Stolen by Fate

Chapter 16: Bestie Knows Best

Chapter 16: Bestie Knows Best

Alyssa had been texting me nonstop about coming over for a movie night. After everything that had been going on between Adrian and me, I knew it was only a matter of time before she'd start asking questions again. She was persistent like that, especially when it came to my love life.

So, when she showed up at the door with a bag of snacks and a suspicious smirk, I knew she was up to something.

"Hey, girl!" she greeted, pulling me into a hug the second I opened the door. "I've been dying to catch up! It's been way too long since we had one of these nights."

I smiled, letting her in and closing the door behind her. "Yeah, I know. Things have just been... busy."

"Busy, huh?" She shot me a side-eye as she headed straight for the couch. "With what, exactly?"

I tried to play it off, sitting down next to her and pretending to focus on picking a movie. "You know... just life. Adrian and I have been spending a lot of time together."

Alyssa raised an eyebrow. "Uh-huh. Spending time together, huh? Is that what they're calling it these days?" She grabbed a handful of popcorn from the bowl on the coffee table, her eyes narrowing in playful suspicion.

I could feel my face heating up, and I knew there was no hiding it. "Alyssa..." I warned, though there wasn't much weight behind it.

"What?" She shrugged, popping a piece of popcorn into her mouth. "You've been glowing lately, and I know you're not gonna try and tell me it's from your skincare routine. So spill."

I laughed, leaning back into the cushions. "There's nothing to spill! Things are good, that's all."

She looked at me for a moment, her gaze sharp, and then suddenly, her eyes widened, a mischievous grin spreading across her face. "Wait a minute." She leaned forward, brushing my hair back from my neck before I could react. "Oh. My. God."

"What?" I asked, already knowing what she was about to say.

Alyssa burst out laughing, pointing at the marks on my neck. "Girl! You've got hickeys all over! Look at you!" She waggled her eyebrows at me, clearly enjoying this way too much. "Who knew little miss 'nothing to spill' was getting it on like that?"

I groaned, covering my face with my hands. "Alyssa, stop!"

"No way!" She pulled my hands away, still laughing. "You can't just leave me hanging now. You're gonna have to tell me everything."

"There's not much to tell," I muttered, my face still burning.

Alyssa gave me a look that said she wasn't buying it for a second. "Uh-huh. Not much to tell, huh? Because these don't look like the kind of hickeys you get from a casual hangout, babe."

I bit my lip, knowing there was no escaping this conversation. "Okay, fine. Things between me and Adrian have... progressed."

"Progressed?" Alyssa repeated, her tone teasing. "Girl, those aren't just 'progressed' hickeys. That's full-on 'we didn't leave the bedroom all weekend' hickeys. Spill the details!"

I couldn't help but laugh at her dramatics. "Okay, okay! We've been getting closer, okay? Things just kind of... happened."

Alyssa leaned back, crossing her arms and grinning. "I knew it. I knew something was going on with you two. The way you talk about him—it's different now. So how was it?"

I blushed, looking away for a moment before answering. "It was... amazing. Honestly, better than I could've imagined."

"Look at you!" she practically squealed, clapping her hands together. "You're glowing! I mean, I knew Adrian was hot, but I didn't know he had you like this. Damn, girl."

I rolled my eyes but couldn't keep the smile off my face. "It's not just about the physical stuff, though. It's like... we're really connected now, you know? He's been so good to me. It's more than just sex."

Alyssa nodded, her expression softening. "I get it. He's got you all wrapped up, huh?"

I laughed, shrugging. "Maybe a little."

"Good," she said, nudging me with her elbow. "You deserve someone who treats you right."

We spent the next hour watching a cheesy rom-com, but Alyssa kept stealing glances at me every now and then, her teasing grin never fully fading. It was like she could see right through me, and honestly, she probably could. Best friends have a way of doing that.

As the movie credits started to roll, Alyssa turned to me again, her grin widening. "So, when am I gonna meet Mr. 'Progressed' again? I need to see for myself what's got you all starry-eyed."

I blushed, shaking my head. "You've already met him a few times. I don't think it's any different now."

"Yeah, but that was before I knew about all this." She gestured dramatically to the hickeys on my neck, and I laughed, shoving her playfully.

"Alright, alright. Maybe soon," I said, knowing full well she wouldn't let it go until she met him in this new context.

Alyssa smirked, satisfied. "Good. Because I've got questions. Lots of them."