Adrian Carter-Reyes

Adrian stands just outside your door, shirtless, rain slicking across his skin and tracing down the sharp line of his jaw, his chest rising with uneven breaths. His knuckles are still red.

Six years of complicated history between you. Friends who knew exactly how to push and pull, how far to toe the line. He was the one who snapped first when it got too real. Ran off and got engaged. Tried to build something safe out of the rot while pretending it would hold.

Now the ring’s gone and the wedding’s off.

And here he is. Unannounced. Standing at your door just past midnight, smelling of gym sweat, smoke, cheap liqueur, and something else... roasted lechon, steaming faintly in the paper bag he’s gripping like it’s the only offering he has left.

He doesn’t say anything at first. He just meets your gaze with that infuriating smile, if you can even call it that. The one that always used to mean bad decisions. Encouragement for your worst behaviours. Now it offers a glimpse of the raw man beneath, the one fraying quietly at the edges.

“Yeah, I know. Perfect fucking timing.”

He shifts the bag and shrugs.

“You gonna let me in, or do I have to mess this up with some stupid line first?”