Chapter 59

KAIA

I sat curled up on Adrien’s couch, legs tucked under me and a fleece duvet pulled up to my chin like some kind of pathetic armor. The TV was on, but I wasn’t watching. I’d been zoning out for the past twenty minutes, stuck somewhere between sleep and memory, trying not to think about that night.

But Tyler’s voice still echoed in my head.

The way his breath had reeked of whiskey. The way his fingers dug into my wrist like I was just something to grab. The panic. The helplessness. The way I froze.

I blinked hard and sucked in a breath, forcing the thoughts back down before they swallowed me whole again.

The front door creaked open, and I jumped.

My eyes snapped to the entrance.

Adrien.

He walked in carrying a brown paper bag, dressed in his usual black hoodie and sweats, his dark curls slightly damp like he’d just come from a run or a hot shower. His eyes landed on me and instantly softened.

“Hey,” he said, his voice low, careful, like he knew how on edge I was. “I brought food. Come eat before it gets cold.”

I mustered up the best smile I could manage. He didn’t deserve to see me like this all the time. He’d already done more than enough—letting me stay here in his condo, giving me space, not pressing when I didn’t want to talk.

It had been two days.

Two whole days of hiding out here while Adrien slept at his dorm and swung by every few hours with food, clothes, or just to check in. I’d barely eaten, barely moved, and if it weren’t for him, I probably would’ve melted into this damn couch and stayed there forever.

He even helped me come up with a story for Amy, who was losing her mind over my disappearance. I’d texted her I was out of town visiting family. A total lie. I hadn’t been able to face her—or anyone else—since it happened. I skipped all my classes too.

Adrien placed the bag on the kitchen counter and started unpacking it. I pushed the duvet aside, dragging myself to my feet and padding over to the kitchen. I sank onto one of the stools, resting my elbow on the cool marble counter and watching him.

He pulled out a bunch of Popeyes containers, spreading them out in front of me like a mini buffet. Fries, mashed potatoes with gravy, spicy chicken tenders, biscuits, mac and cheese—the works.

My stomach grumbled, loud enough for him to hear.

For the first time in days, I actually felt hungry.

I didn’t even hesitate. I dug in like I hadn’t eaten in weeks. Adrien leaned on the counter across from me, resting his chin in his hand as he watched me.

After a minute, he chuckled.

I glanced up at him, chewing.

“What?”

He smiled, eyes glinting.

“Just glad to see your appetite’s back.”

I swallowed and smirked.

“Well you did threatened me last night.”

“I stand by it. You don’t eat, I force-feed you.”

“Charming.”

We both laughed, and for a second it felt normal. Like we weren’t both dancing around a thousand unspoken truths.

The laughter faded, and he shifted slightly.

“So how’re you feeling?”

I shrugged, staring down at the mashed potatoes.

“Numb, I guess.”

Adrien nodded slowly, like he understood exactly what I meant.

“If you’re still not ready to go back… to school, or the dorm, or whatever…” His voice softened. “You can stay here. As long as you want. And if you need anything—literally anything—you just tell me, okay?”

I looked up at him.

He meant it. Every single word.

A warmth bloomed in my chest, something like gratitude—or maybe something more.

“Thank you,” I said softly. “For everything. You’ve been a really good friend.”

His expression changed.

Barely.

But I noticed it.

His jaw flexed, and he scoffed under his breath.

“Kaia. Come on.” His tone had changed—low and serious now. “You and I both know we’re past the friend stage.”

I blinked at him, heart stuttering.

He held my gaze, not backing down.

Then he reached across the counter, took my hand in both of his, and gently laced his fingers with mine. His touch was warm and steady. I didn’t pull away.

“I like you,” he said. Just like that. No hesitation. “I have for a long time.”

My heart started pounding so loud I could barely hear.

He continued, voice quiet but sure.

“If there’s one thing I regret in my entire life, it’s not telling you sooner and watching you fall under Callum's spell who failed to protect you, by the way, from what Tyler did you to that night.”

I looked down, guilt washing over me.

“It’s not Callum’s fault,” I whispered.

Adrien reached out and gently tilted my chin up with his fingers, forcing me to meet his eyes.

“It still kills me, Kaia. Seeing anything bad happen to you? It kills me inside. And if you were mine, I never would've let that shit go down. Ever.”

His voice cracked slightly at the end, like it hurt him just to say it.

“Why are you wasting your time with someone like Callum?" He asked, softly. "You think he’s the worst of it? You don’t know who else he hangs out with. You don’t know how many other guys like Tyler are in his circle.”

I sat there, quiet. Because I did understand.

Adrien wasn’t saying it out of jealousy.

He was saying it because he cared.

But now that he had said everything, now that his feelings were out in the open… I felt stuck. Caught between two gravity wells, both Adrien and Callum pulling me in.

Because I was starting to like them both. In different ways. For different reasons.

Adrien’s voice broke through my thoughts again.

"You can’t convince me otherwise — I know you feel the same."

I looked at him.

And I smiled. Just a little.

“I do,” I said softly.

His eyes searched mine. “Then be with me.”

That one sentence was enough to shatter something inside me.

The wall I’d built up to survive this last two days. The numbness. The fog. All of it crumbled.

Tears welled up in my eyes and started spilling over before I could stop them.

Adrien came around the counter and pulled me into his arms, holding me close. His arms wrapped around me tightly, protectively, and I clung to him like he was the only real thing in the world.

His cologne was familiar—warm, woodsy, safe.

I buried my face in his shoulder, breathing him in.

And for the first time since that night, I didn’t feel broken.

Whatever decision I made next… it would be mine. And with Adrien’s arms around me, I knew—deep down—I wouldn’t regret it.