by Fine, L. J.
"So, what? That's it? You're just gonna stomp off like a child and not talk to me, not even bothering to hear what I have to say?" She did turn then to find the vulnerable expression replaced with one of blazing eyes and a tight jaw.
The adrenaline of her anger felt like acid in her veins, and the injustice of her soured triumph was still too raw. She knew herself well enough to know that she was too pissed off to have a rational conversation with him right now. Especially, if he was gonna be a dick about it. "I don't really want to look at you right now, Adam. So, no. I don't want to hear what you have to say. At least not until we've had a little space to cool off. Then we'll talk. But right now, I need you to get away from me."
Without waiting for him to respond, she went into her apartment and closed the door behind her. She stood there, waiting to hear the answering slam of his door, but it didn't come right away. In fact, he lingered in the hall for so long that she worried he might try to get her to open her door. And maybe a part of her wished that he would. Once she put that barrier between them, she had a moment to second guess herself and wonder if she had done the right thing. Letting her emotions dictate her actions had never been the wisest move. But then she heard his door open and close, and she had to live with her decision.
How had her night gotten so royally screwed up? It had started out with so much promise. Somewhere in the back of her mind she knew that Adam hadn't meant the harm that he'd caused. But she still didn't understand what had possessed him to bid on the painting in the first place. Like Nicole had said earlier, Adam wasn't big on art so, what the hell would he even do with it?
Shaking her head, she pushed away from the door and made her way down the hall toward her bedroom. She needed to calm down and sleep on everything that had happened. Maybe in the morning, when her emotions weren't so raw, she'd be able to process it all better. Get over the lingering sense of betrayal that he'd slept with Nicole. That at least, she knew, was irrational but it still bugged her. Of all people it had to have been Nicole. She had to forcefully reign in her thoughts, or she would start thinking about their situation in high school. How Nicole had been such a bitch to her and how Adam hadn't even known she was alive. Of course, she knew none of that mattered now. They were all grown-ass adults. But still. It rankled.
She refused to go down that road though, instead choosing to focus all her attention on the mundane task of taking off her jewelry, then her dress and putting on her pajamas. Then she concentrated on her usual nightly routine of washing her face and then applying moisturizer. If she avoided her volatile thoughts, maybe she'd be able to fall asleep sometime before the second coming of Christ.
By the time she finished putzing around her apartment and got into bed, an hour had passed. Switching off the lamp on her bedside table, she brought her covers around her and settled in for a fitful night of overthinking.
About a half an hour later, as she lay wide awake staring up at the ceiling, she heard a soft knocking on the wall above her head. Every muscle in her body tensed and her breathing ceased as she listened, wondering if the sound had been in her imagination and hoping that it would repeat.
It didn't. But her phone laying on her nightstand lit up with an incoming text. From Adam.
I'm sorry. Take your time, cool down if you need to. I'll wait. But know that I never meant to hurt you.
Her heart raced in her chest as she read his words. She'd meant what she said when she told him that she didn't want to talk to him right now. Her heart ached but it was too soon, and she did need time. So, she didn't reply and a few minutes following her silence, another text came through.
Sleep well, baby.
A tear tracked down her cheek as she screwed her eyes closed and put the phone, face down, on her nightstand.
CHAPTER TEN
Marie and her couch had officially morphed into one being. Saturdays were meant for being lazy, though, right? Especially, if one wakes up with an emotional hangover the size of Texas. She made the decision before she even rolled out of bed this morning at the bright and early hour of 10am, that she would spend the entire day communing with her cushions and whatever form of junk food she could find in the kitchen. So far, her plan was a success. She sat like a lump in front of the television eating waffles and ice cream, watching reruns of Supernatural. Focusing all her attention on the two ridiculously hot lead actors of that show was a nice distraction from her problems. She only thought about Adam every fifteen minutes or so at the commercial breaks, rather than constantly like she knew she would do if she had decided to spend this day like a functioning human being.
Even if she drifted off into troubling thoughts of him when the Winchester brothers started parading around as FBI agents, she was able to snap herself out of it and get lost in the plot of the show. All in all, avoidance of reality? Achieved. Or at least it had been, until someone started knocking on her door at four in the afternoon.
Taking a surveying look down at her current attire, she decided that the blue and white polar bear pajama bottoms coupled with the gray tank top she had on were presentable enough. Her hair sat in a knot on the top of her head and her face was devoid of makeup. But it was the face that God gave her, so whoever came to pester her could just deal. Her muscles ached from sitting in one position for too long, but she stood anyway, and ambled over to answer the door.
As she came face to face with her guest, however, she had a moment to regret not throwing on a bra, or at the very least her robe.
Crossing her arms over her chest, she took Adam in. Every delicious inch of his 6'2" frame. As always, he looked effortlessly handsome in jeans and a red flannel shirt. The sexy lumberjack look reminded her that the TV was still on, and she motioned for him to come inside as she grabbed the remote to shut it off.
He closed the door behind him and followed her into the living room. They stood there facing each other and, for once, he seemed to feel as awkward as she did. At least she could cover herself, so she plucked a sweater up from off the back of a chair and put it on. Typically, this would be the part where he would make some quip about her rumpled appearance, but he left it alone and instead opened with a question.
"How are you feeling?"
"I'm not sick or anything," she said, pulling her sweater tighter around her. "I just felt like being lazy today."
The corner of his lips twitched as he shoved his hands into his pockets. "No, I meant, have you had enough time to cool off? Can we talk about last night?"
A lump formed in her throat as her nerves started to rattle. She knew this conversation was coming, but she had expected it to be on her terms, when she was ready. In her mind she would be cool, calm and dressed when she approached him to work out the issues of the previous evening. She should have known that he wouldn't leave it up to her to come to him.
In a way, though, his seeking her out was a good thing. Meant he cared.
"Yeah," she nodded. "Let's talk. Do you want to sit?"
"No, I'm a little too wired to sit. I've been pacing around my apartment all day waiting for you to come tell me that you were ready to talk. I need to explain myself to you, baby, and I couldn't wait anymore. I'm glad you didn't slam the door in my face."
"I would have come over eventually," she said. "Maybe not today, but eventually. You're here now, though, and if you have things to say, I'll listen."
Nodding once, he took a deep breath. "First thing is that it never occurred to me what anyone else would think if I bid on your painting, and I certainly wasn't trying to jack the final price up. I knew you could win that contest all by yourself. It wasn't about that. All I thought about was winning the painting."
"Honestly?" She shrugged. "Most of me knew you weren't trying to boost my ego. Still, sometimes I can't help but let that small, insecure part of me take over and ruin everything. So, what was it about then? Why did you want the painting so bad?"
He rolled his eyes. "See, this is the part that I thought would be obvious. That well really is a
n iconic piece of my childhood, like it is for every other kid who grew up in this town. I bought that old farmhouse, am, in fact, planning to make it my home, and it really is such a shame that the well has to be filled in. I wanted your painting to make it a centerpiece in the house, as a reminder of all that it was. Plus, it's cool to have a painting like that of your own property."
It felt like someone smacked her in the head with a two by four, and now she could finally see clearly. Why hadn't that occurred to her before? She had been so wrapped up in her own insecurities that the most obvious reason he might want the painting never even entered her mind.
"Shit, you're right." She slumped down onto the arm of the couch. "I'm sorry. I don't know why I didn't think about that sooner. I guess I let Nicole get into my head. Why is it always easier to believe the worst possible scenario?"
"Probably because the rumor mill in this town is ridiculous and, usually, the shit they spread is negative. I'm sorry for not thinking about that at all last night. I should have known better. But, Marie, your painting was worth every penny I spent on it and every person at the auction last night knew that. Nicole knew that, which is why she was being such a bitch to you. Most people get that about her by now and won't give her words much weight, especially if they saw your piece. You're a brilliant artist. Don't let her, or my dumb ass, take that away from you."
For the first time in the long history of their acquaintance, Adam looked contrite and maybe even a little wary. And it was downright adorable. Most of her anger had faded by now, anyway, and this conversation had it dissipating entirely. She wasn't even mad about Nicole anymore, because he was right. Bitch was jealous, and that knowledge made her feel a little smug for once.
Both because she didn't want him to suffer over this anymore and because she couldn't seem to stop herself, she shoved away from the couch and into him. The movement caught him off guard for the briefest of seconds before he pulled his hands out of his pockets and wrapped his arms around her. It felt sweet and right to be here with him like this and she smiled against his neck as she said, "I'll forgive you if you forgive me."
"Oh, thank Christ," he breathed as he pulled her tighter to him. "We've never had an honest-to-God fight before, and the thought of you being mad at me for real didn't...sit well. I was afraid that you would use this shit as an excuse and then bail on me."
What?
His voice shook as he got that last bit out and, unfortunately, she knew exactly where this vulnerability came from. But she wasn't like his mom, would never just up and abandon him, and he needed to know that. She needed to make him see that.
"This was never the end of us, Adam. It was an argument. One we would talk over and get through. I just needed time to calm down so that I could talk to you with a rational mind. Instead of being so pissed off I couldn't see you or the situation straight." She pulled back to look at him and cupped his jaw in her hand. "I'm not going anywhere."
His midnight eyes danced between hers, searching her gaze as if trying to gage her sincerity and it broke her heart to see it. Tilting his head, he brought his lips to hers in a soft kiss so full of longing that tears stung the backs of her eyelids.
"Good," he said kissing her again before he smiled against her lips. "Then that means you can come with me tonight. Go get dressed, darlin'."
The swat he gave to her ass made her yelp and jump out of his arms. As she rubbed her backside, she glared at him. So much for their tender moment. "Go with you where?"
"Tyler and Mina's engagement party. They're having it at Abel's, and it starts at six, so you better get a move on." He said it all so matter-of-factly. As if she had known about it for weeks and why wasn't she ready already?
"If you wanted me to go with you so badly, then why am I only hearing about this now?"
"Honestly? Despite the way Tyler fussed about it incessantly for a few weeks, I forgot about it." His gaze traveled down her body and back up as a wicked smile curved his lips. "I've been a little distracted lately."
Pulling her sweater tighter around her body, she crossed her arms over her chest. "I don't know if me going is such a good idea. I barely know them. Do you think they'd want me there?"
He snorted. "Even if they didn't, I want you there. But yes, I know they would love it if you came. And besides," his expression turned serious as he looked at her. "Don't you think it's time you got to know them?"
The implications of his words pulled her up short and, just like that, she got launched back into that tender moment. She smiled. "Well, when you put it that way I guess yes, we should all get to know each other. I need to take a shower, so I'll be ready in about forty-five minutes."
A slow, lazy smile curved his lips as his eyes went heavy-lidded. "A shower sounds good right now."
"Uh-uh," she laughed and fended him off when he advanced on her. "If you want me to be ready in time, then I need to go this one alone. If you're so hard up for a shower, go get one in your own apartment."
"Interesting choice of words," he snickered.
Ignoring him, she grabbed the remote and threw it to him. "Otherwise, take a load off and watch some TV. Supernatural is on."
*****
Marie caught herself twisting her fingers in front of her a half-dozen times as Adam guided her through the crowded bar. Each time she became aware of it, she squeezed her fingers into fists and forced her hands to her sides. He must have seen the movement, or else he knew her well enough by now, because he took her hand in his and smiled down at her. The warmth in his eyes slowly melted her insides. He didn't say anything, but he didn't need to. Everything would be fine, and she could relax.
Not as many people packed the place in as on a typical Friday or Saturday night, but they still had to weave and wind their way through the throng of people to get to his brother. She couldn't be certain, but she had to assume that a lot of these guys were fighters from Tyler's gym. Most of them jacked and imposing looking even at ease with drinks in their hands, making her feel extraordinarily small.
"Adam!" Tyler called out once they came into view. A wide smile spread out on his handsome face as he pulled his brother into that half-hug, back pounding thing men do. After a quick glance at his watch, Tyler quirked an eyebrow at Adam. "You're actually on time. How the hell did you pull that off?"
"Hey, I'm not always late," Adam started, but the deadpan expression on Tyler's face had him continuing in a different direction. "Well, maybe this one's a good influence on me. Tyler, you remember Marie, right?"
"'Course I do. Been a while, though. How've you been?" He asked pulling her into a hug that, frankly, surprised her. It had been a while since she'd last spoken to him and even then, their conversations had only lasted a few exchanges each. He must have felt her shock because he chuckled. "I'm the happiest motherfucker in the world right now so, everyone gets a hug. Deal with it."
She laughed as he released her. "There's absolutely nothing wrong with that. In fact, congratulations."
"Thank you," he said, an adorable impish smile curving his lips. "You haven't met Mina yet, have you? Tell you what, go over to the bar and get a drink and I'll find her and introduce you."
"Excellent idea," Adam said, once again taking her hand in his. "Mina's a sweet girl, you'll like her."
"What's not to like?" Tyler shot them a wink before disappearing into the crowd to find his bride-to-be.
"He's kind of a big teddy bear, isn't he?" Marie said as they made their way over to the bar.
Adam snorted. "Yeah, nowadays he really is. Only when it comes to Mina, though, and right now, everything for him is about her."
What must that be like? To have a man so enamored with you that you became the center of his world. That the mere thought of getting to spend the rest of his life with you makes him the happiest man on the planet.
Maybe I'll get to find out, she thought as she watched Adam hop behind the bar to make her favorite drink, a Dirty Shirley, before grabbing a beer for himself. Sliding the glass to
her across the bar, he leaned on it opposite her. All of this done without a word spoken between them.
"You must be awesome at your job," she said taking a sip of her perfectly mixed cocktail.
He took a pull from his bottle, licking his lips as he set it back down on the counter. "Why's that?"
"Because, in all the time we've known each other, we've only ever been out to a bar together once and you remember my drink. So, I guess it comes with the territory of being a skilled bartender."
"Or," he took her hand from where it rested next to her glass and laced their fingers together. "Maybe I'm hyperaware of everything that involves you."
Her heart fluttered in her chest and she couldn't keep the slow smile from curving her lips.
"Don't believe a word he says. This man could charm the skin off a snake."
The feminine voice came from behind her and Marie spun around on her stool to face the woman to whom it belonged. Curvaceous, with chin-length dark hair, she stood with an arm draped over the back of the stool beside Marie and a wide smile directed at Adam. The woman was beautiful, and an instant, unwelcome spike of jealousy shot through her. At least until Adam's twin, Ben, moved in behind her and wrapped an arm around her waist.
"Awe, Emma, don't give him a hard time. You know he's special." Ben kissed her cheek. "Besides, if Marie doesn't already know what kind of player Adam is by now, she hasn't been paying attention."
"Holy shit, I haven't seen you two in months. We're finally back in the same room for all of five minutes and you come out swinging." Adam laughed as he moved around the bar to first pull his twin into a hug and then Emma. "When did you get into town?"
"A few minutes ago," Emma said. "Just in time to make the party."
Adam smiled. "Well, even though you both like to bust my balls, I'm glad you're here. Emma, I'd like you to meet my girlfriend, Marie."
Emma's green eyes lit up. "Girlfriend?"
