Just This Moment
The sun had barely dipped below the skyline when Celeste stepped back into Adrian's hospital room.
This time, no Emily. No crowd. Just them.
She stood at the doorway for a second longer than she needed to, watching as Adrian leaned back on the bed, scrolling lazily on his phone with his uninjured hand. The light hit his features softly—less sharp, less intimidating. He looked... tired, but calm. Familiar.
Her heart, the traitor that it was, fluttered.
"You're staring," he said without looking up.
Celeste rolled her eyes and stepped inside. "And you're still alive. Disappointing."
Adrian smirked, finally glancing at her. "Harsh. Especially after I declared to the nurse that you're my wife. You should be flattered."
"I brought you soup," she said, ignoring his smug tone as she set the container on the tray. "Don't choke on it."
"Aw," he teased, eyes twinkling. "You do care."
Celeste gave him a warning glare, but the corners of her mouth betrayed her. She was smiling.
Adrian watched her quietly for a beat. "You didn't have to come back, you know."
She shrugged, suddenly finding the hem of her sleeve very interesting. "Didn't want the nurses thinking Emily was your actual wife."
He chuckled. "Jealousy suits you."
"I wasn't jealous," she said way too quickly.
Adrian raised a brow. "No?"
Celeste crossed her arms. "I was... territorial."
He laughed, low and amused. "That's worse, Lancaster."
Her cheeks burned. "Shut up and eat your soup."
He reached for the container, but Celeste gently pushed his hand away.
"You'll spill it with that arm," she said, taking the spoon and scooping a bit for him. "Open."
Adrian blinked, clearly surprised.
"You're feeding me?" he asked, grinning.
"You want the soup or not?"
He opened his mouth obediently, and she carefully brought the spoon to his lips.
One spoonful turned into two. Then three.
And somewhere in the middle of it all, the teasing faded. The silence between them changed—it wasn't awkward, but warm. Comfortable.
Celeste reached for another spoonful, but Adrian's voice stopped her.
"Hey."
She looked up. "What?"
His gaze was soft. Steady. "Thanks for staying."
Her throat tightened. "Don't make a big deal out of it."
"I will," he said quietly. "Because it is."
The moment lingered. Her eyes dropped to his lips, and she realized—too late—that she hadn't looked away fast enough.
Adrian noticed.
"Celeste," he said softly.
She cursed under her breath and turned away, standing up abruptly. "I should—"
"Come here."
She hesitated.
"Please," he added, voice barely a whisper.
Slowly, she turned back and stepped closer. Adrian reached for her hand with his good one, his thumb brushing gently over her skin.
"You don't have to run every time you feel something," he said, barely audible.
Celeste's heart was thundering in her chest.
"I'm not running."
"You are."
She looked at him, really looked—and saw everything in his eyes. The pain, the guilt, the love he never really said out loud.
Her breath hitched.
"Adrian..."
He leaned in, slowly—painfully slow—giving her all the time in the world to pull away.
She didn't.
Her hand moved on its own, reaching up to touch the side of his face. And when he was close enough to feel her breath, her eyes fluttered shut and she whispered, "Just this moment."
Then she closed the distance.
The kiss was soft.
Not urgent. Not wild.
Just... full of everything they never said.
His lips moved against hers with a kind of reverence, like he couldn't believe she was real. She kissed him back gently, her fingers curling into the fabric of his hospital gown.
And for the first time in weeks—maybe months—Celeste stopped thinking.
There was no divorce.
No betrayal.
No pain.
Just Adrian. Warm and close and real.
When they finally pulled apart, neither of them spoke.
Adrian just smiled, forehead resting against hers.
Celeste let out a shaky breath.
"You're impossible," she whispered.
"And you're beautiful when you're furious."
She hit his shoulder lightly. He winced. "Ow! Patient, remember?"
Celeste rolled her eyes, cheeks pink. "Drama queen."
Adrian grinned. "Kiss me again and I'll stop complaining."
She laughed—actually laughed—and that was the moment Celeste realized something dangerous:
She was falling for him.
Again.
And God help her, she didn't know how to stop.