"It doesn't hurt that much." Adrian mumbled in his mouth but loud enough for Jennifer to hear. She wiped her thumb over where it was, hearing another grunt as she did. "Did that hurt?" She spoke calmly. It was one of the habits she picked up after her break-up with Winston. Concealing her emotions and portraying the ones she needed to. She rarely expressed her true emotions. Those rare chances included Adrian.
She looked up to see Adrian had covered it with one of his hands. "You don't have to take care of me. You know, I am old enough to do that myself," he simply smiled as she shook her head, sitting down besides him. "Are you sure you're okay?" She placed her hand over his. Usually, the chills belong to the girls but here, Adrian was the one feeling chills, all over his body. Can anyone expect a mafia to feel chills over a single touch from a girl that wasn't even his girlfriend. Crazy. Right?
"Jennifer, I'm fine, honestly. I didn't know that you'd be worrying this much…. I'm really sorry for making you stress." He mumbled, only making her smile at his words. Truth be told, he did know she was going to be stressed. One of the reasons, he didn't tell her about this. Jennifer was good at hiding her emotions but not when she was with Adrian. They both could read each other like an open book. Hiding something, for that matter, anything, was really difficult. The main reason for Adrian's worry.
If he opened up to Jennifer about his life, he would put her in danger. Target for all those who wished to harm him. He would show them his weakness. Adrian couldn't even think of the pain and guilt he would suffer then, if Jennifer ran into danger because of him. Let alone, loose her life for protecting his secret.
"Adrian, you don't have to apologize. I was stressing because I care about you. That's not your fault." Jennifer gave him a reassuring smile. "You should sleep now. Get some rest." Jennifer said as she rose from the bed. Adrian grabbed her wrist and spun her around. "Weren't your parents supposed to come this evening?" He asked. Jennifer shook her head. "They got delayed for some reason. They requested me to ask you to stay some more time but it seems like you are in a hurry to leave."
"No. No. I can stay." Adrian had been secretly praying for this to happen. The pain subsided. The injury was still there but the pain was gone. The relief of getting to stay with her a few more days, by far outweighed everything else on the horizon. It was peace beyond words. Jennifer was his angel in disguise.
"Get some rest." Jennifer went out of the room without another glance at Adrian. She went to her bathroom, splashed her face with water, hoping that this feeling would go away. The thrill of doing something that was forbidden. Jennifer was still not over that. All these years, she never even thought about stepping out of the line. For the first time she did it, the feeling was exhilarating. Beyond description.
Jennifer wanted to rest. Sleep for that matter. But sleep was not cooperating at the moment. She sat up on her bed and walked towards the window. She paced in front of the window sill. "Maybe, I should check on him." She thought. She went to his room to check on Adrian. Then, she turned the room locker and boom… She went inside and saw Adrian sleeping on the couch. Maybe, he wasn't able to sleep in the bed. She laughed.
"Umm…" Adrian changed his position. Jennifer went outside the room to take a blanket and tip-toed back into his room. She covered him with the blanket. She was about to leave when she felt something holding her wrist. The feeling was creepy. She was alone in the room, given that Adrian was asleep. Why would somebody hold her wrist. Annabelle?
She turned around and saw Adrian holding her wrist while mumbling something. She leaned down to his face to listen what he was saying. "Jennifer, where are you going? Don't leave me!" he mumbled. Jennifer was shocked after seeing him murmuring her name. Is he awake? "Adrian." She said softly. "Let me sleep." He said and pulled her closer to him. She sat near him, pulling his head on her lap as she admired his features. His eyes that were closed and the pout at his face that made her soft for him.
Jennifer had a sudden urge to kiss him. That pout was adorable. Perfectly shaped lips, and the perfect shade of pink. Nevermind. "I love you, Jennifer. Please don't leave me." Jennifer couldn't believe what she heard. Did I hear right? He said he loves me. Back off everybody. I'm famous. No, this was probably the effect of alcohol and sleep. For a moment the feeling was exhilarating. Jennifer wasn't even in love with him but the possibility that he might be in love with her brought her immense joy. But the very next moment, she tucked that feeling into the back pocket of her jeans.
Adrian was drunk. He might have said it unknowingly. She reminded herself that he had admitted in full consciousness that he was in love with another. Jennifer thought it was better to forget this happened. She didn't want to embarrass him in the morning. Adrian turned towards Jennifer, hugging her waist and mumbling something again. "You won't leave me. Right?" he mumbled. "I will never leave you, Adrian." She said and pecked his cheek. "What did you do?" He shouted. Either he was awake all along or he just woke up now. "What?" Jennifer was confused. "You ju- just" Jennifer cut him off. "I love you too." These words made their way out of Jennifer's mouth, surprising herself as well. She never realized that she was in love with Adrian.
"What?" he was shocked. "Didn't you say that you love me." Jennifer said, furrowing her brows in a teasing way. A blush crept on his cheeks. "Cute…" she mumbled. "I thought you won't love me." He said. "Why did you think this? I love you a lot!" Jennifer said, caressing his cheeks. What on earth was happening? These words were spilling out of her mouth just like that. She never even thought of that.
"I thought you also hated me like everyone else because of my cold behavior. Wait. You love me?" he jumped. "Ya! I love you." Jennifer said looking down because of embarrassment. He hugged her. Jennifer was shocked because it was the first time she saw him like this. "Leave me." she said. "What?" he said, breaking the hug. "Nothing." She laughed.
"Okay" he said again in his cold voice. " I love you. Please don't leave me." She mocked him. "No, stop." He said. Jennifer went outside the room as Adrian followed her, trying to catch her. Jennifer stopped when she ran out of breath. Adrian caught up to her in her bedroom. They talked for a while, until they fell asleep.