Chapter 2 One Night Stand

"Take me to a club," Lena said, her voice barely above a whisper but laced with urgency.

Adrian glanced at her, his grip tightening on the steering wheel.

"A club? At this moment?"

"Please," she insisted, still staring blankly out the window.

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Lena, it's late. Maybe you should-"

"I don't want to think, Adrian!" she snapped, turning to face him for the first time.

"I don't want to sit in my room and cry all night. I need... I need to forget."

Silence stretched between them.

Then, finally, he nodded. "Fine. But I'm not leaving your side. Not even for a second."

She didn't respond. She just stared back out at the city lights flashing by.

Her heart was still racing, still breaking.

Daniel and Sienna. Her best friend.

How could they? Three years of loyalty, love-thrown away like garbage.

Her hands clenched into fists.

"Forget it. Just forget it." She kept mumbling to herself.

The club pulsed with music, the air thick with sweat and alcohol.

Bodies swayed to the beat, the flashing lights casting fleeting shadows over the crowded dance floor.

Adrian stayed close as they pushed through the chaos, his hand on the small of her back, guiding her toward the bar.

"What are we drinking?" he asked, his voice barely audible over the pounding bass.

Lena leaned against the bar, her hands trembling slightly.

"Something strong," she said, not meeting his eyes.

He hesitated. "Lena-"

"Don't start," she cut in, staring straight ahead. "Just order the drinks."

Adrian sighed and signaled the bartender. Two glasses appeared moments later, filled with amber liquid.

Lena grabbed hers and took a long sip, the burn spreading down her throat and warming her insides.

"Slow down," Adrian warned, watching her closely.

She slammed the glass down. "Why? Got somewhere else to be?"

"That's not what I-"

"Good," she interrupted, taking another sip.

Adrian exhaled and took a careful sip of his drink, his eyes never leaving her.

"You don't have to do this, you know."

Lena laughed bitterly. "Do what? Drown myself in alcohol? Try to feel something other than this?" She gestured vaguely, her eyes glassy.

"I have to do something, Adrian. Because sitting at home crying obviously won't work for me!"

He leaned in, his voice low but firm.

"Lena, listen to me. Daniel is an idiot. He doesn't deserve you."

Her throat tightened. She swallowed hard. "Yeah? Then why does it feel like I wasn't enough?"

"Because you're blaming yourself for something he did," Adrian said, his eyes blazing.

"You were too good for him, and he couldn't handle that. End of story."

Lena bit her lip, looking down.

"Maybe I should have... given him what he wanted," she murmured, her voice shaking.

"Maybe he wouldn't have gone to her if I had."

Adrian slammed his glass down.

"Stop it. Don't you dare say that. This isn't your fault."

Her eyes welled with tears, but she forced them back, shaking her head. "I just want another drink."

Adrian stared at her for a long moment, then nodded. "One more. Then we're leaving."

But one turned into two.

Then three.

And with every drink, Lena felt lighter, the crushing weight inside her chest loosening little by little.

They talked.

They laughed.

For the first time that night, she felt... something other than pain.

"You're actually kind of fun," Lena teased, poking his arm playfully.

Adrian smirked.

"Oh yeah? And you're braver than I thought, Lena."

Her cheeks flushed at the way he said her name. "You think I'm brave?"

"I think you're a lot of things," he murmured, holding her gaze longer than necessary.

Her pulse quickened.

Maybe it was the alcohol. Maybe it was the way his eyes lingered on her lips.

Either way, when he leaned in, she didn't pull away.

Their lips met, soft at first, then deeper, hungrier.

She could taste the whiskey on his breath, feel the warmth of his skin against hers.

This is wrong.

But she didn't stop.

Lena's eyes shot open, her head pounding like a drum.

Sunlight streamed through the curtains, blinding her instantly. She groaned, rolling over-

And froze.

Adrian.

Shirtless.

Asleep.

Right next to her.

Her heart stuttered violently.

She looked down at herself and felt the blood drain from her face.

The sheets tangled around her body, but she could feel it-she was completely naked.

"No. No. No."

Memories slammed into her.

The drinks. The laughter. The kiss. His hands. Her lips. Clothes hitting the floor.

She covered her mouth with her hands, panic flooding her veins.

"F**k! What did I do?" she whispered.

Adrian stirred beside her, his face peaceful in sleep. He looked so... different, so soft.

Nothing like the usual sharp, confident man she knew.

Lena bolted upright, clutching the sheets to her chest. She had to leave. Now.

She scrambled out of bed, her clothes strewn across the floor.

With shaking hands, she grabbed them, slipping into her dress as quickly as she could.

Don't wake up. Please don't wake up.

She glanced at him one last time.

Her stomach twisted painfully. He looked so... good. And she felt so ashamed.

Without a sound, she slipped out of the room and closed the door behind her.

The hotel hallway was quiet, but her thoughts were screaming.

Her heels clicked against the marble floor as she hurried toward the elevator, hands trembling.

What have I done?

The elevator doors slid open, and she stepped inside, pressing the button for the ground floor with shaky fingers.

As the doors closed, she caught a glimpse of her reflection in the mirror. Her hair was a mess, her lipstick smudged, and her eyes-red and swollen.

She looked exactly how she felt.

Ruined.

Last night was supposed to be about forgetting Daniel.

Instead, she'd made everything worse.

Tears welled in her eyes, but she blinked them back, pressing her forehead against the cool metal of the elevator.

"You slept with his cousin, Lena. How could you?"