Evelyn sat at her desk, staring at the blank canvas in front of her. Her brush hovered over the surface, but she couldn't bring herself to make the first stroke. Her thoughts were tangled—partly because of the gallery deadline, but mostly because of Adrian.
Ever since their conversation about her mother, something had shifted between them. He had been there for her in a way no one else had, and the way he held her afterward had lingered in her mind. The warmth of his touch, the steady rhythm of his heartbeat—it was all too easy to remember.
A knock at her door made her jolt.
"It's open,"
she called, already knowing who it was.
Adrian stepped in, holding two cups of coffee. He glanced at the untouched canvas before smirking.
"Artist's block?"
Evelyn sighed.
"More like a brain that won't shut up."
Adrian handed her a cup and leaned against her desk.
"Want to talk about it?"
She hesitated before setting her brush down.
"It's just… a lot. The gallery, my mom, everything." She ran a hand through her hair. "And you."
Adrian blinked.
"Me?"
Heat crept up her neck.
"I mean—just how you've been there for me through all of this. It means more than I can say."
Adrian's smirk softened into something gentler. He reached out and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, his fingers lingering for a second too long.
"You don't have to say anything, Evie. I just want to be here for you."
Her heart did an odd little flip at the way he said her name. "I know," she whispered.
For a moment, they just looked at each other. The air between them felt heavier, charged with something unspoken. She wondered if he could hear how fast her heart was beating.
Then Adrian cleared his throat and stepped back.
"Okay, you need a distraction."
Evelyn raised a brow. "Oh?"
He grinned.
"Get your shoes. We're going out."
A Change of Scenery
Fifteen minutes later, Evelyn found herself walking beside Adrian through the park near campus. The late afternoon sun cast golden hues over the trees, and the crisp autumn air was refreshing.
"I still don't get how this is supposed to help,"
she said, sipping her coffee.
Adrian shrugged.
"Sometimes, you just need to step away from a problem to see it."
She glanced at him.
"Since when are you a philosopher?"
"Since I started spending too much time with a stubborn artist who overthinks everything."
She rolled her eyes but smiled.
"Fine. I'll humor you. What exactly am I supposed to be seeing clearly?"
Adrian stopped and turned to face her.
"That you've got this."
He gestured at the space around them.
"Your art isn't just about the gallery or commissions. It's about how you see the world. And right now, you're too stuck in your head to see anything."
Evelyn bit her lip.
"I just don't want to mess this up."
Adrian's expression softened. He took her free hand in his, giving it a small squeeze.
"You won't."
The simple touch sent warmth up her arm. It wasn't the first time they had held hands, but this time, it felt different. More deliberate. More… them.
She exhaled slowly.
"You believe in me that much?"
Adrian chuckled.
"Evie, I'd bet my life savings on you."
She laughed despite herself.
"Pretty sure your life savings is like twenty bucks."
"Exactly,"
he teased.
"That's how confident I am."
Evelyn shook her head, but the weight on her chest felt lighter. Maybe he was right. Maybe she just needed to breathe and take things one step at a time.
And maybe—just maybe—she wasn't as alone in this as she had always thought.
A Late-Night Confession
That night, Evelyn found herself pacing her room, her phone clutched in her hand.
She had been staring at Adrian's contact for the past five minutes, debating whether to call him. She didn't even know what she wanted to say—just that she wanted to talk to him.
Before she could lose her nerve, she hit the call button.
"Evie?"
His voice was soft, slightly groggy.
"What's up?"
She hesitated.
"Were you asleep?"
"Not really,"
he admitted.
"Just lying down. What's wrong?"
Evelyn took a breath.
"Nothing. I just… I wanted to hear your voice."
There was a beat of silence before Adrian spoke again, quieter this time.
"Yeah?"
She closed her eyes.
"Yeah."
Another pause. Then,
"Do you want me to come over?"
Her heart stuttered. Did she?
"I—"
She hesitated, then softened.
"No, I think I'm okay. Just… stay on the line for a little while?"
Adrian's voice was warm, steady.
"As long as you need, Evie."
And just like that, she felt the tension ease from her shoulders. Maybe she didn't have to figure everything out tonight. Maybe, for now, this was enough.
As long as he was here, she wasn't alone.