Chapter 35 - Seraphina

I met Lyra at our usual café, the one where we always came to talk about boys, work, and life disasters. Today's topic? The absolute mess Adrian, Nick, and, okay fine, I, had created.

Lyra sat across from me, arms crossed, lips pursed like she was trying to solve the mystery of the universe. "So, let me get this straight," she started. "Adrian thought Nick and you were a thing. Nick thought Adrian had lost his damn mind. And somehow, I'm in the middle of this circus, doubting my perfectly normal situation-ship with Nick. Am I getting that right?"

I sipped my coffee, trying to mask my laugh. "Well... when you put it like that, it sounds ridiculous."

Lyra narrowed her eyes at me. "That's because it is ridiculous, Sera. Adrian basically turned into a jealous maniac, Nick had to postpone his proposal, and I've been over here questioning whether my life is a romantic comedy or a poorly written soap opera."

I couldn't help it—I burst out laughing. "Okay, okay, it was a disaster. But in Adrian's defense, he loves me. Like, really loves me. His brain just... doesn't function when emotions are involved."

Lyra rolled her eyes. "Clearly, the man needs therapy. But what about Nick? He's been acting all weird lately too."

I smirked, leaning in. "Nick's weirdness is because of you, Lyra. He's crazy about you. Like, can't-stop-thinking-about-you obsessed."

Lyra blinked, clearly caught off guard. "Wait... what?"

"You heard me," I said, grinning. "Nick cares about you so much, it's honestly embarrassing. He was literally buying you a ring when Adrian decided to have his little meltdown. Do you know how rare that is? A guy who loves you and knows what kind of jewelry you'd like?"

She flushed, playing with her coffee cup. "Well... I mean, I do like him. A lot. But after all this chaos, how can I even take him seriously?"

"Lyra," I said, putting my hand over hers dramatically, "Nick is probably the most loyal man you'll ever meet. Sure, he's dramatic, but look at it this way—he puts up with Adrian. That alone is a testament to his patience and character."

Lyra snorted. "Fair point."

"And let's not forget," I continued, "he's willing to put his entire love life on hold just to deal with Adrian's nonsense. That's true friendship and true love all wrapped up in one overly sarcastic package."

She laughed, shaking her head. "You're making it sound like I'd be crazy not to give him a chance."

"Exactly!" I said, throwing my hands up. "Nick likes you so much, he's basically turned into a rom-com character. And honestly, if you don't snatch him up soon, someone else might."

Lyra raised an eyebrow. "Oh really? Like who?"

"Me," I said with a straight face, sipping my coffee. "I mean, Adrian already thinks Nick and I had a thing. Why not make it a reality?"

Lyra choked on her drink, laughing so hard tears formed in her eyes. "You're unbelievable!"

I shrugged, grinning. "Hey, I'm just saying. Nick's a catch, and you should give it a shot. Plus, imagine the look on Adrian's face when you and Nick are the perfect couple while he's still trying to figure out how to properly apologize to me without stuttering."

Lyra laughed again, finally relaxing. "Fine, fine. I'll give him a chance. But if this turns into another circus, you're the one dealing with it."

"Deal," I said, smiling. "And don't worry, if it does turn into a circus, at least we know Adrian will be the clown."

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I stepped into the mansion, my heels clicking against the marble floor. The place felt empty without him, and I had been feeling the weight of that emptiness for far too long. I made my way to his study, the door slightly ajar. Inside, Adrian was sitting at his desk, typing away on his laptop, completely focused.

I knocked softly on the door, and as soon as he heard it, his gaze lifted. His eyes softened, and a smile tugged at his lips. He immediately closed his laptop, like the world outside of me had suddenly ceased to matter.

"You finally came," he said, his voice warm and filled with relief. "It felt like years not seeing you."

Before he could say anything else, I crossed the room and threw my arms around him, burying my face in his chest. The familiar scent of his cologne, the warmth of his body—everything about him made me feel at home again.

He wrapped his arms around me, pulling me in closer, as if he never wanted to let go. "I've missed you," he whispered, his voice low and husky. "I never should've let you go. I... I was an idiot."

I pulled back just enough to look at him, meeting his eyes. "We both made mistakes, Adrian. But I can't keep running from what I feel anymore. I love you."

His eyes widened for a moment, as if he hadn't expected me to say it first, but then his smile returned, even brighter than before. "I love you too, Sera. So damn much."

I let out a small laugh, feeling the tension from the past weeks melt away. "You're so stubborn. But I guess that's one of the things I love about you."

He chuckled softly, brushing a stray strand of hair from my face. "Well, I'd rather be stubborn about you than anything else."

I smiled up at him, my heart pounding in my chest. We stood there, holding each other in the quiet of his study, as the world outside seemed to disappear. It was just us, finally finding our way back to each other.

Adrian had gone upstairs, probably to his room, after grabbing a bottle of water from the kitchen. I took my time, letting the silence of the mansion settle in before heading up after him. I stopped outside his door, giving it a quick knock even though I knew it was already open. Mischief sparkled in my eyes as I leaned against the frame, teasing him before even stepping inside.

"Do you mind a roommate?" I asked, my smile playful, knowing exactly what kind of reaction I'd get from him.

He looked up from his spot, a smirk curling at the corner of his lips as he met my gaze. "You'll have to pay the rent," he said, his voice low and filled with that familiar warmth. Before I could respond, he stepped forward, pulling me inside by my waist.

I blinked, taken aback by the sudden movement, but my heart raced in excitement. "And what will be the rent?" I asked, my voice breathless as I raised an eyebrow, playing along.

He leaned in close, his lips brushing against my ear as he whispered, "A kiss per hour."

My heart skipped a beat at the implication, and before I could say another word, his lips found mine in a heated kiss, silencing any further questions. The world outside of this room, the past misunderstandings, the time apart—all of it faded away in that moment. It was just us. No more doubts. No more fears.

As we pulled away, I couldn't help but smile. "Well, looks like I'll be living here for a while then," I teased, already anticipating the many "rent payments" to come.

He chuckled, his hands still resting on my waist, "Good. Because I've got plenty of hours for you."

The room was quiet, except for the soft sound of our breaths mingling as Adrian and I stood in the center, the air between us thick with unspoken words. He had pulled me into his arms without hesitation, as if nothing had changed, as if all the time apart had simply been a bad memory. The warmth of his embrace, the feel of his heartbeat against mine, was all I needed to remind myself that this was where I belonged.

His hands cupped my face gently, his thumb tracing along my jawline as if memorizing every detail. "I missed you so much," he whispered, his voice low, filled with raw emotion.

My chest tightened at the confession, and I tilted my head, looking into his eyes. The sincerity in them made my heart swell. "I missed you too, more than I ever thought possible," I said softly, unable to tear my gaze away from him.

Before I knew it, his lips were on mine again, this time slower, more deliberate. The kiss deepened, and I melted into him, my fingers threading through his hair, pulling him closer as if to make up for the time we had lost. He responded with equal intensity, his lips exploring mine with a tenderness that spoke volumes of everything we hadn't said yet.

The kiss wasn't just about desire—it was an apology, a confession, a promise that we weren't giving up on each other, no matter the past.

As we pulled away, I rested my forehead against his, both of us still trying to catch our breath. "I love you, Seraphina," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper, as if it were the most sacred thing he could say.

My heart skipped a beat, and I smiled, my hand tracing his cheek, feeling the roughness of his stubble. "I love you too, Adrian. So much."

He smiled, a soft, genuine smile that reached his eyes, and for the first time in a long while, everything felt right. No more doubts, no more insecurities—just us, standing here together, ready to build something new, something stronger.

Without saying another word, he kissed me again, this time with a promise. A promise that no matter what came next, we'd face it together.

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Adrian and I were sitting on the couch, enjoying a rare peaceful moment. He was scrolling through his phone while I flipped through a magazine, the quiet hum of the house almost lulling me into a nap.

Then, the doorbell rang.

Adrian groaned dramatically. "If it's Nick and Lyra, I swear—"

I gave him a look. "Don't even think about it. They're your friends too, remember?"

He rolled his eyes but got up to answer the door. As soon as he opened it, Nick barged in like he owned the place, dragging Lyra behind him.

"Ah, there's the man of the hour!" Nick exclaimed, clapping Adrian on the back. "Or should I say, the lunatic of the hour? Screaming in the middle of the road like a maniac—Adrian, have you lost it completely? Should I call a therapist for you?"

Adrian scowled. "Nick, do you ever just... not talk?"

Nick ignored him entirely and plopped down on the couch next to me, making himself way too comfortable. "Sera, did you know your husband was out there yelling at the top of his lungs, confessing his love for you to every car, tree, and stray cat within a five-mile radius? It was like a one-man Broadway show—except worse."

I raised an eyebrow at Adrian, who was now looking anywhere but at me. "Really, Adrian? Screaming in the middle of the road?"

Adrian muttered something under his breath.

Nick leaned forward, his grin widening. "Oh no, don't let him brush it off. He even screamed, 'I LOVE YOU, SERAPHINA!' so loud I think half the city heard it. Some random old lady clapped. A kid asked if he was okay. I had to pretend I didn't know him."

Adrian glared at Nick. "You didn't exactly help, Nick. You stood there laughing like a hyena while I was having a moment."

Nick threw up his hands in mock innocence. "What was I supposed to do? Join you? Start singing backup vocals? Sorry, buddy, but I'm not your hype man."

Lyra, who had been quietly laughing to herself, finally spoke up. "Honestly, Sera, it was kind of adorable. Embarrassing, yes, but adorable."

I couldn't help but laugh. "Well, at least he's consistent. Adrian, the drama king."

Adrian groaned, running a hand through his hair. "Can we talk about something else now? Or maybe kick Nick out? That sounds like a great idea."

Nick smirked. "Not happening, pal. This is gold. I'll be telling this story at every party for the next ten years."

Adrian shot him a death glare, but Nick just grinned wider.

I leaned over and kissed Adrian's cheek, ignoring Nick's exaggerated gagging noise. "Don't worry, I think it's sweet. Over the top, sure, but sweet."

Nick snorted. "See? She thinks it's sweet. Next time you feel like yelling, let me know so I can sell tickets."

Adrian looked like he was genuinely considering throwing Nick out the window. "I don't know why I'm friends with you."

Nick winked. "Because deep down, you love me too."

Lyra rolled her eyes and pulled Nick off the couch. "Okay, that's enough. Let's give these two some peace before Adrian actually strangles you."

As they walked out, Nick turned around dramatically. "Adrian, next time you decide to serenade the street, let me know! I'll bring a microphone!"

Adrian slammed the door behind them, shaking his head.

I burst out laughing, and Adrian finally cracked a smile. "Why do we even let them in?"

"Because you love them," I teased, leaning into him.

"Not nearly as much as I love you," he replied, pulling me into his arms.