|FOUR DAYS LATER|

BRIANNA

It was Friday, the day Adrian would finally face the family dinner he’d been avoiding for so long—and I’d be right there with him. I couldn’t deny a flicker of excitement at the thought. It was Stella’s insistence that had finally convinced me to go, but if it were up to me, I’d probably be spending this Friday night curled up in bed with one of the novels that I’d been itching to finish.

I had chosen a simple but elegant brown evening gown. The thin straps showed off my shoulders, and a slit ran up one thigh, adding a subtle but daring touch. It was a look that felt perfect: not overly flashy, but just fancy enough for the evening’s occasion. I paired it with a delicate necklace and matching earrings, opting for a black clutch and classic black stilettos to complete the outfit. My hair was freshly braided, and I’d done my makeup with a light hand, just enough to enhance without overwhelming. Tonight, I wasn’t trying to impress anyone—just to feel confident in my own skin.

I glanced at the clock and saw it was already 7:00 p.m. We were meant to arrive by 7:30, but I had no idea how far Adrian’s family house was. With a quiet sigh, I perched on the edge of my bed to wait for him.

A knock on the open door pulled me from my thoughts, and I looked up to see Mom leaning in with a warm smile.

“Hey, your date is here. He’s in the sitting room,” she said, giving me a look that spoke volumes.

I immediately jumped to my feet. “Thanks, Mom! I’ll be down in a minute.”

She paused, her gaze lingering with a motherly softness. “You look stunning, sweetheart,” she added, and then left me alone.

I took a final glance in the mirror, smoothed down the fabric of my dress, and steadied myself. My nerves fluttered as I walked out of the room and down the hallway. Since Mariana had gone to her friend’s for the weekend, it would just be Mom holding down the fort once I left. Hopefully, she wouldn’t feel too lonely tonight.

When I reached the sitting room, I couldn’t help but stop short. There was Adrian, looking effortlessly handsome in a white button-down shirt and black dress pants. He’d even taken the time to style his hair, and something about the whole look was so strikingly elegant that he seemed almost out of place in our modest, worn-in sitting room.

Mom was laughing at something he’d said, and he looked so at ease, his whole face lit up with genuine warmth. I had to smile, relieved that they seemed to be getting along. Adrian looked up and caught sight of me, his laughter fading into a different sort of intensity as his gaze swept over me, lingering with an appreciative gleam in his eyes.

“You look gorgeous,” he breathed, still studying me as though memorizing every detail. His voice held a warmth that made my cheeks flush.

“Thank you. You don’t look so bad yourself,” I replied, trying to keep my tone light.

A smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. “Really? That’s all you’re gonna say?”

I rolled my eyes, crossing my arms with exaggerated annoyance. “Fine, Mr. Adrian, you look absolutely, stunningly hot!”

He threw his head back, laughing with that rich, easy laugh that always seemed to catch me off guard. In my distraction, I hadn’t noticed that Mom had quietly slipped out of the room, leaving us alone.

“I knew that was what you thought,” he teased, that familiar glint of playfulness in his eyes. “Just needed a little push, didn’t you?”

“If you keep looking at me like that, I might end up jumping you right here,” I replied without thinking, then froze, realizing what I’d just blurted out.

“Oh, I wouldn’t mind that one bit. But we do have a dinner to get to,” he replied, winking with a mischievous grin. “I’ll have to take a rain check, though.”

I rolled my eyes and started heading toward the door, my cheeks still burning. I could practically feel his gaze on me as I walked away, lingering far too long.

Just as we reached the doorway, Mom’s voice floated through the open window. “Brianna, I didn’t even get a goodbye! And don’t forget, no funny business tonight!” she called out, her tone lighthearted but unmistakably pointed.

I glanced back, slightly mortified. “Sorry, Mom, I got distracted!”

“It’s fine, sweetheart. You two have fun—just not too much fun!” she shouted, laughing.

Adrian laughed beside me, clearly entertained. “I’ll keep her in line, Mrs. Jackson. Don’t worry.”

“Oh, I trust you, Adrian!” Mom replied with a laugh. “But remember, I wouldn’t mind a grandbaby or two someday!”

I felt my jaw drop. “Oh my gosh, Mom, that’s enough!” I stammered, quickly nudging Adrian toward his car. His amused chuckle only made my embarrassment worse.

“Did you really have to push me?” he asked, feigning hurt as he climbed into the passenger seat.

“You enjoyed every second of that exchange. Don’t act innocent,” I shot back, narrowing my eyes at him.

“Yeah, you caught me,” he said, still grinning.

Adrian nodded to the driver, Brandon, who had been patiently waiting in the driver’s seat. He started the car smoothly, and we eased onto the road.

“Oh, hi, Brandon,” I greeted him through the rearview mirror.

“Hello, Miss Brianna,” he replied with a polite smile, his eyes flicking to me briefly before refocusing on the road.

The car fell into a comfortable silence, and I let myself relax, watching the city lights blur by outside the window. After a few minutes, Adrian’s voice broke the silence.

“You look good enough to eat right now,” he murmured, and I turned to find his gaze locked on me with a smoldering intensity.

“Oh? Are you secretly a cannibal?” I teased, batting my eyelashes dramatically. “Because that’s the only reason I’d expect you to say that!”

He chuckled, shaking his head. “You and I both know I didn’t mean it like that.”

Laughing, I shot back, “Well, for what it’s worth, you look good enough to lick. Like...an ice cream cone.” I cringed immediately after the words left my mouth.

He laughed, clearly delighted. “Alright, that was a little...corny. But I appreciate the effort.”

We both fell into silence again, and after a moment, I realized I’d never actually asked him about his family. “So, what should I expect when we get there? You haven’t really told me what they’re like.”

Adrian’s expression softened as he thought for a moment. “My family’s pretty simple, actually. There’s just four of us—my father, mother, little sister, and me. My sister’s still in high school, and she’s…she’s basically an angel,” he admitted, his voice softening with affection. “I haven’t seen much of her lately since I don’t come home as often as I should.”

“That sounds sweet. And your father?” I asked, knowing a little about his mother but curious about the other half of the equation.

A slight smile tugged at his lips. “Well, let’s just say he and I are a lot alike. I get most of my attitude from him, but thankfully, the looks came from my mom.”

I laughed, feeling my own tension easing. “Sounds like you’ve got a great family.”

Just then, Brandon’s voice interrupted us. “We’re here.”

Taking a deep breath, I looked out the window at the sprawling estate looming before us. My stomach fluttered with a mix of excitement and nerves. This would be my first time meeting Adrian’s family, and though I had no idea what to expect, I knew it was going to be a night to remember.