Elena's POV
"You scared me!" Drake snapped, holding his chest like I had just taken ten years off his life. I ignored that.
My eyes were still fixed on him.
"Did I just hear what I think I heard?" I asked slowly. "I love you? I love you? Are you… dating?"
He chuckled, folding his arms as if he had been waiting for this moment. "Yes, I am. Do you think I'm like you?" He shook his head. "I don't plan to live my life as a reverend father."
I just stood there, staring at him as if he had suddenly grown a second head.
"Wow," I muttered, then walked straight to the kitchen to drop off the groceries. But even as I set them down, I kept looking at him—suspicious, judging, confused.
When I came out again, I was still staring.
"Will you quit staring at me?" he snapped. "This face is only meant for my baby to look at."
I made a disgusted face immediately. "Ugh. Please."
Then I pointed at him. "You have to tell me everything."
We ended up at the dining table not long after, with food in front of us, but my attention was not on the food; it was on him.
He talked and talked, explaining how they met, how it started, how everything just happened. I didn't even realize when I started smiling.
Then he pulled out his phone and showed me her picture.
"Oh my God… she's so cute," I said, pouting a little.
He smiled proudly. "Yes, she is. The most beautiful girl in the world."
"What?" I said, hitting his head with my spoon.
"Ahh!" he shouted, holding his head.
"Betrayal!" I said dramatically. "You said I was the most beautiful girl."
He looked at me like I had lost my mind. "When did I ever say that? You are the ugliest creature I have ever seen."
My mouth dropped open.
"And my babe," he continued calmly, "is the most beautiful."
I shook my head slowly. "You are finished."
He didn't even deny it. Instead, he leaned back slightly, smiling to himself, his eyes unfocused as if he was thinking about her.
"Hm," he said quietly. "Yes… I am."
I paused and just looked at him.
The smile on my face softened. Seeing him like that… happy… it did something to me.
"I can't believe this," I said quietly. "You're here, living a sweet life, falling in love, while I'm out there struggling to feed you."
I smiled, shaking my head.
"Just be careful, okay?" I added softly. "You know your heart."
He rolled his eyes immediately. "Ahh, don't jinx my love life. What? Just because I have a weak heart, I shouldn't fall in love?"
"I didn't say that," I replied. "I just don't want you to hurt yourself."
"You worry too much, Elly," he said. "I'll be fine."
Then he narrowed his eyes at me. "You should be more worried about yourself. You are growing old. I'm even seeing grey hairs already, and you don't have a crush, let alone a boyfriend."
My mouth fell open.
"This is not life you are living," he continued, shaking his head. "I'm doing better than you."
"Excuse me?" I scoffed. "Who told you I don't have someone? I have someone I like too."
He laughed immediately. "Yes, yes, Your Majesty. I can see it. That's why you spend your weekends at home in your pajamas, eating junk, and watching rom-coms."
I glared at him.
"We need to find you a man," he said seriously. "You cannot continue like this."
Before I knew it, both of us had gone quiet, resting our chins on our hands as if we were actually thinking.
"What about Marcus?" he said.
He paused, then shook his head. "No. Marcus can't be it. He's not rich."
"What is wrong with Marcus?" I asked. "He's fine."
Drake looked at me carefully. "Is he the one you like?"
"What?" I exclaimed quickly. "No! Who said I like Marcus?" I laughed, but even I knew it sounded suspicious.
"That's good," he said. "Because I'm rooting for someone else."
I picked up my glass of water. "Someone else? Who?"
He raised his eyebrows. "Your boss."
I choked. Water went down the wrong way, and I coughed hard.
"Mr. Kingston?" I managed. "No way. That's not possible."
"Why?" he asked. "Why is it not possible?"
"He's my boss," I said immediately. "And he's rich. And me?" I shook my head. "No. It can't happen. He's just my boss."
"What is wrong with you?" Drake said. "You are beautiful, smart, intelligent—"
I gasped. "I'm beautiful? Smart?"
He paused. "…forget I said anything."
I leaned forward, grinning. "Say it again."
"No."
"Say it again!"
Before I could continue, he shoved a spoonful of food into my mouth.
"Eat and keep quiet."
---
Adrian's POV
The next morning, I was already in the back seat of my car as the driver made his way to the office when a memory came out of nowhere.
It wasn't clear at first, just a sudden flash that caught my attention.
Elena.
She was closer than she had any right to be, sitting on my lap. My hand was on her cheek, fingers resting there as if I had no intention of taking them off. Her skin looked soft under my touch, and her eyes were fixed on mine, wide, unsure… but she didn't pull away.
I leaned in.
Slowly.
Close enough to feel her breath.
Close enough to almost—
The image cut off.
I blinked, my brows drawing together as I sat back against the seat.
What was that?