The Pajama Incident
Celeste sat stiffly on the couch, arms crossed, her mood dark and stormy. Adrian had barely looked at her since the incident at the pool. He was too preoccupied with Emily, too busy making sure she was warm, safe, and comfortable.
It stung.
And just when she thought the night couldn't get any worse, Adrian turned to her and said, "Celeste, let Emily borrow some of your clothes."
Celeste's head snapped toward him. "What?"
Adrian gave her a look, as if she was being unreasonable. "She's soaked, Celeste. She can't sleep in wet clothes."
Celeste clenched her jaw. "There are extra guest clothes. She can use those."
Emily, who had been wrapped in a towel, gave a small, pitiful smile. "It's okay, Adrian. I don't want to trouble Celeste."
Celeste gritted her teeth. Oh, so now she's trying to look considerate?
Adrian sighed in frustration. "Forget it." He stood up and turned to Emily. "You can borrow my clothes for now."
Celeste shot him an incredulous look. "Excuse me?"
Adrian ignored her and gestured for Emily to follow him to the closet.
Celeste's nails dug into her palm as she watched Emily disappear into their bedroom. This is ridiculous.
A few minutes later, Emily emerged from the bathroom, freshly changed.
And Celeste nearly lost it.
Emily was wearing Adrian's favorite pajamas. The ones Celeste wouldn't even touch because Adrian had once told her, "I only wear these when I want to be extra comfortable."
And yet here was Emily, drowning in the soft, expensive fabric that Adrian never let anyone else use.
Celeste shot up from the couch, her eyes burning holes into Adrian. "Are you kidding me?"
Adrian raised a brow. "What now?"
Celeste pointed at Emily. "She's wearing your favorite pajamas."
Adrian blinked, then shrugged. "So?"
Celeste's jaw dropped. "So?! You don't even let me use those!"
Adrian rubbed the back of his neck. "I just never thought you wanted to wear them."
Celeste clenched her fists. "That's not the point, Adrian!"
Emily cleared her throat, looking slightly amused. "I can change if it bothers you, Celeste."
Celeste turned to her, her eyes narrowing. Oh, now she's pretending to be nice again?
Adrian sighed, running a hand down his face. "Celeste, it's just pajamas. If you really want, you can borrow them after Emily."
Celeste's mouth opened, then closed. Did he really just say that?
Emily bit her lip, lowering her gaze. "I... I didn't know these were so special. I just grabbed what Adrian offered me..."
Celeste was about to snap, "Then why didn't you pick another pair?" but before she could say anything, Adrian turned back to Emily.
"I'm going to call your father and let him know what happened. Also, get some rest in the guest room, okay?"
Emily nodded obediently. "Thank you, Adrian. Really."
She turned to leave, but as she passed Celeste, she glanced over—
And smirked.
It was quick. Subtle. Barely there.
But Celeste saw it.
A slow, triumphant smirk. Like she had just won something.
Celeste's fingers curled into fists.
She had let things slide all night. Had told herself she was overthinking. Had tried to be mature.
But at that moment, she swore—
Emily was playing a game.
——
Celeste stormed into the bedroom, slamming the door behind her so hard that the bedside lamp wobbled in fear.
"It's just pajamas," he says.
"No big deal," he says.
Celeste scowled as she snatched one of Adrian's shirts from the closet. She was fuming.
Of all the clothes Emily could've picked, she chose THAT one?
The one pajama set Adrian never let Celeste wear?
Oh, she definitely did that on purpose.
Celeste yanked Adrian's shirt over her head with unnecessary force, as if the fabric itself had personally wronged her.
She stomped over to the bed and threw herself onto it, hugging his pillow aggressively like it owed her an apology.
Adrian, however, took his sweet time before finally entering the room.
Celeste ignored him. He wasn't worth looking at right now.
Adrian sighed heavily, shutting the door behind him. "Are we seriously fighting over pajamas?"
Celeste stayed silent.
Adrian ran a hand down his face. "Celeste."
Silence.
Adrian groaned and flopped onto the bed beside her. "Fine. Give me the silent treatment. I'll just sleep."
He reached for his pillow—only to have Celeste tighten her grip on it like a territorial cat.
Adrian paused. "Celeste. Give me my pillow."
Celeste burrowed into it. "No."
Adrian exhaled slowly, his patience hanging by a thread. "Why not?"
Celeste finally turned to him, eyes narrowed. "Oh, so NOW you care about fabric?"
Adrian blinked. "What?"
"WHERE was this energy when Emily stole your precious pajamas, huh?" Celeste snapped. "NOW suddenly you're attached to this pillow?"
Adrian stared at her like she had lost her mind. "Celeste, this is my pillow. I sleep on it every night."
Celeste sat up. "And THAT was your favorite pajama set. The one you told me was 'off-limits.'"
Adrian groaned. "I didn't say off-limits, I just—"
"You LIED to me, Adrian!" Celeste threw her hands in the air. "You made me believe it was some sacred relic that no mortal could wear, but suddenly, Emily gets to walk around in it like she owns the place?"
Adrian pinched the bridge of his nose. "It's just clothes."
"THEN GIVE ME YOUR SHIRT."
Adrian froze. "What?"
Celeste held out her hand. "Take it off. Now."
Adrian blinked. "Celeste, be serious."
"Oh, I am." Celeste crossed her arms. "You said it yourself—it's just fabric. So, strip. Let me wear your shirt since we're sharing clothes now."
Adrian rubbed his temples, sighing. "Celeste—"
"Or I'll go outside right now and take my pajama set back from Emily."
Adrian shot her a warning look. "You wouldn't."
Celeste raised a brow. "Oh, wouldn't I?"
Adrian stared at her, then muttered something under his breath before yanking off his shirt and tossing it at her (with unnecessary force, she noted).
Celeste caught it and held it up like a trophy. "See? That wasn't so hard."
Adrian glared at her. "You're insane."
"And YOU'RE a liar." Celeste pulled his shirt over her head, smiling sweetly. "But at least now we're even."
Adrian grumbled something unintelligible and flopped onto the bed. "Can we sleep now?"
Celeste huffed, turning her back to him. "I don't know. Can you?"
Adrian groaned dramatically.
"Celeste."
"What."
"Are you seriously going to be mad at me all night?"
"That depends." Celeste turned, resting her chin on his shoulder. "Do you plan on giving Emily your socks next?"
Adrian rolled onto his side, staring at her like he was contemplating launching her out of bed. "Go to sleep, Celeste."
Celeste smirked, victorious.