Page 53 of Care: Part 1

She let out a low sigh before placing her head onto his chest and wrapping her arm around his waist. If cuddling was what Adrik wanted, then that's what he got even though she felt the unnerving need to cry.

"Is this better?" She asked, her voice cracking slightly.

"Not particularly. Something still feels odd," he let out.

Finally, she broke down. Her tears fell from her eyes as the pressure of holding everything slowly eased from her mind. She wanted so badly to trust Adrik, but she was beginning not to.

"You're right," she began before whispering to herself, "I'm confused, sad, disappointed, and stupid."

"Oh, well, hopefully, things will get better," he said before tapping her back awkwardly.

If she thought she was crying before, she was definitely crying now. She would never dislike anything about Adrik, but she wished he could at least sympathize with her—just once. She hoped that he could lie to her and tell her that he would always be there. As selfish as it sounds, she craved for someone to stand with her on an emotional level, but there wasn't anyone to do that with; there could never be.

She moved away from him and turned back around to face the window once more. She allowed her thoughts to run wild as her heart broke with each theory her mind played out.

"Avelin—"

"Why did you hire me?" Avelina questioned.

There was a silence that overcame them after that question. Adrik didn't say a word that left Avelina to turn around and look up at him.

"I prefer not answering that question," he told her.

She let out a scoff before getting up from the bed and walking towards the door. Every worst-case scenario was playing out in her head as she angrily turned back around to look at Adrik.

"I'm going out tomorrow night. I'm only telling you this because I know you have guards and security. I want your best guards to follow me and be there the entire time I'm at the restaurant. Goodnight, Adrik," she told him before facing the door and placing her hand on the knob.

Just as she was about to open it, Adrik stood up and walked towards her. Something was telling her to hurry up and rush out of there, but she stayed. Deep down, she knew that she wanted him to give her a reason to stay. She loved him too much to leave.

"You are being accompanied to a restaurant by whom?" He asked.

She felt this sudden urge to piss him off and give him a taste of his own medicine. She wondered how he would feel if she answered his question with 'I prefer not answering that question,’ but she knew better. If she had to go to a restaurant with a shady person, she felt better knowing that people were there to protect her. Those people who would protect her all worked under Adrik—which meant he would end up finding out sooner or later.

"Johnathan.”

"No. Hell no," He let out.

She rolled her eyes and tried to pull the door open. Before she could attain her goal, Adrik slammed it shut. She turned around to face him and could tell he wasn't happy.

"Adri-"

"Today's events have been terrible. I do not want to hear you tell me that you want to go out with Johnathan, Avelina," he sighed.

Adrik walked back over to the bed and sat down. Avelina could only watch as he ran his hand through his hair.

"For one, I did not hire you. I planned to fire you the day I met you, but I did not. I just couldn't allow myself to do it.”

Her shoulders fell as guilt settled over her.

"I'm sorry. Why didn't you just tell me that when I asked? I'm an over-thinker, and you helped supply my brain with so much worry and doubt, Adrik," Avelina sighed before sitting down beside him, her head softly plopping onto his hard shoulder.

"Because I am still not sure why I couldn't fire you, Avelina. It only took a second for me to see how different you are from everyone else in the world.”

She smiled at his words as her arm curled around his waist.

"Please stay," he let out.

Avelina nodded her head before playfully pushing Adrik down on the bed and crawling to the other side. He reached over and wrapped his arm around her waist. Adrik pulled her closer and covered her with his warmth.