ELI
I woke up way earlier than usual. The sky outside was still that dark navy blue, the kind that makes you think it's midnight, but your body just knows it's morning. My head was pounding so bad I could barely keep my eyes open. For a moment, everything felt foggy, just a blur of flashing lights, laughter, and movement. I sat up slowly, my vision swimming, and looked around.
We were all sprawled out on my bed like limp dolls. Me, Lian, and…
Wait.
"Where's Adam?" I muttered under my breath, rubbing my temples and trying to remember anything past Lian getting on the water slide. He'd been screaming like a child and I was hyping him up while barely staying upright myself. My memory got shaky after that.
I leaned over and nudged Lian's arm, groaning. "Lian… get up. Adam's not…"
"Sit."
The voice sliced through the silence like a blade, calm but heavy. My whole body froze. Lian snapped awake like someone dunked him in ice water. We both turned toward the corner of the room.
Damir.
He was sitting there, legs crossed, still dressed in his black shirt and trousers, and even in the low light, I could see the sharpness in his eyes. He hadn't raised his voice. He didn't need to. His presence alone was a thunderstorm.
"I gave you a chance to prove you were responsible," Damir began, tone flat. "You had one thing to do. A school project. That's it. And what do I wake up to?" He gestured around the room. "Alcohol. Spilled bottles. You two unconscious on the bed."
I couldn't even meet his eyes. My fingers curled into the covers, my mouth opened and closed like a fish gasping for air.
"We didn't mean to…." Lian tried to speak, but Damir raised a hand and he went quiet.
"I'm not interested in your intentions. I'm interested in the facts."
That was Damir for you. Not a man who wasted time on feelings when he was angry.
"You can stay, Lian," Damir said as he stood up, straightening his sleeves. "But next time, you try something this stupid under my roof, you won't be invited back."
He walked past the bed, paused at the door for a second like he was going to say something else, but didn't. He just left.
The room felt emptier without him.
I sank back against the pillows, my heart racing. And just like that….
It all came back.
Adam.
The teasing.
Me joking that he was staring at me like he wanted to kiss me.
And he had.
He actually leaned in, and I…
I gagged.
I think I blacked out right after.
I covered my mouth with both hands, nausea rising in my throat.
Beside me, Lian glanced over quietly, his expression unreadable. Maybe he saw, maybe he didn't. But he didn't say anything. He just got up slowly, brushing down his rumpled shirt.
"I'm gonna go get some air," he mumbled and left the room.
I stayed there frozen, my thoughts spiraling.
Damir hadn't even raised his voice that much. But his disappointment? That hit harder than any punishment.
And now I had a bigger problem.
What the hell happened with Adam?.