HIS ROOMMATE

TERRIBLE COFFEE

CHAPTER 17

KAI'S POV

The silence that fell after wasn't awkward. It was comfortable. Like old times, before everything got messy.

Adrian stood up and stretched. "It's late. I'll crash on your floor if that's okay. Just so you're not alone tonight. I'll leave early before you wake up, promise."

I looked at the thin mattress, then at him. "Fine. But you actually have to leave early. And you still owe me box-carrying duty tomorrow."

He grinned. "Wouldn't dream of skipping it." of course he won't.

For the first time since I left his house, I didn't feel like I was running. I felt like I had someone standing beside me.

I woke up to the smell of instant coffee and the sound of Adrian arguing softly with my apartment’s old kettle.

“You’re supposed to whistle,” he muttered, tapping it. “That’s your whole job.”

I sat up on the mattress, blanket around my shoulders. He was in my kitchen, back turned, wearing the same hoodie from last night. He’d actually stayed on the floor like he promised.

“Morning,” I said, voice still rough with sleep.

He turned, grin immediate. “Morning, Stubborn. Coffee? It’s terrible, but it’s hot.”

He handed me a mug. We sat cross-legged on the floor, using a cardboard box as a table. No TV. No chairs. Just us and the quiet.

“You didn’t have to stay,” I said, wrapping my hands around the mug.

“I know,” he said, sipping his own. “But I wanted to. You’ve been dealing with a lot alone. Figured you could use one night where you didn’t have to.”

I didn’t answer. Just drank the terrible coffee. It warmed me anyway.

After breakfast—or whatever you call coffee and half a granola bar—Adrian started loading boxes into his car. “Rule one: I carry. Rule two: you don’t.”

“I can carry my own stuff,” I protested.

“And rule three: you listen to me,” he cut in, tossing my smallest box into the trunk. “Come on. Let’s get this over with.”

The drive to my stepdad’s house was silent at first. Too many memories packed into that three hours route.

Adrian glanced at me at a red light. “You don’t have to talk to him, you know. If he starts anything, we leave. Your stuff isn’t worth your peace.”

I nodded. My hands were shaking again.

KAI'S POV

The drive to my stepdad’s house was silent at first. Too many memories packed into that three hour route. Adrian glanced at me at a red light. “You don’t have to talk to him, you know. If he starts anything, we leave. Your stuff isn’t worth your peace.”

I nodded. My hands were shaking again.

His house looked smaller than I remembered. Same peeling paint. Same rusted gate. My stepdad’s truck was in the driveway.

Adrian parked but didn’t get out right away. He reached over and squeezed my hand once. “I’m right here. Not fixing. Just standing. Okay?”

“Okay,” I whispered.

We walked up the path together. I knocked.

The door opened. My stepdad stood there, eyes flicking from me to Adrian, then back to me. His face was unreadable.

“What are you doing back here? I thought I told you never to show your face, you ungrateful brat,” he yelled.

I came to take what belongs to my mother, you can't possibly stop from taking that too," I said, keeping my voice steady even though my chest was tight.

“You’ve got some nerves coming back here,” his gaze flicked to Adrian. “And who is this, another of the assholes you are f*****g with!”

I felt Adrian clench his fist tight beside me. His jaw tensed, but he didn’t step forward. He kept his promise. He was just standing.

“It’s none of your business who I’m with,” I said, cutting him off before Adrian could speak. “I’m not here to fight. I just want my mother’s things. That’s all.”

My stepdad laughed, but there was no humor in it. “Your mother’s things? That woman left you with nothing but debt and a broken house. What’s left to take?”

Adrian shifted beside me, but didn’t say a word. His presence alone kept me grounded.

“There’s a box in the attic,” I said, meeting his eyes. “Her journals. Her photos. Her ring. I know you kept them. I’m not asking for anything else. Just that box.”

He stared at me for a long second, like he was deciding whether to slam the door. Then he stepped aside. “Fine. Take it and get out. I don’t want your drama in my house.”

I exhaled. One step inside.

The house still smelled like dust and stale smoke. Every corner had a memory I’d tried to forget.

Adrian followed, eyes scanning the room, staying close but not crowding. “Attic?” he murmured, just loud enough for me to hear.

I nodded toward the narrow stairs at the back.

KAI'S POV

My stepdad leaned against the wall, arms crossed, watching. Waiting for me to break. But I didn’t. Not this time.

I started up the stairs, Adrian right behind me.

The attic was hot and dusty. I found the box tucked under old blankets in the corner. Mom’s handwriting was still on the lid. Inside: her journals, a stack of photos, her favorite scarf, and at the bottom, her ring. The simple silver band she said was my dad’s last gift to her. I closed my hand around it. It fit, like she meant for me to have it.

I sighed and looked around the room one more time and walked out.

Just then my stepbrother Williams walked in. “Kai?... Wow! Fancy seeing you here and you look more hotter than the last time I saw you,” he said shamelessly checking me out.

I glared at him in disgust. “I would have said thank you if that was a decent compliment coming from someone who was supposed to be a brother,” I said, eyes rolled.

“Still playing hard to get, uh? You even brought home a guy. He look decent for a slut like you.”

This time Adrian lost it and punched Williams even before I could stop him. “How dare you call her that, you son of a b***h!!” Adrian yelled angrily.

Williams stared at him in shock, I guess he underestimated Adrian.

“Adrian, stop!” I grabbed his arm. His chest was heaving, knuckles red. Williams was on the floor, holding his jaw, but getting up fast.

“Don’t you dare touch her,” Adrian said, stepping in front of me. He wasn’t looking at me. He was looking at Williams like he’d tear the house down if he had to.

My stepdad was already moving from the wall. “Get out! Both of you! Now!”

I didn’t wait. I clutched the box to my chest with one hand and pulled Adrian with the other. “We’re leaving. That’s what you wanted, right?”

We practically ran down the stairs. Williams yelled something behind us, but Adrian didn’t turn back. He just kept me moving, shielding me with his body until we hit the front door.

The second we were outside, I let out the breath I’d been holding. My hands were shaking. Not from fear this time. From anger. From how close it got.

Adrian stopped by the car and turned to me, guilt all over his face. “I’m sorry. I said I wouldn’t do anything. But when he called you that—”

I cut him by putting my hand on his chest. “You stood there until he didn’t deserve it anymore,” I said quietly. “Thank you.”

He exhaled hard and unlocked the car. “Let’s go home.”

Home. The word felt different now. Not Adrian’s house. My apartment. My space. As we drove away, I didn’t look back.

ADRIAN'S POV

I have no idea why I got so angry when that guy called Kai a slut. Maybe because she wasn't like that, or maybe because I considered her family. Either way that bastard deserved that punch and more.

It has been three months since then and everything was going smoothly. Valerie was not that bothered about Kai's presence anymore and I am very happy about that, even though she still doesn't like Kai. She tolerates her. For me. That’s enough for now.

In another two months we will be done with college, so my schedule has become tighter. I go to school, then straight to the office to meet Mr. George for my training. After my parents’ death, as the only surviving child of my father, my grandmother asked me to pick one of my three uncles to manage my father’s company until I’m done with college.

TBC