Stolen by Fate

Chapter 12: The Interrogation

Chapter 12: The Interrogation

I stood in front of my mirror, pulling on a loose, comfortable sweater over my jeans, trying to calm the nerves buzzing in my chest. Today was the day Alyssa would meet Adrian, and I was anxious as hell. Alyssa wasn't just any friend—she was the kind of person who could spot a lie from a mile away, a detective in disguise. And right now, I wasn't sure I could handle her relentless questioning.

I took a deep breath, brushing my long curls out of my face and staring at my reflection. "You've got this," I muttered to myself, though the knot in my stomach was telling me otherwise.

Adrian was in the living room, his usual calm, collected self. He didn't seem worried about meeting Alyssa at all, but that was Adrian—always steady, always confident. I, on the other hand, felt like I was about to throw up.

"She's going to grill you, you know," I warned him as I walked in, adjusting my sweater nervously.

Adrian just gave me one of his slow, knowing smiles. "I'm ready for it, Ma. Don't worry."

I couldn't help but smile at that. He always knew how to make me feel better. But still, I wasn't convinced. Alyssa had been my best friend for years, and if there was anyone who could sense when something was off, it was her.

The doorbell rang, and my heart jumped into my throat.

"She's here," I whispered, my hands suddenly clammy.

Adrian stood up, walking toward the door with a calmness I envied. "Let's do this."

I followed behind him, my stomach doing flips as he opened the door, revealing Alyssa standing there with her usual bright smile and energy that seemed to fill the entire room.

"There's my girl!" Alyssa beamed, stepping inside and pulling me into a tight hug. She looked me up and down before pulling back with a grin. "You look good. What's your secret?"

I laughed awkwardly. "Uh, nothing really."

Her eyes darted to Adrian, and immediately I could see the gears turning in her head. "And you must be Adrian," she said, her tone friendly but curious.

"That's me," Adrian replied, extending his hand. "Nice to meet you, Alyssa."

Alyssa shook his hand, but I could see her sizing him up already, her eyes flicking over his face and then back to me. This was going to be intense.

"So," Alyssa started, crossing her arms and leaning against the doorframe. "How did you two meet?"

Adrian, as calm as ever, leaned against the wall and gave her a smooth, relaxed answer. "We met at an event through mutual friends. Got to talking and hit it off."

Alyssa narrowed her eyes slightly, not fully satisfied with that. "And what kind of event was this?"

I jumped in, trying to deflect her curiosity. "Just a small gathering. Nothing major."

But Alyssa wasn't done yet. "Interesting. And what was your first date like? Was it fancy?"

Adrian smirked, meeting her gaze head-on. "It wasn't fancy. We just took a walk and talked. Getting to know each other."

Alyssa nodded, but I could tell she was still digging, still looking for something. Then, as her eyes swept over Adrian, she froze. Her gaze locked on his neck for a second too long, and my heart sank.

"Wait... is that...?" she started, stepping closer to him, squinting as if she couldn't believe what she was seeing.

Oh no. The hickey.

A flush of embarrassment crept up my neck. Of course, she spotted it. Why didn't I think to check?

Adrian, to his credit, didn't flinch. He just shrugged, giving Alyssa a cool smile. "It's nothing."

Alyssa raised her eyebrows, turning her gaze on me with a knowing smirk. "Nothing, huh? Sure looks like something to me."

I felt my cheeks burn. "Alyssa..."

She just laughed, shaking her head. "Girl, you've been holding out on me. I'm gonna need more details later."

I wanted to melt into the floor right then and there. Adrian looked amused, and I couldn't believe how calm he was about the whole thing. But of course, Alyssa was relentless.

"So," she continued, as if she hadn't just uncovered the most embarrassing piece of evidence. "How long have you two been seeing each other? A few months?"

"About that," Adrian answered smoothly, giving me a quick glance, making sure I was okay.

Alyssa smiled, clearly enjoying herself now. "Well, I have to say, you two seem... cozy."

I wanted to strangle her, but at the same time, I knew she was just doing her job as my best friend—making sure I was happy, that Adrian was good for me. Still, I could have done without her pointing out the hickey.

Eventually, Alyssa eased up on the questions, though I could tell she was still in detective mode, keeping an eye on Adrian the entire time. But by the end of the visit, she seemed to warm up to him, at least a little.

When she finally left, I collapsed onto the couch, letting out a long, exasperated breath. "That was exhausting."

Adrian chuckled, sitting beside me and wrapping an arm around my shoulders. "She's thorough. I'll give her that."

I groaned, burying my face in my hands. "She wasn't supposed to see that."

Adrian laughed softly, kissing the top of my head. "It's fine. She was bound to figure it out at some point."

I sighed, finally relaxing against him. "Yeah, I guess. But seriously, that hickey...?"

He just smiled, and I couldn't help but laugh. Maybe this wasn't so bad after all.