For this chapter listen to Let Me Down Slowly by Alec Benjamin.

The soft brush of something on my cheek woke me up. I blinked at the light that stung my eyes before leaving them fully open. I was confused for a few seconds as I stared at the large screen tv like I was seeing it for the first time. I probably dozed off in the living room while doing something.

"You are awake, " a deep voice from beside me startled me.

I sighed in relief when I saw that it was Adrian. I looked down at my body first to be sure nothing happened between us. I eyed him suspiciously as I pulled the warm blanket to my neck to cover my bathrobe that was slipping off my shoulder.

I tried to recall what happened, how I ended up on the couch, and why Adrian Parker was in my apartment sitting next to me with a smile. I remember him forcing me to sleep.

"Welcome back," Adrian whispered, reaching over to brush some stray hair that covered the right side of my face behind my ear.

"You're still here?" I asked pushing his hand away and doing it myself.

"Are you okay?" Adrian asked finally noticing my distress.

"I'm breathing fine, aren't I?"

"How are you feeling, Vixen?" he asked again as if wanting an honest answer.

"Better," I lied with a smile.

"Hey," Adrian called taking my hand. I gave him a dark look that held a warning, he didn't get the message.

"You're gonna be okay, I'm here to pamper you till you can stand on your own again."

"How sweet but I don't need your help, I'm perfectly fine," I said and pulled my hand away.

"You can leave, I'm sure you have work today," I said after taking a glimpse of the time. It was past three in the morning.

"I'm not leaving till I'm sure you're okay," he said leaning back on the seat and folding his arms.

"Why were you even here?"

"Chloe called and asked me to check on you since you were ignoring all her calls and texts."

Shit! I forgot.

I walked to my closet and changed into sweatpants and a purple Lakers hoodie I stole from my Dad. I touched the thick cotton material of the hoodie, memories of my Dad flooding into my head. I recalled the long night at the ER, the fear of losing my Dad crippling me, and watching my Mom break down. The last few days had been crazy and terrifying. I had gotten a call from my mom during my shift at the café, she was crying that it was hard to hear anything. I remember holding my breath as she told me my Dad had suddenly had a stroke and had been rushed to the ER. I hadn't slept in three days. I was going from school to the hospital every day.

"Vixen," I heard Adrian call.

"I'm coming," I tried to yell but I felt lightheaded.

I sighed and packed my hair back in a ponytail and walked to the living room. Adrian stared at me with a smile.

"You look so hot," he said eyeing my baggy attire and I rolled my eyes.

"I made you a chamomile tea, it will soothe your nerves," he said, pointing to the mug on the side table.

"Seriously, Adrian, you can go."

"What would you like to eat?" he asked, ignoring my request.

I sighed and laid back on the couch, he stood up and came to collect the blanket from me. I wanted to protest but the pain in my head stopped me. I frowned as he covered me with the small blanket.

"What would you like to eat?" he asked again, sitting next to me.

"I'm not hungry."

"Want a hug? I give the best hugs," he said opening his arms.

I wanted to scream yes but instead shook my head and looked away feigning disgust.

"I'm the cuddling type," he urged and I kicked him.

"Fine, what do you wanna do?"

"Watch tv and not hear your voice," I said with a mean smile.

He reached for the remote control and turned on the tv.

"What do you wanna watch?" He asked, using one hand to brush the hair falling to his left eye back. I diverted my gaze elsewhere.

"Tangled," I replied and he furrowed his eyebrows at me. He shook his head and searched for the cartoon on my Netflix and HBO account but we couldn't find it.

"Can't find it," Adrian smiled while I frowned.

"I wish I had a Disneyplus account," I grumbled.

"Are you sure it's going to be on the app?" He asked.

"Yes, it's a Disney movie after all," I replied even if I wasn't sure.

"So, where do you sign up or subscribe?" he asked me.

"I don't have enough money to be paying for another..."

"I will take care of the subscription, don't worry about it." He cut in.

I stared at him, speechless for a while. I fought the smile pulling at my lips. I collected the remote control from him and opened the app on the tv screen. I tried to contain my excitement as Adrian filled in all the spaces to create the account.

"Done!" Adrian informed me.

Say thank you! Say it!

"Thanks, I could kiss you right now," I said, pushing him playfully with my leg.

"Okay," he said and leaned closer with his lips pushed out for a kiss.

"You wish," I shoved him away. He chuckled and searched for the cartoon I requested, I squealed when he found it.

"Finally," he mumbled, sounding relief like I just put him through hell.

"You want some popcorn?" he asked, putting the remote down.

"No," I replied with my eyes on the screen.

He grabbed my legs and placed them on his lap so he could make himself comfortable on the couch.

I grabbed the mug and took a sip from the chamomile tea. We sat in silence and watched the cartoon. Adrian suppressed a peal of laughter when I started singing along with Finn. He only looked up once in a while at the tv then his phone. I wonder who he was chatting with at 3 am.

I looked away and sipped my tea. I turned to look at Adrian when the movie was almost over and found him asleep. He must have stayed up while I slept, I could tell he was stressed from the way he spoke earlier even if he tried to hide it with that smile of his that light up even in darkest times. I noticed the dark circles beneath his eyes, was he still having problem sleeping?

I abandoned the cartoon and just stared at him. There were a dozen places he could be right now but he was here­––taking care of me. I wasn't used to such treatment maybe only from my Family and best friend, but I have learned a lot about expectations, it leaves you disappointed at the end.

He had a striking beauty; his dark hair fell across the pale skin of his face hiding his right eyebrow. His jaw was firm and strong and the small curve of his lips brought images of that night I left myself vulnerable to his touch. It was a moment of weakness, and I was glad he stopped it because I wasn't sure I would have stopped him from going further.

It scared me that Adrian Parker might become my ruination. Every hour, minute, and second, we spent together had shown me a different side of us I wasn't ready to accept. I had my reasons for not getting too comfortable with people or getting attached to anyone other than my family. I have a hard time believing in people, and accepting that someone other than my family and friends can be kind and caring.

Adrian Parker was bad for my health. It's become hard to be around him without expecting something more. I don't let people too close; he was too close, closer than he thought. I needed him far away from me, away from my heart. Whatever this was, it needed to end before it escalates out of my control. My priority was to focus on myself and be there for my loved ones, I couldn't sway from that promise.

I just needed the right time to tell him to stop coming here even if Chloe ask him to. Let's go back to when he knew nothing of my existence except this time around I won't be that fangirl adoring everything about him but the girl who despises him for betraying her best friend. I have not forgiven him for hurting Chloe.

I raised my right leg that was resting on his lap and nudged him on his hard stomach to wake him up. He opened his eyes with a scowl.

"Need something?" he asked, tilting his head to the side to look at me. How can you look this handsome after waking up from sleep?

"Are you okay, Vixen?" he asked holding my small foot in his large hand.

"Yes, the movie is over, you missed a lot."

"Sorry, I only wanted to close my eyes for a minute." He said and ran his palm down his face.

"Are you comfortable in that position? You can go home, Adrian. I'm fine, I promise."

"I don't believe you and yes, I'm comfortable." He said to me with a lazy smile.

"Are you hungry now?" he asked playing with my ugly toes.

"No, are you?"

"No," he said and moved his gaze to the tv.

"You can go back to sleep since you refuse to go home," I said a little concerned.

"Okay but wake me up if you need anything," he told me before closing his eyes. Even with his eyes closed, he was still playing with my toes, it was kind of soothing, so I didn't complain.

I sat up and grabbed the remote to look for something else to watch.

***

When I woke up, Adrian was gone. I remember he was here the whole morning, sleeping on the couch and waking up once in a while to ask me if I was okay and needed anything. It was almost 2 pm now.

I think I went to sleep after I finished my second movie. I stretched my arms as I walked to the kitchen for a bottle of water.

I found a note glued to the tall fridge. It read,

Breakfast is in the fridge, sorry I had to order it cause I'm a wreck in the kitchen.

Make sure you eat it, Vixen.

Or call me if you're craving something else.

I sighed and opened the fridge. There was a takeout bag, I brought it out and opened it.

"Pancakes, scrambled eggs, bacon, and waffles, not bad." I put it back in the fridge and looked for something else to eat. I went with ramen noodles and herbal tea.

I already sent an email to my professor informing her I was sick. I'd been too busy with schoolwork, tutoring, working, and my dad's new diagnosis that I'd barely paid attention to my health.

I went out for a walk after taking a shower and tried to call Chloe when I returned to the apartment but it went straight to voicemail.

"Every time," I groaned and tossed the phone aside. There was a knock on the door.

I walked to the door and opened it, Adrian smiled at me. He was dressed in a black pants and a short-sleeved button-up shirt. He left the first two buttons open, displaying his neck chains that blended with his fair skin.

"You look better," he said looking at my hair I straightened after taking a shower.

"Yeah," I replied not inviting him in.

"Did you eat?"

"I ate ramen."

"Ohh, you didn't like the breakfast," he mumbled.

"It was okay, I'll have it later. I told you not to come, I'm well now."

"I wanted to see for myself."

"Go home, Adrian."

"You're not gonna let me in?" he asked looking behind me into the apartment as if to check if I was hiding anything.

I think it's time to do this, how hard can it be?

"This needs to stop," I began, and he furrowed his eyebrows in question. "I want you to stop coming here, even if Chloe asks you to."

"Why? Is something wrong?" something flickered in his eyes, the sparkles in his eyes disappeared and an unknown emotion washed over his face.

"I don't want you getting any ideas about our time together and I don't wanna be around a traitor like you. I don't trust you, in fact, I think you're only coming here to see me because you want information about Chloe to give that jackass called Tristan."

Was that too harsh? I need to make him stop coming here.

"I only wanna be friends, Belvina."

"Well, I don't wanna be your friend. I don't want us to be anything but mere strangers, you're getting too cozy here and I don't like that."

"Okay, if that's what you want," he replied in a calm tone.

"Thank you for understanding," I mumbled.

We stood there staring at each other for a few seconds, the tension in the air almost suffocating. All he had to do was walk away. It wasn't that hard.

"Is this about that night?" he asked.

"No, I don't...don't even recall...recall anything about that night." I stuttered.

He stepped closer, my heart skipped but I didn't move. I held his gaze, trying my best to show him I wasn't affected by his intoxicating scent or the heat of his body.

"Really, Vixen?" he whispered, his eyes trailing from my lips to my neck where he'd left some hickies that had stayed for two days, I had to cover them up with my concealer.

"Here is a recap," he leaned closer to my left ear and whispered every dirty detail from that night, also letting me know I'd leave him with a hard-on for days after that night and filled his head with filthy thoughts which he explicitly described.

"I hope that jugs your memory," he added before pulling away. I could feel him smirking at how stunned I was by everything he just whispered in my ear. I think I might need bleach to wash away all the images he just put in my head.

"I guess this is goodbye then?" he asked with a smile.

I nodded still speechless. I stared at his lips, the images he'd painted in my head with those lips made it hard to think of anything else as I watch him pull away.

"Don't hesitate to call me if you need anything, Belvina."

I nodded again.

"I will miss you, Vixen," he said and turned to leave.

I didn't say anything but smile. That wasn't the kind of goodbye I was expecting. Maybe this was the right to do after all. Adrian would have turned into a nymphomaniac

"You'll be fine," I said to myself as I closed the door.

Hopefully, things will be back to how they used to be with no Adrian Parker to fill my head with sinful thoughts and fantasies. I ignored the foreign feeling in my chest and walked to my room.