Bitter Love

Chapter 28:Sleep

Evie's POV

It took a moment for my eyes to focus on him, standing beside my desk. Adrien.

I stared at him, my gaze lingering as I took in the sharpness of his features—the strong jawline, the slight stubble that dusted his skin, the way his high cheekbones cast the faintest shadow in the dim light. His brown hair was slightly tousled, a little messier than usual, as if he had run a hand through it absentmindedly.

It softened the sharp angles of his face, but only slightly—he was still every bit as imposing as ever. But it was his eyes that held me captive—piercing blue, unreadable, yet always watching. Assessing. Calculating. And right now, looking at me with something that made my breath catch.

He was close, close enough for me to feel the warmth of his presence, and I couldn’t help but admire the way his silhouette stood in the low light—tall, broad-shouldered, his tailored suit fitting him like a second skin. He carried himself with an air of confidence that was both infuriating and mesmerizing, as if the world bent to his will without question.

Then, his lips curved into a smirk. That familiar, knowing smirk.

He leaned in just a little, and his voice dropped to a low, almost teasing tone. “Like what you see?”

My heart skipped, and heat exploded across my face. I was blushing. Hard.

Oh God. I was checking him out.

I quickly turned my gaze away, clearing my throat, but it was too late. The amusement in his eyes deepened, his smirk widening ever so slightly as if he had caught me red-handed.

The silence hung between us for a moment before he straightened up, his expression softening just a little.

“I’m taking you home,” he said, his voice firm but gentle, leaving no room for argument. “You’re not staying here this late.”

I felt my cheeks warm even more. “I was just finishing up. I’ll be fine.”

“No, you won’t,” he said, his voice calm but insistent. “Let me take you home.”

I shook my head quickly, a small laugh escaping me. “It’s fine. Really, you don’t have to—”

He raised an eyebrow, stepping closer. “Evie, I’m not asking.”

There was no room for argument in his tone, and for a moment, I hesitated. My body felt like lead, but I didn’t want to be a burden. Finally, I sighed, conceding. “Alright, alright. I’ll go. But only because you won’t let me argue.”

He gave a small nod and gestured toward the door. “Come on, then.”

We walked together to the elevator in silence. My mind was a haze, still heavy with sleep, and by the time we reached the parking garage, I was struggling to stay upright. His hand was at the small of my back, steady and warm. I could feel the gentle pressure as he guided me, and for some reason, it made me feel safe—protected, even.

A soft warmth spread through me, and I couldn't help but feel this strange, comforting sense of security I hadn’t expected. My cheeks flushed, a warmth spreading beneath my skin as I tried to focus, but everything seemed to blur again. I was really worn out.

Once we were in the car, the warmth of the seat and the steady rhythm of the engine made my eyelids droop again. I tried to stay awake, but the exhaustion was too much. My head slumped forward without warning, my body giving in to the sleep it had been craving.

I must have fallen asleep quickly because I didn’t even hear the car slow down.

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Adrien's pov

I glanced over at her from time to time, watching as her eyes fluttered shut, her head tipping forward with each passing minute. She was so tired, I could see it in every movement she made.

When the light turned red, I pulled over to the side of the road. I didn’t want her to wake up, but I also didn’t want her to get cold.

Her head had fallen to one side, her lips slightly parted as she slept. She looked so fragile, so at ease like this. The tension I often saw in her during the day was gone, replaced with something… softer.

A soft breath escaped her lips, and before I could stop myself, I reached for my coat from the backseat and gently draped it over her shoulders. Her skin was cool to the touch, and I felt a strange pull in my chest as I adjusted it to cover her better.

But even after that, I didn’t pull away.

I just sat there, staring at her.

Her face was illuminated by the faint glow of the streetlights, her long lashes casting shadows on her cheeks. I let my gaze trace the freckles dusting her skin—the same ones I had noticed a hundred times before but never allowed myself to linger on.

Slowly, carefully, I reached out, brushing a stray strand of hair behind her ear. My fingertips barely grazed her skin, but even that brief touch sent something deep and unfamiliar through me.

I exhaled quietly, letting my hand drop before I did something I shouldn’t.

Two more rounds, I thought. I wasn’t ready to wake her just yet.

I circled the block twice, letting the quiet of the night settle around us. Her peacefulness was almost too much to ignore. I’d never been one for lingering moments, but with her, I felt drawn to stay, just a little longer.

When I finally decided it was time, I pulled into her home and parked. I looked over at her—still fast asleep, her face serene.

“Freckles,” I murmured, my voice quieter than I intended.

She stirred slightly, her brows knitting together before her eyes fluttered open, still heavy with sleep.

For a moment, she didn’t move. She just looked at me.

Her brown eyes, hazy with exhaustion, locked onto mine. My head was tilted toward her, my body leaning into the car seat, but I didn’t move away. Neither did she.

The silence between us stretched, thick with something unspoken.

Then, I smiled. Just a small, lazy curve of my lips.

And she smiled back, soft and barely there—but real.

“We’re here,” I said, my voice low, deep.

She blinked, still caught in that fog between sleep and wakefulness. “Yeah…” she murmured before rubbing her eyes.

I watched as she slowly slipped out of the car, and I followed, walking around to her side. My hand found the small of her back instinctively, steadying her as she made her way toward the entrance. She didn’t pull away.

When we reached the door, I gave her a gentle nudge forward.

She turned to face me, her voice softer now. "Thank you Adrien."

I nodded, my chest tightening at the sight of her. “Sleep well, Evie.”

She smiled once more, a little sleepier this time, before disappearing inside.

I stayed there for a moment, watching her go, the quiet of the night wrapping itself around me.

And as I stood there, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I’d do it all over again if it meant seeing her smile like that.

I exhaled slowly and walked back to the car, my smile still on my face, even as I drove away.

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Adrien is too cutee😭❤️

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