Too Close
1129 Words
I regretted texting him.
That was the first thought I had when I woke up.
The second was worse.
I was wondering if he’d text me again.
I reached for my phone before my eyes were completely open.
Nothing.
I frowned.
Why was I disappointed?
I tossed the phone onto my pillow and sat up.
“This is ridiculous.”
I had classes.
Assignments.
A life.
Adrian Blackwell had absolutely nothing to do with any of it.
I got dressed and left my apartment.
By the time I reached campus, I had successfully convinced myself that last night meant nothing.
Then I saw him.
I stopped walking.
Adrian was standing beside a black car near the entrance of my university.
He wasn’t supposed to be there.
He looked completely out of place among students carrying backpacks and rushing toward lectures.
And yet somehow, he looked like he belonged anywhere.
His eyes found mine immediately.
My heart betrayed me.
He smiled.
Not the polite smile he gave people at the gala.
A real one.
Small.
Private.
Like he’d been waiting for me.
I walked toward him.
“What are you doing here?”
“Good morning.”
“Adrian.”
“Lena.”
I narrowed my eyes.
“Why are you at my university?”
“I had a meeting nearby.”
I glanced at the enormous building behind him.
“Your meetings happen here now?”
“Sometimes.”
“Liar.”
His smile widened.
“I’ve missed you too.”
I stared at him.
“We met yesterday.”
“I know.”
“And you missed me?”
“Yes.”
The simple answer caught me completely off guard.
He wasn’t embarrassed.
He wasn’t teasing.
He meant it.
I looked away.
“You shouldn’t say things like that.”
“Why?”
“Because…”
I didn’t know.
Because it made my heart race.
Because I liked hearing it.
Because I was beginning to suspect Adrian knew exactly what his words did to me.
He stepped closer.
“Because you like hearing them?”
I looked up.
His face was only inches from mine.
“You don’t know what I like.”
“I know you like arguing with me.”
“Maybe.”
“And I know you smiled when you saw me.”
“I did not.”
“You did.”
“I was laughing at you.”
“Of course.”
His eyes moved over my face.
There was something different about him today.
Something softer.
But beneath it was the same intensity from last night.
His attention was completely on me.
No distractions.
No phone.
No business.
Just me.
“Have you eaten?” he asked.
I blinked.
“What?”
“Breakfast.”
“Yes.”
He looked unconvinced.
“What did you eat?”
“Why?”
“Lena.”
“Coffee.”
His expression darkened.
“That’s not breakfast.”
“It is when you’re late.”
He sighed.
Then opened the car door.
“Get in.”
I stared at him.
“No.”
“You’re going to class.”
“Exactly.”
“I’m taking you.”
“I can walk.”
“You’ve got twenty minutes.”
I looked at the time.
He was right.
“How do you know my schedule?”
“I pay attention.”
“That’s becoming slightly creepy.”
“I’ll try to survive the accusation.”
I laughed.
He smiled.
And for one dangerous second, I forgot that he was Adrian Blackwell.
He was just a man standing in front of me.
An older man.
A very attractive older man.
And I was beginning to like him.
That realization scared me.
I stepped away.
“I need to go.”
His expression changed immediately.
“You’re avoiding me.”
“I’m not.”
“You are.”
“Adrian…”
He reached for my hand.
His fingers closed gently around mine.
I looked down.
Then back at him.
Neither of us spoke.
His thumb moved slowly across my knuckles.
The gesture was so intimate that my breath caught.
“You don’t have to be afraid of me,” he said quietly.
“I’m not.”
“Then look at me.”
I did.
His eyes were dark.
Serious.
“I don’t know what this is yet,” he said.
My heart pounded.
“But I know I want to find out.”
I swallowed.
“Adrian…”
“Tell me to stop.”
I opened my mouth.
Nothing came out.
His gaze dropped briefly to my lips.
Then returned to my eyes.
He didn’t kiss me.
He didn’t push.
He simply waited.
And somehow, that was worse.
Because I realized I didn’t want him to stop.
A bell rang in the distance.
I pulled my hand away.
“I have class.”
He nodded.
“I know.”
I took a step backward.
“Goodbye.”
“Lena.”
I turned.
His expression was calm again.
But his voice wasn’t.
“I’ll see you tonight.”
I frowned.
“Why?”
“Because I’m taking you to dinner.”
“You haven’t asked me.”
“I know.”
I stared at him.
He smiled.
“Consider that your invitation.”
“You really are impossible.”
“And you’re still standing here.”
I couldn’t help smiling.
Then I walked away.
I made it halfway across the courtyard before I looked back.
He was still there.
Watching me.
And this time, I didn’t pretend I didn’t like it.
⸻
That evening, I stood in front of my mirror for twenty minutes.
I changed outfits three times.
Then I hated myself for caring.
“This is just dinner.”
I picked up my purse.
“Just dinner.”
My phone buzzed.
Adrian: I’m outside.
I froze.
I hadn’t told him my address.
I quickly typed:
Lena: How did you know where I live?
His answer came.
Adrian: I told you. I notice things.
I stared at the screen.
Then smiled despite myself.
That was becoming a dangerous habit.
I walked outside.
Adrian stepped out of the car.
His eyes traveled over me.
Slowly.
His expression changed.
“You look beautiful.”
My cheeks warmed.
“Thank you.”
He opened the car door.
As I passed him, he leaned closer.
“You should stop smiling like that.”
I looked at him.
“Why?”
“Because it makes me want things.”
My heartbeat stumbled.
“What things?”
His eyes held mine.
“You’ll find out.”
And for the first time, I wondered whether getting closer to Adrian Blackwell was the biggest mistake I could make…
Or the first thing I’d ever done that I truly wanted.
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