Stolen by Fate

Chapter 14: A New Normal

Chapter 14: A New Normal

A week had passed since my conversation with Alyssa, and things between Adrian and me had started to feel... normal. Or at least, what our version of normal was. There was this rhythm we fell into, and as strange as it seemed when I first found myself living here, I had grown comfortable with it. Adrian was still as protective and steady as ever, but he was giving me more freedom, more space to just be.

I liked that.

We spent a lot of our time together. Whether it was cooking, lounging around, or watching movies, everything seemed easy between us now. I had never thought I'd be able to feel so at home with someone after all that had happened. But with Adrian, it was different. It was like I could finally breathe again.

This morning, I woke up in Adrian's bed—our bed now, I guess. I hadn't gone back to my old room in days. It just felt right being here, with him.

As I stirred, stretching lazily beneath the covers, I felt Adrian's arm draped over me. His warmth pressed against my back, and I smiled. I never thought I'd get used to waking up next to someone like this, but here I was, feeling content.

"Morning, Ma," he murmured in that low, sexy voice that always made my heart flutter.

"Morning," I replied, turning to face him. His dreads spilled over the pillow, and his brown eyes met mine with a soft intensity that sent a shiver through me. "You're up early."

He chuckled, brushing a stray curl from my face. "Couldn't sleep much. Was thinking."

"Thinking about what?" I asked, tracing circles on his chest with my finger.

Adrian sighed, leaning back into the pillows. "About us. About what's next."

I propped myself up on my elbow, feeling a little nervous. "What do you mean?"

"I've been thinking," he said, his voice steady but serious, "that maybe we need to start making things official. I know this whole situation has been... unusual, but you deserve more than just being here, waiting on whatever happens next. I want to make this real."

My heart skipped a beat. "Real?"

He nodded, reaching for my hand and holding it between his. "Yeah. I don't want you to feel like you're stuck or that I'm keeping you here. You've always been free, Ma. But now, I want you to stay because you want to."

I swallowed, the weight of his words sinking in. He wasn't just talking about us living together anymore. This was about something bigger, something deeper. My mind raced, thoughts tumbling over each other. Was I ready for that? Could I handle it?

But as I looked into his eyes, I realized I already had my answer. I did want to stay. Not because I had nowhere else to go, but because Adrian had become more than just the guy who saved me. He was the person I wanted to be with, for real.

"I want that too," I said softly, my voice almost a whisper. "I want to stay. I want us."

Adrian smiled, the tension easing from his shoulders. "Good. Because I'm not going anywhere."

I leaned in, pressing my lips to his in a slow, tender kiss. This wasn't like the heat of the moment we'd shared before—it was something softer, something that felt like home.

After a long moment, I pulled back, resting my forehead against his. "What now?"

He laughed, his deep voice rumbling against my skin. "Now, we take it one step at a time. I'm not in a rush. I just want to do this right."

I nodded, feeling a sense of calm wash over me. For the first time in a long time, I wasn't worried about what was coming next. I knew I'd figure it out as long as Adrian was with me.