Stolen by Fate

Chapter 11: Bestie Wants to Meet Him

Chapter 11: Bestie Wants to Meet Him

The days that followed felt like a blur of warmth and comfort. Adrian and I had fallen into an easy rhythm—movies at night, cozy mornings in his bed, and all the care and attention he'd been giving me had started to feel... normal. It was like I had slipped into some dream where everything was soft and safe.

But, of course, reality couldn't be avoided forever. I had been texting Alyssa, my best friend, updating her on everything. Well, almost everything. She knew I'd lost my virginity and that I was happier now, but I hadn't given her the full story about Adrian yet. Part of me wasn't sure how to explain it. How could I?

Still, Alyssa was Alyssa, and I knew I couldn't keep her in the dark much longer. One morning, curled up in Adrian's bed with my phone in hand, I finally decided to spill a little more.

Hey, Lys, I typed out quickly, I've been wanting to tell you something else... about the guy.

It didn't take long for her to reply, a flood of messages appearing on my screen.

OMG, yes!!! Tell me everything! Who is he? What's he like? Is he hot??? I need details, Ni!

I laughed softly at her enthusiasm. This was so typical of Alyssa. She always wanted to know everything, down to the tiniest detail. I stared at the screen for a moment, debating how much I wanted to tell her.

His name's Adrian, I started, fingers flying over the screen. And yeah, he's... hot. Like, really hot.

Alyssa's reply came instantly. AHHH! Girl, you've been holding out on me! What's he like? How did you meet him? And when can I meet him???

The last part made my stomach twist. Meeting Adrian? I wasn't sure if I was ready for that. I mean, things between us were complicated, and Alyssa had no idea about the circumstances of how we'd gotten here. How would I even explain it?

Still, I couldn't deny that I kind of wanted her to meet him. It felt like the next step somehow, even if I wasn't sure how it would go.

You want to meet him? I sent back, chewing my lip nervously as I waited for her response.

Duh! Of course, I want to meet him! If he's as great as you say, I need to see him with my own eyes. When's good? This weekend?

I stared at her message, my heart speeding up. Alyssa had always been the type to push for things like this, and now that she knew about Adrian, I knew she wouldn't let it go.

Let me talk to him first, I typed back, already dreading the conversation with Adrian.

Yesss, do it! I can't wait!! she sent back, followed by a string of heart emojis.

I put my phone down, staring at the ceiling for a moment. How was I going to bring this up to him? Adrian wasn't exactly the most social person, and inviting someone else into our little bubble felt... strange. But at the same time, it felt like a step forward. A way to make things more real.

When I finally worked up the nerve, I found Adrian in the kitchen, leaning against the counter with a cup of coffee in hand. He looked up as I entered, giving me that familiar soft smile that sent warmth rushing through me.

"Hey, Ma," he greeted, setting his cup down. "What's up?"

I shifted nervously on my feet, playing with the hem of my shirt. "So, um... I was texting Alyssa."

He raised an eyebrow, sensing that there was more to it. "Yeah?"

"She wants to meet you."

Adrian's brows furrowed slightly, a hint of surprise crossing his face. "Meet me?"

I nodded, suddenly feeling a bit awkward. "Yeah. I've been telling her a bit about... us, and she's super curious. I mean, she's my best friend, and she just—well, she wants to meet you."

He didn't say anything right away, his expression thoughtful as he processed what I'd said. "You told her about us?"

"Not everything," I quickly added, feeling a little self-conscious. "Just that we're... you know, together. I didn't go into detail about how we met or anything."

Adrian leaned back against the counter, his arms crossing over his chest as he studied me for a moment. I couldn't quite read the expression on his face, but I knew he was thinking it over.

"And how do you feel about her meeting me?" he asked softly, his gaze searching mine.

I hesitated, unsure how to put my feelings into words. "I think it could be... good. I mean, she's important to me, and you are too. I just don't want it to be weird."

Adrian let out a small chuckle, pushing off the counter and walking over to me. He tilted my chin up with his fingers, his eyes locking onto mine. "It won't be weird," he said softly. "If it's important to you, I'm okay with it."

I felt a wave of relief wash over me at his words, my nerves starting to settle. "Really?"

He nodded, his thumb brushing lightly over my jaw. "Yeah, Ma. Really. You should have your friends in your life. We'll make it work."

A smile spread across my face, and I couldn't help but feel a little giddy. This was happening. My worlds were about to collide, and for the first time, I wasn't scared of it.

"I'll let her know then," I said, already reaching for my phone.

Adrian watched me, a soft smile still lingering on his lips. "Just let me know when."