LOGINI didn’t wait for closing before leaving. Everyone had been asking what was wrong. Apparently, my mood had been off and I was unusually quiet. I got tired of the looks, the questions, the constant “are you okay?” So I left.The moment I got home, I took a shower and collapsed on the couch. Sad romantic movies played one after the other, giving me a reason to cry.Even when Benita got back, she paused, clearly confused to find me on the couch, crying.“Are you okay?”“I’m fine,” I replied quickly. “It’s just the movie. It’s really sad… her husband died.”She studied me for a second, then gave a small nod. “Okay.”She sat beside me for a while, watching me while I cried through the movie. Then she shook her head, smiling slightly, before leaving me alone like she had figured it out.I must have fallen asleep, because the next thing I knew, Benita was waking me up.“Get up. You’ll be late for work.”“I’m not going,” I muttered. “If Adrian asks, just tell him I’m fine. I just need the day
Adrian asked if I was free so we could start going.“Right now?”“Yes. The date is tomorrow.”I nodded. “Okay. Just give me five minutes. My brother’s been calling… I need to return it.”“Alright.”I stepped out, grabbed my phone, and headed straight to my car. The moment I got in, I dialed Aunt Sophia’s number and pressed the phone to my ear.It rang.And rang.I pulled it away, staring at the screen.“Pick up… pick up,” I muttered under my breath.Just as I was about to hang up, the call connected.“It’s a waste of effort, Aunt Sophia,” I blurted out. “He likes someone else.”“Calm down. Explain.”I took a breath. “Adrian just asked me to help him pick things for his date.”She went quiet for a moment.“Did Danny show up?”“Yes. And Adrian saw us.”“And instead of reacting, he asked you to do that?”“Yes!”She hummed softly, like she was thinking it through, then started laughing.I rubbed my forehead. “Did you hear what I just said? He asked me to help him—”“I heard you,” she cut
As my break time approached, doubt started creeping in. A part of me was scared this could go wrong. But I needed this.I needed us to define whatever this thing between us was. Because I didn’t just want Adrian, I wanted him to be mine. I wanted to be able to say he was my boyfriend.When Danny texted that he was close, I walked straight into Adrian’s office.His eyes lit up the moment he saw me.“Let me guess,” he said, leaning back. “They sent you to convince me to agree to something again?”I laughed. “Not this time.”“Oh?” he said, watching me.“I actually came to ask you something.”“Go on.”I hesitated just enough to make it look real. “A friend of mine is here to see me. I wanted to know if it’s okay if I spend my break with him… at one of the tables.”Adrian went quiet for a second.Then he nodded. “That’s fine.”I smiled and walked over to him, hugging him lightly, just for effect. “Thank you.”When Danny arrived, we took a table at the far end.After the usual how have you
I asked Adrian to spend the night, and he agreed immediately. Somewhere between pillow talk and quiet cuddling, we fell asleep.His hand between my thighs woke me.I was already moaning before I even opened my eyes. When I did, he was above me, smiling.“Good morning,” he said, his voice thick with sleep.Before I could respond, he moved slowly, and then he was inside me.He kept a steady pace, his eyes locked on mine the entire time, watching every reaction, every breath. It didn’t take long before we both came.We stayed like that, staring at each other, catching our breath.“That’s a great way to start the day,” I finally said, my voice soft.Adrian chuckled, brushing his fingers lightly against my cheek. “You look beautiful… especially like this.”I felt my face warm instantly.“I really like it when you blush.”I pushed him lightly, rolling out of bed. “Shut up.”His laughter followed me all the way into the bathroom, and somehow, we ended up in the shower.Later, Adrian offered
Kai asked to speak with me privately. Adrian looked like he was about to say something, but I rubbed his arm lightly and shook my head. Don’t.I followed Kai, and we stepped aside.He exhaled before speaking. “I would’ve appreciated it if you told me you were dating your boss instead of lying to me about bringing him something.”“I didn’t exactly lie,” I explained. “Adrian did ask me to bring something for him… and I’m not exactly dating him.”Kai gave me a look. “Sophia, I just saw you kissing him.”I sighed. “Look, I’m sorry I left the way I did. But there’s no way to explain this without it sounding… messy. Me and Adrian… you won’t really understand it.”He stayed quiet for a moment, then nodded slowly.“I was actually glad to see you again. I wanted to take things further this time. Ease back into your life before saying anything. But…” he let out a small breath, “I guess I’m already late.”Something in my chest tightened, but I shook my head. “I’m sorry, Kai. I don’t feel that wa
“So… I see someone’s been gossiping about me.” Adrian’s teasing voice came right after I ended the call.I grabbed my bag immediately. “Okay, if you’re doing that, maybe I really have to go this time. For good.”Before I could move, he pulled me back into him, laughing softly.“Adrian—”He didn’t let me finish. One hand slid up, gently brushing the strands of hair off my face. His fingers lingered, grazing my cheek.“So,” he said softly, his eyes locked on mine, “this Kai guy… do you like him?”“No.”“But he said he’s your first love,” he pressed, his voice still light, but his gaze? Not light at all.I smiled a little. “That’s just something he used to say back in high school. Silly stuff.”“How close were you?”I shrugged. “I had a crush on him back then. And I think he liked me too. But he just transferred one day and disappeared without saying goodbye.”“So you’re happy to see him?”“Uh-huh.” I nodded.Silence settled for a beat.“So… you still have a crush on him?”I let out a sm
The grin on Liam's face didn’t fade the entire morning. It stretched from cheek to cheek like he’d won some silent victory, and even as we sat at the breakfast table, he kept flashing me smug little looks over his coffee mug."You know that look is annoying, right?" I said, reaching for my phone be
Sleep was a stranger all night. I tossed and turned until my sheets twisted around me like a trap. My mind wouldn’t stop racing. Liam was back. Back in L.A. Back in town. And still, he hadn't reached out to me. Not a call. Not a text. Not even a damn emoji.Where did that leave me? Us? Were we stil
Jay and I ended up at a sleek rooftop restaurant, velvet-lined booths, soft jazz threading through the air, and a view of the skyline framed like a painting.The kind of place where celebrities could breathe, eat medium-rare steak, and not worry about paparazzi lurking behind wine glasses. Jay said
Liam left that morning with one last kiss and a promise that tasted too sweet to doubt.I'll call the second I land, he’d said, pulling me into his chest like I was the only thing tethering him to earth.“I hate that I have to leave right now,” he murmured against my hair. “But I need to fix this d







