Nick must have noticed my sudden shift in mood, because he raised an eyebrow. "You okay?" he asked, his voice warm, but with a hint of curiosity.

I nodded, not wanting to dwell on it too much. "Yeah, just a little... surprised. But it's fine," I added with a smile that I hoped looked convincing enough.

He gave me a knowing look but didn't press the issue. Instead, he suggested we still grab something to eat since we were already here. "You should have something," he said. "It'll take your mind off things."

I hesitated for a moment before agreeing. There was no harm in getting something to eat, especially with Nick. He had a way of making things feel lighter, and I needed that right now. As we walked into the small, cozy restaurant, the atmosphere was warm and inviting, and I could feel my tension slowly melting away.

We sat down, and as we looked over the menu, Nick glanced at me with a small smile. "Actually, there's something I've been meaning to talk to you about," he said, his tone a little more serious than before.

I raised an eyebrow, curious. "What's up?"

He leaned back in his chair, looking a little nervous for the first time since I'd known him. "It's about Lyra," he said, his eyes flickering away momentarily. "I think... I think I might like her. A lot."

I blinked, surprised. It wasn't something I had expected him to say. Nick, usually so confident and carefree, was suddenly vulnerable, and I couldn't help but smile at how genuine his feelings seemed. It was kind of sweet, in a way.

"You like her?" I asked, feeling a little teasing, but more supportive. "I mean, I can see it. You two have that... chemistry."

Nick's face brightened slightly, and he leaned in, his voice lowering as if sharing a secret. "I do. But the thing is, I'm not really sure how to approach her. I want your help. You're good with people, you always know what to say, and you've got that, uh, charm." He smiled sheepishly.

I laughed softly, touched by how earnest he was. "You want my help with Lyra?" I asked, feeling a spark of amusement. "Well, I can definitely give you some advice. But you know you have to be honest with her, right? No games."

Nick nodded, looking relieved. "I'm trying to be, believe me. I just... I don't know where to start."

I smiled warmly at him. "Well, the first step is to actually talk to her. Don't overthink it. Just be yourself."

His face lit up with a grin. "You really think so?"

"Definitely," I replied. "I'll help you however I can. But it's on you, Nick. You've got to take the plunge."

As I spoke, I realized how much I enjoyed being able to help him. Even though Nick and I had our differences, there was a genuine friendship between us, and I wanted to see him happy. I could tell that he was serious about Lyra, and I had no doubt that if he was true to himself, things could work out.

He nodded, his smile widening. "Thanks, Sera. I knew you'd be the right person to talk to."

I grinned back at him, feeling a sense of warmth spread through me. It was a moment of lightness I needed, and despite my earlier disappointment, I found myself enjoying this evening. Just me and Nick, and a small step toward helping him with something important to him.

As we continued talking, my mind briefly drifted back to Adrian. He wasn't here, but that didn't mean I didn't miss him. I hoped whatever had kept him away wasn't too serious. But for now, I focused on Nick, on the connection we shared, and the lightheartedness of this evening.

Adrian's sudden change in demeanor didn't escape me. At first, I thought it was just the weight of his responsibilities. Running an empire like his wasn't easy, and I knew the constant pressure could make anyone retreat into themselves. But this felt different.

He wasn't just busy; he was distant. The warm, teasing glances he used to give me were fewer now, replaced with a neutral politeness that stung more than I cared to admit. His usual texts asking if I'd eaten or gently reminding me to take a break had become short, formal responses. The man who had once made me feel like I was the center of his world now seemed like he was barely holding himself in orbit.

I tried to brush it off. Adrian wasn't the type to talk about his emotions openly. Maybe this was just him processing something internally. But the doubt began creeping in, whispering things I didn't want to believe.

Had I done something wrong?

Was he regretting this... whatever "this" was between us?

It didn't help that Nick had been around a lot lately. After that dinner where Adrian had canceled, Nick had taken it upon himself to keep me company, claiming it was his duty to make sure I didn't dwell on things. His lighthearted jokes and infectious energy had been a welcome distraction, but I started to notice the way Adrian would glance at us, his jaw tight, his eyes shadowed.

He never said anything, but I could feel the tension in the air every time Nick was around. It was as if Adrian was building an invisible wall between us, and I didn't know how to break it down.

Adrian's distance didn't go unnoticed, but I chose not to address it. Confronting feelings wasn't exactly my strong suit, and if Adrian had something on his mind, he would eventually tell me—right?

But as days turned into weeks, the space between us grew wider. He was still polite, still attentive in the little ways that mattered, but the warmth that used to color his actions was missing. I couldn't ignore it anymore, no matter how much I tried to convince myself otherwise.

One evening, I found myself in the kitchen preparing tea. Nick was lounging against the counter, scrolling through his phone and occasionally cracking a joke to fill the silence. He had been around a lot lately, his cheerful energy a welcome distraction from the tension I didn't want to name.

"I don't get it," Nick said suddenly, setting his phone down. "How do you manage to look calm all the time? You'd make a great poker player."

I smiled faintly, stirring the tea. "Practice."

Nick raised an eyebrow. "I'm serious. Do you ever just... let loose?"

"I let loose," I argued, though my tone was light.

"Oh yeah? When?" he challenged, his eyes sparkling with mischief.

"Whenever you're not around to witness it," I quipped, handing him his cup.

He laughed, and for a brief moment, the heaviness in my chest eased. But just as quickly as it came, the weight returned. I couldn't help but notice how easy it was to smile with Nick.

And Adrian?

I wasn't sure anymore.

Later that night, I sat in the living room flipping through a magazine, my eyes barely registering the words on the page. Adrian came in, his tie loosened and his jacket draped over his arm. He didn't look at me as he walked past, his expression unreadable.

It wasn't that he was cold—far from it. Adrian was still Adrian, thoughtful and measured in everything he did. But there was a reserve in his demeanor now, a quiet withdrawal that I didn't know how to address.

I closed the magazine and looked up, wanting to say something. But before I could, he disappeared into his study, the door clicking softly behind him.

A part of me wanted to knock on that door, to ask him what was wrong. But another part of me—a louder, more cautious part—held me back.

What if he didn't want to talk?

What if I wasn't ready to hear the answer?

Instead, I sank back into the couch, letting the silence of the house envelop me. I told myself it was just a phase, that Adrian would come back when he was ready. But deep down, a small, nagging voice whispered that maybe he was waiting for me to take the first step.

And for now, I wasn't sure if I could.

I leaned back on the bed, holding my phone close as Lyra's cheerful voice filled the quiet room. "So, what's up, Sera? You never call me out of the blue like this unless there's something on your mind."

I let out a small laugh, though it sounded hollow even to me. "What, I can't just call to talk?"

Lyra scoffed playfully. "You? Miss 'I'll text instead of talk'? Yeah, right. Spill it."

I rolled my eyes, but a smile tugged at my lips. "Fine. I just... wanted a distraction, I guess."

"A distraction from what?" she asked, her tone softening.

I hesitated, toying with the edge of the blanket. "I don't know. Adrian, maybe?"

There was a pause, and I could almost picture the knowing smirk on her face. "Ah, Adrian. What about him?"

"Nothing," I said quickly, a little too quickly. "It's just... I don't know. He's been distant lately, and it's been bothering me more than it should."

Lyra let out a thoughtful hum. "Bothering you more than it should, huh? Sounds like someone's catching feelings."

I groaned, covering my face with my free hand. "It's not like that."

"Uh-huh," she said, clearly unconvinced. "Then what is it like?"

I exhaled, trying to find the right words. "I... care about him. A lot. More than I thought I would. But it's not—" I stopped myself, shaking my head. "I don't know what it is, Lyra. It's just... something."

"Something," she repeated, her voice teasing but gentle. "Sera, you do realize you're terrible at lying to yourself, right?"

I smiled faintly, though my chest felt heavy. "Maybe. But it's complicated, Lyra. It always is with him."

"Well," she said after a moment, "complicated or not, I think you should talk to him. Or, you know, figure out what this 'something' is before you drive yourself crazy."

"I'll think about it," I said softly.

"You better," she replied. "And if you need backup, you know where to find me."

I smiled, feeling a little lighter. "Thanks, Lyra."

"Anytime," she said. "But seriously, Sera... don't overthink it. Just... go with your gut."