Chapter Eleven:AdamThe Questions I Couldn’t Answer
1086 Words
For an entire week, Adam tried to convince himself that he had imagined it.
Not the entire thing.
Just the meaning behind it.
Because the facts were impossible to ignore.
Alexander Hayes had shown up at his apartment.
He had asked where Adam had been.
He had found out Adam was on a date.
And then…
He had kissed him.
Adam still remembered it.
Not because it was romantic.
Not because it was some beautiful moment from a movie.
Because it was confusing.
It had left him standing in his apartment, staring at the closed door, trying to understand what had just happened.
And the strangest part?
Alex hadn’t explained.
Not that night.
Not the next day.
Not for the entire week.
No message.
No phone call.
Nothing.
Adam didn’t know what he expected.
An apology?
An explanation?
A simple, I don’t know what came over me.
Anything.
But there was silence.
And somehow, that made it even more confusing.
He wanted to tell Noah.
He wanted to sit across from his best friend and say everything.
You won’t believe what happened.
But every time he imagined the conversation, he realized how ridiculous it sounded.
“Hey Noah, remember Alexander Hayes? The billionaire businessman who bought my paintings? Well, he showed up at my apartment and kissed me because I went on a date.”
Even Adam knew how unbelievable it sounded.
And what was he supposed to say after that?
That he didn’t understand why it happened?
That he didn’t know what Alex wanted?
That a man he barely knew had somehow managed to turn his entire week upside down?
There was nothing to explain.
Only confusion.
So Adam kept it to himself.
⸻
A few days later, Sarah invited him out.
Sarah had been one of his closest friends from art school.
They had survived late nights, impossible assignments, terrible professors, and the struggle of trying to make a living from art.
She was celebrating a personal achievement at a bar with friends, and Adam agreed to go.
He needed the distraction.
He needed something normal.
The night started well.
Music.
Laughter.
Friends.
Stories from years ago.
For a while, Adam forgot.
He forgot about Alex.
He forgot about the unanswered questions.
He forgot about the strange feeling sitting in his chest.
But as the night continued, his thoughts returned.
Why had Alex done that?
Why had he acted like Adam had done something wrong?
Why did he care?
And why did Adam care that he cared?
The questions kept circling.
So he drank.
More than usual.
Adam was not someone who usually lost control.
He enjoyed a drink occasionally, but he was always aware of himself.
Tonight was different.
Tonight, he wanted his mind to become quiet.
And eventually…
It did.
Too quiet.
The night became a blur.
Laughter became distant.
The music became louder and then softer.
Faces became unclear.
He remembered someone asking if he was okay.
He remembered trying to answer.
He remembered feeling tired.
Then nothing.
A complete blackout.
⸻
The first thing Adam noticed when he woke up was that something was wrong.
The bed wasn’t his.
The room wasn’t his.
The sheets were too soft.
The space was too large.
He opened his eyes slowly.
The ceiling was unfamiliar.
The furniture was expensive.
Everything around him looked like it belonged in a luxury magazine.
Adam immediately sat up.
His heart started beating faster.
Where was he?
He looked around carefully.
He didn’t remember coming here.
He didn’t remember leaving the bar.
The last thing he remembered was drinking with Sarah.
After that…
Nothing.
A feeling of unease settled over him.
He reached for his phone.
Still there.
No damage.
No missing belongings.
But that didn’t answer the question.
Where was he?
Then he noticed someone sitting across the room.
Alexander Hayes.
Adam froze.
Alex was sitting in a chair, watching him quietly.
Not angry.
Not exactly.
Just serious.
“What the hell am I doing here?”
His voice came out sharper than he intended.
Alex didn’t react.
Instead, he asked calmly,
“Why were you outside drinking that much?”
Adam stared at him.
“What?”
Alex repeated himself.
“Why were you outside drinking that much?”
Adam frowned.
“Why are you asking me that?”
Because that was the question that made no sense.
Why did Alex care?
Why was he here?
Why had he brought him somewhere?
Alex remained calm.
Too calm.
It was something Adam noticed about him.
Alex never raised his voice.
He never needed to.
There was something about the way he spoke.
Slow.
Controlled.
Like he expected people to answer him.
And somehow…
They usually did.
“Adam.”
The way he said his name made him look up.
“Why were you drinking?”
Adam opened his mouth to argue.
Then stopped.
Because suddenly, he was answering.
“I was stressed.”
The honesty surprised even him.
Alex’s expression changed slightly.
“About what?”
Adam looked away.
“I don’t know.”
A pause.
Then Alex asked,
“Was it because of what happened?”
Adam looked back at him.
And for a moment, neither of them spoke.
Because they both knew what he meant.
The kiss.
The confusion.
The silence afterward.
Adam swallowed.
“I don’t know.”
And that was the truth.
He didn’t know.
He didn’t know why Alex had done it.
He didn’t know why Alex was sitting in front of him now.
He didn’t know why, despite everything, he felt strangely safe in a place he had never been before.
Alex watched him quietly.
Then he spoke.
“You should be more careful.”
Adam almost laughed.
“Are you serious?”
Alex looked at him.
“You were drinking enough that you don’t remember what happened.”
Adam had no response.
Because he was right.
And that annoyed him.
“I can take care of myself.”
“I know.”
The answer came immediately.
Adam looked at him.
The certainty in Alex’s voice surprised him.
“You know?”
Alex held his gaze.
“Yes.”
For some reason, that simple answer affected him more than it should have.
Because Alex didn’t say it like he was questioning Adam.
He said it like he believed it.
Like he knew Adam was strong.
Like he had been paying attention.
And that realization brought another question.
One Adam wasn’t ready to ask.
How long had Alexander Hayes been paying attention?
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