Stolen by Fate

Chapter 19: Morning Teasing and Hangovers

Chapter 19: Morning Teasing and Hangovers

I woke up the next morning to the smell of bacon and the sound of clattering dishes coming from the kitchen. My head was pounding, and the light streaming in through the curtains felt like knives stabbing into my brain. Groaning, I rolled over, burying my face in the pillow.

I had the worst hangover.

The events of the night before played out in my head in scattered pieces, and I cringed. Drinking way too much, Adrian coming to pick us up, and... well, the rest was hard to forget. My cheeks flushed at the memory of how things had ended. It had been incredible, but now I was paying for it with this killer headache.

I sat up slowly, wincing at the throb in my temples. My mouth was dry, and I felt like I hadn't slept at all. As I reached for my phone on the nightstand, I heard a voice from down the hall.

"Well, look who finally decided to wake up!"

Alyssa. Of course.

I groaned again, running my hand through my hair as I swung my legs over the side of the bed. I already knew what was coming. There was no way she hadn't heard last night. The teasing was inevitable.

With a deep breath, I pushed myself to stand, wobbling a bit before I headed toward the kitchen. As I rounded the corner, there was Alyssa, sitting at the kitchen island, sipping on orange juice with a huge grin on her face. Adrian was by the stove, flipping pancakes like it was the most normal morning ever. His calm demeanor only made me feel more embarrassed.

"Good morning, Sleeping Beauty," Alyssa sang out, her voice way too chipper for how I was feeling.

"Ugh, not so loud," I muttered, rubbing my temples as I slid onto the stool next to her.

She raised an eyebrow, taking another sip of her juice. "Hungover, huh? Well, that's what happens when you drink like it's your last day on Earth."

I shot her a look, but before I could say anything, she smirked and leaned in a little closer, lowering her voice like she was sharing a secret. "But, uh, judging by the noises coming from your room last night, I'm guessing it wasn't all bad."

My face went red in an instant. I dropped my head onto the countertop, groaning in both embarrassment and frustration. "Alyssa..."

She laughed, clearly enjoying herself way too much. "I mean, I knew you two had something going on, but I didn't expect to be a front-row witness to the... performance."

Adrian turned from the stove, catching my eye with a teasing smirk of his own. "She's been giving me an earful all morning," he said, sliding a plate of pancakes in front of me. "But don't worry, I made breakfast to help with that hangover."

I gave him a weak smile, grateful for the food but still mortified. "Thanks, but do I have to deal with her teasing on top of it?"

Alyssa giggled, clearly enjoying my discomfort. "Hey, I can't help it! You two weren't exactly quiet, and I'm not going to let you live it down. I mean, I'm happy for you, don't get me wrong, but girl... you've got to give a heads-up next time."

I buried my face in my hands, feeling like I might actually melt into the floor. "Oh my God, I'm never going to hear the end of this."

Adrian chuckled, sliding into the seat next to me. "You'll survive. Plus, you're the one who insisted you were sober enough to make decisions last night."

I glanced at him, and despite the pounding in my head, I couldn't help but smile. He wasn't wrong. Even through the haze of alcohol, I had wanted that. And judging by the satisfied look on his face, he hadn't regretted it either.

But that didn't make Alyssa's teasing any easier to deal with.

"So," Alyssa said, leaning back in her chair, "when's round two? I need to know if I should pack earplugs next time I come over."

I groaned again, tossing a napkin at her. "Can you not?"

She just laughed, clearly enjoying herself too much to stop. "Alright, alright, I'll stop. For now. But seriously, girl, I'm happy for you."

Despite her teasing, I could hear the genuine affection in her voice. She knew how much Adrian meant to me, and she was just doing what best friends do—giving me a hard time about it.

Adrian stood up and started clearing the dishes, giving me a playful glance as he moved around the kitchen. "Well, while you two finish your girl talk, I'm going to get some coffee brewing. Ni, you need anything else for that hangover?"

I shook my head, though I appreciated how thoughtful he was being. "No, I think I'm good. Just need some water and maybe a quiet place to hide from Alyssa."

Alyssa grinned. "Oh, don't worry, babe. I'll give you a break. For now."

I rolled my eyes, though I couldn't help but smile. Even with the teasing, it was nice to have her around—and it was even nicer to see how seamlessly Adrian fit into all of this, into my life. Despite my pounding headache and the embarrassment of last night, I felt... content.

"Alright," I said, standing up and stretching. "I'm going to go drink some water and try to recover. You two behave while I'm gone."

Alyssa winked. "No promises."

Adrian just chuckled, giving me that look—the one that made my heart race, even after all this time. "Don't worry, I'll keep her in check."

As I walked back to the bedroom, I couldn't help but think that, despite the hangover and Alyssa's relentless teasing, everything felt right. I had Adrian, Alyssa, and a life that was slowly falling into place.

Even if I had to deal with a little embarrassment along the way.