HIS ROOMMATE

BABY SITTING!!

CHAPTER 14

KAI'S POV

I swallowed. My throat felt raw. "What happens now?" I whispered.

"That’s up to you," Maya said gently. "A detective can come talk to you when you’re ready. We can also do a full exam and collect evidence, if you want. No pressure, Kai. Some people need time. Some need answers right away. Both are okay."

My chest tightened. Evidence. Police. Edward in a cell. It all felt too big.

Adrian leaned forward, not pushing, just there. "We can wait. Or we can do it now. Whatever you need."

I looked between them – Maya’s calm face, Adrian’s worried eyes. The drugs were wearing off, but the fear was still loud.

I pulled the blanket tighter. "Can I... think for a minute?"

"Of course," Maya said, squeezing my hand once before standing. "I’ll be right outside. Adrian can call me when you’re ready."

When the door clicked shut, Adrian didn’t say anything. He just rested his forehead against my knuckles.

"You did good, Kai. Surviving that. Locking the door. Calling me. That was all you."

I closed my eyes. For the first time all night, I believed him a little.

ADRIAN'S POV

Kai was shakened by the whole thing. That bastard—I wanted to put my fist through a wall. What he did to her... no one should have to go through that.

The whole stay at the hospital she barely spoke. Even when the detective came, she gave short answers. Looked at the floor. Kai's not like that. She's the one who argues with me about everything, who rolls her eyes when I worry too much. She hardly gets vulnerable. Whatever Edward did must've cracked something deep in her.

When the doctor finally discharged her, I drove us home in silence. I kept glancing over, checking her breathing, like she might disappear if I looked away too long.

We got to her apartment and she went straight to her room without a word. Door clicked shut. Soft lock.

I stood in the hallway for a long time, hand on the wood. "Kai? You want me to stay on the couch? Or leave you some space?"

No answer. Just the sound of her moving around inside.

I swallowed the anger burning in my chest. Revenge wouldn't fix this. What she needed now was quiet, safety, and time.

"I brought you water and crackers," I said through the door. "Left them on the table. I'm not going anywhere, okay? I'll be right here if you need me."

I heard her shift on the bed. Still nothing. But at least she knew I wasn't leaving.

I slid down against the wall outside her room and waited. Guilt and rage twisted in my gut. I should've picked her up myself. Should've seen it coming.

But right now, the only thing that mattered was her.

My phone buzzed on the coffee table. Valerie's name lit up the screen. I let it ring once before answering, keeping my voice low so Kai wouldn't hear.

"Hey," Valerie said, bright like she always was. "You free? I was thinking we could go shopping today. That new place opened up—"

"Can't," I cut in. "Not today."

There was a pause. "Oh. Everything okay?"

I ran a hand through my hair, eyes still on Kai's closed door. "Kai had a bad night. She's at my place. I'm not leaving her."

"Oh..." Valerie's tone shifted. "Right. Of course. Is she... okay?"

"She will be," I said, and I meant it. "Look, I'm sorry. Rain check?"

"Then that's good we can go for the shopping right? " she said quickly. "I'm sure she is fine now, Adrian." I stared at the phone for a while before hanging up. I can't believe Valerie would be so inconsiderate...

I was still sitting on the floor when my phone buzzed again. Valerie.

I picked up, trying to keep my voice calm. "Hey, I said—"

"You said 'rain check' and hung up," she snapped. "For Kai? Adrian, come on. You cancel on me for her? Again?"

I pressed my fingers to my forehead. "Valerie, it's not about—"

"Not about what? Not about me?" Her voice got sharper, jealousy bleeding through. "She's your *friend*, Adrian. I'm your *girlfriend*. But the second something happens to her you drop everything. What am I supposed to think?"

Kai's door was still closed, but I lowered my voice anyway. "She was drugged, Valerie. At a party. I found her locked in a bathroom, half-conscious. This isn't 'something happened.' This is serious."

There was silence on the other end. Then a scoff. "And I'm supposed to just be okay with you playing bodyguard? We had plans. I look stupid canceling on my friends because my boyfriend's too busy babysitting his best friend."

"Babysitting?" The word hit wrong. "She's traumatized. She barely talked all day. You really want me to leave her alone right now?"

"She has a room, Adrian. She has a phone. She'll be fine." Valerie's voice wavered, but the anger was still there. "But I won't be. Not if you keep choosing her over me."

I closed my eyes. This wasn't the time for this fight. "I’m not choosing anyone over anyone. I'm choosing to not leave a friend alone after what happened. If that makes you angry, then we’ll talk when Kai’s stable. But I’m not going anywhere right now."

I heard her sharp inhale, then the line went dead.

I stared at the phone. Guilt, frustration, anger—all of it twisted together. But when I looked back at Kai's door, my decision didn't change.

I stayed on the floor.

From inside the room, a soft voice: "Adrian... you don't have to fight with her because of me."

I shook my head, even though she couldn't see it. "This isn't your fault, Kai. None of it is."

VALERIE'S POV

I hung up and threw my phone on the bed. It bounced once and landed face-down.

"She was drugged, Valerie." Like that was supposed to make it better. Like that was supposed to make me feel less invisible.

I stared at the ceiling, anger burning hot in my chest. Yeah, what happened to Kai was awful. I wasn’t heartless. But Adrian… he always did this. The second she needed something, I became second.

“We had plans,” I whispered to the empty room. I’d spent an hour picking an outfit. Texted my friends that Adrian and I were finally doing something just us. Now I’d have to text them “sorry, plans canceled. Boyfriend’s busy.”

My phone lit up with a text from my friend Mira: *where u at?? we’re at the mall lol*

I didn’t answer.

Instead I grabbed my keys. If he wasn’t coming to me, then I’d go to him. I needed to see it for myself. Needed to know if he was really “staying on the floor” or if Kai was milking it to keep him all to herself.

The drive to Adrian’s apartment was 15 minutes of me replaying his voice in my head. Calm. Steady. The same voice he used with me when I was upset. But he’d never used it with me for *hours*, sitting on a floor outside a closed door.

I buzzed his apartment. No answer. I buzzed again.

The door opened and there he was. Hair messy, eyes tired, still in the same clothes from last night. He looked wrecked.

“Valerie. What are you doing here?”

“I wanted to see it for myself,” I said, crossing my arms. “Is she okay? Or is this just another night where I lose you to her?”

From down the hall, Kai’s door was still closed. Silent.

Adrian stepped into the hallway, blocking me from going further. “She’s not milking anything, Valerie. She’s hurt. Can you please not do this right now?”

“Not do what? Be your girlfriend?” My voice cracked. “Adrian, I’m angry. I’m jealous. I’m scared I’m never going to come first with you.”

He looked exhausted. Not just tired—tired of choosing.

“I’m not choosing her over you,” he said quietly. “I’m choosing to not let my best friend fall apart alone. There’s a difference.”But right now it didn’t feel like there was.

ADRIAN'S POV

But right now it didn’t feel like there was.

"Valerie for heaven sake I've never chosen Kai over you," he said, voice calm but not gentle. "I practically spent the whole week with you every single day and just this once Kai needed me and you're throwing a fit?"

My eyes went glassy, tears spilling over. How could he say that? He is my boyfriend, I should be the only one he care for like that not Kai. I hate Kai so much.

TBC