The water runs cool over my hands as I lather up the soap, the scent of lavender filling the air as I rub my palms together. I watch the water swirl down the drain, my thoughts spinning just as quickly. Tonight has been... different. Standing in front of the mirror, I study my reflection, but my mind is elsewhere, replaying the last hour.

Adrian was so tense around his parents, especially his father. I didn't miss the way his shoulders stiffened or how his jaw clenched every time his father spoke. I've never seen him like that before. He's always so calm, so controlled. But tonight... it's like he's barely holding it together.

I can't say I blame him. Meeting his parents was more intense than I expected. The moment I recognized them, it all started to make sense. Of course, Adrian would be this smart and put together with parents like that. His mother is a renowned scientist, someone whose name I've heard tossed around in medical circles. And his father... well, his father used to be a very well-known professor of medicine. They're practically legends, and now that I've seen them, I understand the weight Adrian must carry on his shoulders.

No wonder he's always so composed. He's had to live up to the expectations of giants.

I dry my hands, the towel soft against my skin, and take a deep breath. As much as I'm trying to keep my cool, I can't shake the uneasy feeling that's settled in the pit of my stomach.

I push open the bathroom door and step out into the hallway. My heels click softly against the marble floor as I walk back to where I left Adrian. I spot him immediately, still standing with his father, their postures tense and rigid. They're deep in conversation, and neither of them notices me approaching.

I'm about to make my presence known when I hear Adrian's father speak, his voice low and dripping with disdain. "Well, she may be a nobody, but at least she's nice to look at. I wouldn't mind seeing what's under that dress."

The words hit me like a slap in the face. My heart skips a beat, and for a moment, I'm frozen in place, trying to process what I just heard. Is he talking about me? The bile rises in my throat, and my hands ball into fists at my sides.

Before I can react, Adrian rears back and punches his father square in the face. The sickening sound of bone meeting bone echoes in the hallway, followed by the sharp crack of his father's nose breaking. Blood spurts out, staining the front of his father's pristine shirt.

A small scream of surprise escapes me, my hand flying to my mouth. My eyes dart from Adrian's father, who's now clutching his bleeding nose, to Adrian, who's standing there with his fist still clenched, his chest heaving.

Adrian whirls around to face me, his eyes wide with shock, his breath coming in short, uneven bursts. He looks almost as surprised as I feel, and he's holding his fist close to his chest like he's not sure what to do with it.

"How much of that did you hear?" he asks, his voice hoarse.

I swallow hard, trying to find my voice. "Enough."

For a moment, neither of us moves. Adrian stands there, his gaze locked on mine, as if he's waiting for me to react, to say something—anything—that will make this situation less surreal. But I don't have the words. My mind is racing, trying to catch up with what just happened, and all I can think is that we need to get out of here before this escalates any further.

I force myself to take a step forward, my voice soft but firm. "Let's go find some ice for that hand."

Adrian hesitates for a moment, then nods silently. He follows me down the hallway, neither of us speaking as we make our way to a small kitchen area. The quiet hum of the refrigerator is the only sound that fills the room as I search for something to use as an ice pack.

I find a clean dish towel and wrap it around a few ice cubes, handing the makeshift ice pack to Adrian. He takes it with his uninjured hand, pressing it gently against his knuckles, wincing slightly at the cold.

"I didn't mean to punch him," he says after a moment, his voice low and laced with guilt. "I just... reacted."

I glance up at him, catching the way his shoulders slump, the weight of what just happened pressing down on him. "If you hadn't hit him, then I was about to," I say, trying to lighten the mood. I manage a small, wry smile. "You know I'm not afraid to throw a punch."

He lets out a huff of laughter, though it's tinged with a sadness that tugs at my heart. "Yeah, I know."

I take his hand, carefully examining his knuckles. I've seen enough injuries in my line of work to know that it doesn't look broken—just bruised and swollen. "It doesn't look too bad," I say, my voice softer now. "But it's definitely going to hurt like hell tomorrow."

Adrian watches me with an intensity that makes my pulse quicken. His eyes are soft, almost tender, as I continue to fuss over his hand, and for a moment, I forget about everything else. It's just him and me, standing in this tiny kitchen, the rest of the world fading away.

Before I can fully process what's happening, Adrian leans in, closing the distance between us. His lips brush against mine, gentle at first, like he's testing the waters. It's a tentative, almost hesitant kiss, but there's something underneath it—something raw and real that takes me by surprise.

I pull back, my heart racing, my mind a whirlwind of confusion. "Adrian..."

He looks embarrassed, his cheeks flushing as he steps back, putting a little more space between us. "I'm sorry," he says quickly, his voice laced with regret. "I didn't mean to... I shouldn't have..."

I shake my head, trying to reassure him. "It's not that I didn't want to kiss you," I say softly. "I do. But... we need to talk about this. About... everything. I need to know what you're expecting from me, from us."

Adrian's eyes search mine, his expression a mix of hope and uncertainty. He nods slowly, his voice steady but quiet. "I understand. And I'm not really sure. I like you, Valarie. I have for a while now."

"Let's get out of here," I suggest, my voice gentle. "We can talk somewhere a little more... private."

***

Adrian's house is exactly what I expected it to be—tasteful, but not showy. The kind of place that tells you the person living here has money, but they don't feel the need to flaunt it. It's nestled in a quiet, gated suburb, the kind where the lawns are perfectly manicured and the houses all look like they belong in some high-end architectural magazine. As I follow Adrian inside, I take in the details.

The entryway is spacious, with dark hardwood floors that gleam under the soft lighting. There's a large mirror hanging on the wall, framed in something that looks like brushed silver. Everything is in shades of gray and white, with just enough color to keep it from feeling cold. There's a vase of fresh flowers on a side table—lilies, I think—adding a pop of life to the space. The air smells faintly of something clean and fresh, like the kind of expensive candles you see in boutiques.

Adrian leads me through the hallway and into the living room, and I can't help but notice how big it is. A massive sectional couch dominates the space, upholstered in a deep charcoal fabric that looks as comfortable as it does elegant. There's a glass coffee table in front of it, with a few art books stacked neatly on top, and a flat-screen TV mounted on the wall that's probably as big as the one they use in the hospital's waiting room. Everything is immaculate, from the perfectly arranged throw pillows to the artwork hanging on the walls. There's even a fireplace, currently unlit, with a sleek, modern design.

"Make yourself comfortable," Adrian says, his voice low and controlled, just like everything else about him. "I'll be right back."

I nod, watching as he disappears down another hallway. I settle onto the couch, sinking into the plush cushions. It's comfortable, but in a way that feels almost too perfect, like it's meant to be looked at rather than used. I pull out my phone and open the group chat with Declan and Elias, my thumbs moving quickly as I update them on the night's events.

Valarie: So, just a heads-up, Adrian punched his dad and we left the gala early.

Declan: What the hell?

Elias: I like him already.

Valarie: I'm okay, but it was wild. I'll be heading home soon.

Declan: You need a ride?

Valarie: Nah, I'm good. Adrian will bring me home.

Elias: You sure? We can come get you.

Valarie: Positive. I'll see you both soon.

I smile at their replies, feeling that familiar warmth in my chest. It's reassuring to know they're always there, ready to step in if I need them. I'm about to put my phone away when Adrian comes back into the room, a first aid kit in hand.

"Here," he says, holding it out to me. "I figure you can do a better job of wrapping this than I could."

I take the kit from him and open it up, pulling out some gauze and medical tape. Adrian sits beside me on the couch, holding out his injured hand. I gently clean the area first, then start wrapping the gauze around his knuckles, careful not to press too hard.

"I'll get an X-ray tomorrow," he says, watching me work. "Just to be sure nothing's broken. But I agree with your initial assessment—I don't think anything is."

I nod, focusing on making sure the wrap is secure. "You might need to reschedule a few surgeries, though. If your hand's too sore."

He lets out a small sigh, nodding in agreement. "Yeah, I'll figure it out."

Once I'm done, I sit back, taking in the sight of Adrian's hand now neatly wrapped in gauze. He flexes his fingers experimentally, wincing slightly.

"Thanks," he says, his voice a little softer now. "For this. And for... earlier."

"Of course," I reply, my voice equally soft. "You did the right thing."

He lets out a breath, one that sounds like it's been held in for too long, and then leans back against the couch. "So," he says, turning to look at me, "what exactly do we need to talk about?"

I take a deep breath, trying to gather my thoughts. "What do you want from me, Adrian? Are you looking for a friend? A girlfriend? Or just someone to mess around with?"

He doesn't answer right away. Instead, he looks at me with an intensity that makes my heart skip a beat. "I like you, Valarie. A lot. I admire you at work—how you handle yourself, how much you care about your patients. You're... you're something else."

His words hit me in a way I wasn't expecting. They're so genuine, so unguarded, that I can't help the warmth that blooms in my chest. It's strange to hear Adrian, who's always so controlled, speak so openly. I've worked with him for a while now and would have never guessed he liked me. Hell, he barely acknowledged me before recently. I'm not sure what to say, so I just listen as he continues.

"I know you're in... an unconventional thing with Declan and Elias," he says, his tone cautious, like he's feeling his way through this conversation. "But I'm not sure what it all means."

I nod, taking a moment to think before I speak. "Declan and Elias... they're my boyfriends. We're still figuring out everything, but it's working for us so far. We're open, honest, and respectful of each other's feelings. It's not traditional, but it's what we want."

He's quiet for a moment, absorbing what I've said. "And you think... you think I could be a part of that?"

I study his face, trying to gauge his reaction. "I don't know, Adrian. Would you want to be a part of it? Would you be okay with something like that?"

He pauses, then nods slowly. "I think I could be. I've never been in a super serious relationship before—conventional or not. But if this is the kind of relationship you have and want... then yeah, I'd like to be a part of it."

His words hang in the air between us, and I find myself nodding, my mind racing. "I'd have to talk it over with Declan and Elias," I say carefully. "We'd all have to sit down and discuss it. It's not enough that I like you—they'd have to like you too."

Adrian's expression doesn't change, but I can see the wheels turning in his head. "That's fair," he says after a moment. "I wouldn't expect anything less."

He asks a few more questions, things I can tell he's been wondering about for a while now. Like how long I've been with Declan and Elias, and how our dynamic works. I explain that I've only been with Declan for a couple of months, and with Elias even less time. We're all still figuring things out, taking it one day at a time.

I also tell him about Emersyn and her relationship with her four boyfriends. How they make it work and how they've found a way to navigate the complexities of a polyamorous relationship.

"I'm not saying it's easy," I add. "But it's possible. It just takes communication, trust, and a lot of honesty."

Adrian nods, seeming to take it all in. "I get it. And I'd be willing to try, as long as everyone's on the same page."

There's a quiet understanding between us now, a sense that we're both willing to explore this, whatever it may be. But I know there's still a long way to go before we can figure out where Adrian fits into all of this.