Family stuff? That told me everything I needed to know about how surface-level our connection really was.
If Adrian truly knew me, he’d know I didn’t have a big family waiting on me, no cousins piling into the living room, no siblings arguing over board games, no matching pajamas, no domino tournaments, no sound of kids fighting sleep in the hallway or loud kitchen full of people baking cookies or sneaking icing with their fingers.
Christmas for me wasn’t chaotic, crowded, or warm; it was just… me.
“I’m actually heading out of town this weekend—to the Shenandoah–Blue Ridge area in Virginia. You ever heard of it?” I asked, straightening a stack of papers on my desk just to keep my hands busy.
“Yeah. That’s the mountain area, right? Real pretty out there.”
“Mm-hmm,” I affirmed. “I’m going there. I own a cabin up that way.”
Co-own, I corrected silently, since he didn’t need to know that.
Adrian hummed, intrigued, maybe even impressed. “Own, huh? That’s what’s up. So… is this gonna be like a girls' trip type thing?”
“No, solo,” I replied quickly. “It’s been my little escape spot for a while now, so I usually go by myself. I like it better that way.”
I heard him exhale, soft but noticeable.
Adrian didn’t sound disappointed, just more contemplative, as if he were processing it. That was another thing I appreciated about him. He always respected my boundaries, even when he didn’t fully understand them.
“Solo?”he repeated, like it was a foreign word.
“Yup. Just me, myself, and peace.”
Adrian was quiet for a beat.
“I respect that,” he finally said. “But I waskindahoping I’d get to see you before everything gets crazy. Holidays be havingeverybody ghosting or playing busy. I figured we could spend some time together,more than just a few hours, and at least see if this spark we got actually burns, you feel me?”
His voice dropped a notch, all low and persuasive; the kind that convinced women to make dumb decisions with a smile on their face and regret tucked in their back pocket. And maybe it wasn’t dumb, but it was unexpected.
“I wouldn’t mind going with you… that’s if you’re open to some company,”he added, voice deep and sincere.
He wants to join me at the cabin? My sacred place tucked away from the bustle of everyday life?
I hesitated, feeling a flutter of both excitement and apprehension.
“Um… don’t you have to work? Like, be on call?” I replied, trying to wrap my mind around the idea of having him there.
Adrian was a carpenter by trade and educator by necessity.
“Yes… and no,” he answered, with a chuckle. “I’m my own boss, Chesteria, which means if I want to disappear for a few days and drink hot cocoa with a beautiful-ass woman in the woods, then that’s exactly what I’ma do. And whoever got a problem with it can build their own damn bookshelf.” There was humor and pride in his tone, but also a hint of seriousness.
That made me chuckle.
He continued. “Seriously, though, I could really use a break from this handyman hustle, for real. The holiday season turns everyone into a DIY dreamer. Suddenly, all my clients want floating shelves, fixed doors, or custom wine racks before Christmas. I’ve been running around with a hammer in one hand and lesson plans in the other.” He paused and added,“But a quiet weekend away with you? That might be the first time I sit still all month.”
My response was delayed; not because I didn’t want him there, but because I wasn’t sure I could handle the intimacy that might unravel between us. The thought both thrilled and terrified me.
Adrian sensed my hesitation; his tone shifted to one that was softer yet still firm.
“Look,” he said, drawing in a steady breath. “I get it. I might still feel like a stranger in some ways, especially outside city limits. Traveling together and sharing a space is not exactly small talk. I get that.”
He took a breath, then let his honesty bleed.
“But I need you to know how I really feel about you, Chesteria.”
Adrian didn’t pause for permission; he just dove in, his words tumbling out like a confession.
