Chapter 11
I’m gonna take you on a date. A real date. Not like when we were sixteen and I took you to dinner at Denny’s because it was the nicest meal I could afford and the only place in town that served food late enough that we could go after soccer practice.
Those were Adam’s parting words after our kiss. Then he left me to finish my work for the day.
Work that, no matter how hard I tried, I could not get my stupid one-track mind to focus on.
Could it be possible after all this time that Adam and I would find our way back to each other? That despite all odds and a history that seemed we weren’t meant for each other, that we would in fact, fall back in love?
Hell, had I ever even fallen out of love with him? I didn’t think so.
On one hand, we were so young when we met and fell for each other. But on the other, we didn’t break up because either of us had fallen out of love.
It was a massive misunderstanding.
A misunderstanding that set us on different paths.
And if I was being truly honest? I couldn’t be sorry for any of that. It was why I found my passion. Why I’d been brave enough to leave Maple Grove and explore other countries. It pushed me to try harder, be more, and get a better education than I probably ever would have gotten anywhere else.
That awful night I’d overheard his conversation with this dad was not only the most painful point of our relationship, but it was also the best thing that could have ever happened to me. Without that push, I had no doubt that I probably would have just followed Adam around aimlessly. Sure, I most likely would have gotten an education somewhere. A community college or maybe even a state school.
But I would have been going through the motions. Getting a degree just for the sake of doing something.
In my own twisted way, I was grateful for that awful conversation I’d overheard.
Grateful for the push it gave me.
Grateful that all these years later, I could prove them wrong.
And even more grateful for the fact that the education I ended up getting was what brought me right back here where it all started… in Adam’s arms.
After finishing up at the library, I left my books to dry and set back home to feed Jules and get ready for our date.
Adam hadn’t told me anything about it other than to dress nicely… but not too nice because it was after all New Hampshire and not London. His words, not mine.
Which was good because I think he had a much more posh idea of what my life in London was like than was true. The nicest outfit I owned was right here hanging in my bathroom as I took a shower because I was hoping the steam would erase the wrinkles from being packed in a bag for the duration of a seven hour flight.
I finished in the shower, blow-dried my hair, and swiped on a little makeup before pulling the gray and black leather dress over my head.
I turned around in the mirror, pretty happy with what I saw. It was cute, funky, playful… and not too fancy.
Just like me.
At six-thirty sharp, there was a light knock at my door. I opened it to find Adam standing there, hair still shower-damp, but looking like he stepped right out of GQ’s college edition.
Did GQ have a college edition where they featured eligible professor bachelors? If they didn’t, then they should. Because Adam looked downright sexy in his crisp blue shirt, camel colored blazer, and jeans.
My eyes fell to his sleeves and I audibly gasped at the sight of leather elbow patches. “Just for you,” he winked. “I know you have a thing for elbow patches.”
I did. I really did. Especially on Adam. My heart gave a tender jab against my ribs at the fact that he knew me so well.
Seeing him standing there, so perfectly handsome and put together reminded me of how unfair the world was. I’d just spent over an hour getting ready for this date, whereas Adam probably rolled out of the shower ten minutes ago and looked like a damn professional model.
“Uh… are you okay?” Adam asked.
A good thirty seconds passed of me just standing there staring at Adam. It was a wonder that I managed to keep myself from drooling.
I tore my eyes away from him and busied myself with grabbing my purse, jamming my wallet, keys, lip gloss, and phone into the bag. “Yep,” I said.
His breath skimmed across my neck, gooseflesh lifting along my skin as he whispered, “You sure you don’t want to take a picture? It’ll last longer.”
When I dared a glance back at him, his dimple appeared as a knowing grin curved on his mouth.
“Good idea.” Looking up from my purse, phone still in hand, I called his bluff and snapped a quick picture of him standing there grinning.
His cocky grin morphed into one of shock and I arched my brow, challenging him to argue with me.
“I can’t believe you just did that,” he said with a shake of his head.
“You told me to. I’m nothing if not obedient.”
He snorted at that comment. “Obedient? You?”
“Don’t worry,” I said, exaggerating my calming tone. “I won’t post it anywhere online. It’s simply going into my personal spank bank.”
With a snort, he shook his head. “You’re insane.”
It wasn’t the first time I’d been affectionately called crazy. Hell, it wasn’t even the first time I was called that by Adam. Even still, it made me pause. “I was never insane except upon occasions that my heart was touched.”
Adam blinked slowly, holding my gaze for a long, slow breath. “Edgar Allen Poe,” he said.
I gave a nod. “That’s right. And I think it’s clear… I’ve been looking for love in Alderaan places.”
“Me too,” Adam said, opening my front door and holding it for me. “That’s why I now fly …Solo.” He grinned at his own pun which I had to admit, was pretty quick on his feet. Not as good as my Alderaan pun, but still.
“Solo, huh? So then, should I just order some takeout tonight?—?”
He snaked his arm around my waist pulling me flush to his body. “Don’t you dare. Tonight, you’re mine.”
“So you were Solo… but tonight you’re Skywalker?”
He shook his head slowly. “There’s no way I’m Skywalker.”
“Why’s that?”
“Because,” he said, whispering. “Han got the girl.”
He didn’t wait for me to respond before he kissed me, his tongue parting the seam of my lips. With a moan, I opened for him and he dove in, devouring my kiss like I was the appetizer to tonight’s dinner.
Breathless and panting, we parted from the kiss. Every area of my body ached for more of Adam. More of his mouth, his touch… his heart.
“Then again,” he said, “maybe tonight would be better served with takeout and a movie in?”
I shook my head, pushing him gently to arm’s length. “No way I spent forty minutes doing my makeup just to sit on a couch of cat fur, eating pad thai. There’s plenty of time left for those dates later.”
His eyes flashed. “I like the sound of that.”
I ran back over my words, trying to figure out what he meant. “The sound of Pad thai?”
“The sound of you planning future dates for us.”
I wasn’t sure what the future held for Adam and me. I didn’t know where my next job would take me or if I’d be happy staying in New England. But I knew I was happy right now. I knew I wanted more time with Adam. As much time as was possible.
If I wasn’t careful, I’d plan a whole future for us in the blink of an eye.
My entire adult life I was taught that was bad. That men hated that. That they preferred casual relationships and you had to wait three days between dates to text them.
But based on Adam’s expression right now? It was obvious that he was anything but typical.
And it was almost as scary as it was exciting.
Almost.