"What do you mean by that?" I asked, my voice sharper than I intended.
But Adrian didn't answer me with words right away. He just grinned, the kind of grin that makes your stomach twist and your mind curses yourself for noticing. His lips glistened in the sunlight wet, full, annoyingly perfect and I hated how I caught myself staring.
"Pretty," he finally said, his voice warm, firm, steady. "Please. I just want to get to know you. Nothing more."
I frowned, my phone buzzing in my palm. Mom. Again. She'd already called twice, asking where I was and why I was taking so long. And here I was, stuck in the market with a stranger who wouldn't let me breathe.
"Look," I muttered, "I really need to go. My mom's going to skin me alive if I don't get back soon."
"Then let me make it quick," he said, sliding a little closer. "Your number. That's all I ask. Just your number."
I wanted to say no. I wanted to walk away. But instead, my stupid brain was cataloging every detail about him the curve of his smile, the sharpness of his jaw, the way his eyes lit up when he looked at me. God, he was so damn cute. Cute enough to make my knees weak and my lips tingle.
"I don't give strangers my number," I said.
"Then don't see me as a stranger," he shot back smoothly.
Oh God. Somebody save me.
I swallowed, hard. "Fine. Just so you stop following me." I rattled off the digits, half-hoping he wouldn't remember them, half-praying he would.
He tapped them into his phone quickly, smirking like he'd won something big. "Yes. Victory."
"Whatever," I muttered.
"And by the way," he added, eyes flicking to my mouth. "Why are your lips wet? Are you nervous?"
My breath hitched. "Excuse me?"
He grinned wider, shameless. "Relax, pretty. I'm just saying, they're… distracting."
"Get out," I snapped, turning sharply.
And then it happened I laughed. Just a little, just for a second, but he caught it.
"Yes!" Adrian raised his hands like he'd scored a goal. "I made you laugh. That's it. I'm done for today."
Rolling my eyes, I walked away fast before he could say anything else. My cheeks burned, my chest a mess of knots. By the time I got home, I collapsed on my bed, covering my face with my hands.
"What the hell was that?" I whispered to myself.
I grabbed my phone instantly. There was only one person I could tell.
"Nia," I breathed as soon as she picked up.
Her laughter came crackling through the line. "Don't tell me. You met someone."
I groaned. "I… maybe. On my way to the market. He wouldn't stop following me."
"Oh God," she cackled. "This fool. You're grinning, aren't you? Tell me you're grinning."
"I'm not!" I said too quickly.
"Yes, you are. I can hear it. So, details."
I sighed, rolling onto my back. "He's… ugh, he's cute. Like, stupidly cute. Tall, light-skinned, perfect smile. Annoying as hell. He called me beautiful a hundred times."
"Serena," Nia warned, her tone dropping. "Have you forgotten Derek? Have you forgotten the slap, the apologies, the pain?"
The memory stung like salt on an open wound. "No. I haven't. This isn't like that. I'm not interested. Honestly, I'll probably block him as soon as he texts me."
Nia chuckled. "Sure. Keep lying to yourself. You're already lost in your thoughts."
I hated how true that was.
After we hung up, I lay there in silence, waiting. My phone buzzed. My heart did a somersault.
And there it was. His text.
Hey pretty. Forgot to ask your name.
Oh my God.
I typed back reluctantly: Serena.
A second later, his reply came: What should I save it as?
I don't care, I sent it back quickly.
I know you don't. But I'll save it as "the most beautiful girl in the world."
My stomach flipped.
Whatever.
Save mine as "your future husband."
I threw my phone onto the bed and groaned. "He's insane."
But somehow, my mood was lighter. Brighter. Dangerous. Because Adrian wasn't Derek. He wasn't a ghost of my past. He was something new. Something reckless. Something my heart was already leaning toward without permission.
The weekend was blurred by messages and laughter. He texted me good mornings, asked what I ate, sent me memes that actually made me laugh until my stomach hurt. Somewhere between the jokes and the flirty comments, I realized something scary
I wasn't thinking about Derek anymore.
And that was even more dangerous than holding on.
When I got back from my mom's place, Nia was finally home from Eric's. She was sprawled on her bed, scrolling her phone, but as soon as she saw me, she sat up.
"Girl, don't even try to sneak past me," she said, snatching the chocolate I brought from my bag. She bit into it like she'd been starving, then narrowed her eyes at me. "So? You've been smiling since you walked in. Spill."
I bit my lip, nervous heat crawling up my neck. "It's nothing"
"Oh, please," Nia cut me off, her mouth full. "I know that face. And your lips are wet. Serena, your lips only do that when you're turned on."
I gasped, throwing a pillow at her. "No! Shut up, Nia, that's not true."
She leaned back, grinning like she'd caught me red-handed. "You're blushing."
"I am not blushing!"
"Yes, you are. Your cheeks are screaming at it."
I groaned, covering my face with both hands. "Okay, fine, maybe he's… cute."
"Cute?" she repeated with a dramatic gasp. "Oh my God, Serena, say it properly."
"He's cute," I admitted, smiling despite myself. "Okay, he's really cute."
Nia squealed, throwing the pillow back at me. "You're so gone. I can see it already."
I rolled my eyes but couldn't stop smiling. "Well, he did ask me out. For next Thursday."
"And?"
"I told him I'll think about it," I said, tugging at the hem of my shirt.
Nia gave me the death stare. "You're going. Don't even argue with me. This is the first time I've seen you light up since Derek. You're not blocking this one."
I laughed nervously, trying to brush it off, but my chest was buzzing like it had a secret of its own. Nia was right. Adrian was dangerous, not in a bad way but in the way he made my walls crumble without even trying.
"Oh God, Nia," I groaned, burying my face in the pillow. "I think I'm finished."