Chapter 23
Amelia
I sink into the black leather chair beside Violet as we both get our hair done after going thrift shopping together. The salon is busy with blow dryers humming, scissors snipping, and stylists chatting with clients as they work on their hair, and in my case, my entire mood.
This is our time to relax and catch up, free from work stress. At the office, we’re all business, but here? This is where the real gossip flows, and where secrets leak fast. And the bonus is that we always walk away with fresh material for an article and our own personal tea.
Violet flicks through a magazine, not really reading it, and turns to me. “Did you see the new person who came into town last night?”
I shake my head, knowing I was too busy being distracted by Adrian. “No. Who is it?”
She glances around before leaning close to me, whispering, “Well, she’s already gone, but the rumor mill says it was Adrian’s ex. Crazy stuff, though definitely not true. But you know how people talk.”
My stomach tightens just a little, not with jealousy, but with curiosity.
We haven’t talked about exes, and honestly, what Adrian and I have is supposed to be private.
No drama, no baggage, just something fun and easy.
Something secret. But those flowers yesterday…
the way he looked at me that night at his place…
I think about how the whole family reacted to the bouquet. Mom got teary-eyed, and Hazel just gave me this knowing look that made my cheeks burn. The card said it was for the whole family, but I knew better.
But I can’t help the way my mind reels. What if it really was his ex? What if she came back for him? I hate the thought of him having unfinished business with someone else, but I do hope it’s nothing because I’m starting to care more than I should.
Still, if I really want to know, I can just ask him. And I do.
I pull out my phone and send him a quick text.
Me: Hey, rumor has it, your ex-girlfriend was in town last night.
Adrian: That would be interesting, considering I haven’t had an ex in years. If she was here, it wasn’t for me. Gotta love town gossip.
I relax, but it isn’t lost on me that I cared way more about his answer than I should’ve.
I show Violet the message, and she snorts. “Told you it wasn’t her.” Then her eyes narrow. “Wait. You texted him?”
I shake off the uneasy feeling as I lie to my best friend. “Why not? I already have his number from the festival, and if it was her, I’d want to write about it.”
The lie tastes bitter, but that answer seems to satisfy her, as I’m biting my tongue, holding back the real reason I texted him.
Because the truth is, if I tell Violet, I’ll tell my family, and if I tell my family, it’s no longer just a secret.
And once it’s out there, it becomes real in a way that feels too big, too fast. Right now, it’s just ours.
But there’s one thing I do want to share.
“But I did find out,” I say casually. “He helped Hazel out yesterday.”
Violet raises an eyebrow. “Oh?”
I nod. “Leila’s been raving about how handsome he was, how polite, how he spent a ridiculous amount of money on a bouquet for our family.”
Violet grins. “What a lucky family.”
“Right? Hazel came home with these flowers that looked like something out of a wedding catalogue. Huge, every color imaginable. Definitely expensive.”
Violet adjusts a foil on her head. “So, what’s Hazel’s project again?”
I glance up at the giant wall mirror in front of us, catching the reflection of other clients getting their hair done. “Her new semester project is all about volunteering, so she organized a program to help residents at the retirement village with yard work or groceries.”
“And Adrian just happened to help out?”
“He ran into her after visiting the florist and decided to give her a hand.” I smile. “She said he was really good—actually worked hard. But she also said old Mr. Gideon gave him a hell of a time.”
Violet’s eyes spark with interest. “Oh? What happened?”
I chuckle. “Apparently, Mr. Gideon was being his usual self, giving Adrian grief at first, then cracking jokes and somehow roping him into giving him dating advice.”
Violet gasps, her face lighting up. “No way! How old is this guy? Eighty? And he’s out here looking for love?”
“Yup.” I shake my head, laughing. “And he thinks he’s got a shot with the cashier, Dores.”
Violet practically howls. “I love that. What a king.”
“Right? Super cute.”
She nods. “Hey, love is love, no matter the age.”
I nod, but before I can say anything else, our stylist, Mia, walks over and checks one of my foils. I can only afford the front pieces framing my face, but it’s enough to brighten it up again. It’s been at least eight months since I was last here.
Mia sighs dramatically. “Ugh, I hope I find love soon. Bit of a drought over here. Last interesting guy to come into town was Adrian, and, well…” She waves a hand. “Not exactly my type.”
“No?”
She shakes her head. “Too nice. Too quiet. I think I have a thing for bad boys.”
I smile. “Don’t we all?”
Violet eyes me playfully. “I wouldn’t call your taste a bad boy.”
I shrug. Thankfully, she’s thinking about my past boyfriends and not Adrian. “No, I guess not.”
“But…” She grins. “We work in news, and you do love a good story.”
The timer dings, and Mia claps her hands together. “Alright, Amelia, it’s time to wash these foils out.”
As I make my way to the sink, I can’t help but think maybe Violet’s right. Maybe I do love a good story.
And Adrian? He’s definitely becoming one.
The toner sits in my hair, the chemical scent strong, but we’re almost done, so our conversation slows now partly because the stylists are cutting our hair, and partly because the roar of blow dryers drowns out any chance of talking.
I close my eyes, letting the warm air blow over me, my head tilting slightly as my stylist works. Thoughts drift to Adrian, wondering when I’ll see him again. Maybe tonight? My stomach flutters with anticipation. I’m picturing his eyes on me, like nobody else exists.
“You know,” Mia, my stylist, says conversationally, “I was thinking Adrian would be a great match for my sister.”
My stomach twists so violently I feel like I might be sick.
Oh.
I swallow, forcing a neutral smile. “Oh, yeah?” I keep my voice light, casual, and unaffected, but my insides are anything but.
I want to say no. I want to say he’s already mine.
But is he?
We never laid out rules. Never said if we were seeing other people. But Adrian doesn’t seem like that kind of guy. Still, the thought of someone else trying to set him up burns in a way I didn’t expect.
“She’s really sweet.” Mia continues, oblivious to my internal panic. “Works at the bank, loves working out. I think they’d be perfect together.”
“Mm-hmmm,” I mumble through a clenched jaw.
I try to ignore the uneasy feeling, but it’s still there, hanging on so much that before I can talk myself out of it, I grab my phone and type out a message while Mia isn’t behind me.
Me: So, the hairdresser wants to set you up with her sister.
I swear, sometimes, he’s just waiting for me to text him, especially with how quickly he responds.
Adrian: Well, I’m not interested in anyone else. Only you.
A warm rush of relief and satisfaction spreads across my face in the form of a smile.
“Okay, what was that?” Violet’s loud voice cuts in, making me jump. “Why are you grinning like that? Who’s texting you?”
Shit.
I flip my phone face down on my lap. “It’s just Hazel.” I hate how easily it’s becoming to deceive my best friend. “Filling me in on more about her and Adrian at the retirement village.”
Violet’s eyes narrow. “Oh? Did something else funny happen?”
The way she zeroes in on me makes my heart race. I’m dodging way too many questions, spinning way too many lies.
“Yeah, I’ll tell you later,” I say quickly as the blow dryer roars to life again.
Thank God. I don’t have to say anything else.
I step out of the salon, feeling good, loving my fresh blonde highlights.
Violet got sucked into some keratin treatment for her flyaways, but I’d budgeted for this appointment and nothing more. No extras. No indulgences. Just the basics.
I start heading toward my car when suddenly—a hand catches mine.
I gasp, my pulse spiking, but then I see him.
Adrian.
His blue eyes meet mine, filled with hunger. His short dark hair is a little messy, like he’s just run his hand through it, and there’s a tiny bit of stubble along his upper lip and chin, giving him a rough edge. He stands casually, like he’s been waiting for me.
I don’t bother asking how he found me. He knew I was here.
Before I can say anything, he tugs me into the alley. The space is narrow, dimly lit; the brick wall cool against my back as his body covers mine, hiding me from anyone who might pass by.
“I couldn’t wait another minute to see you,” he rasps.
My heart hammers. “Thank God,” I breathe, before his lips crash into mine.
I inhale him, his scent deep with velvety cocoa. It’s intoxicating as his hands press against my waist, pulling me flush against his hard body.
God, I want him.
Right here. Right now.
I’ve never done this, never had sex in a public place, but the way he’s kissing me… the way my body melts into his, the way he grips my hips like he’s seconds from losing control… I’d do anything.
“Do you have your car here?” I ask.
“Yeah.” His lips brush against my jaw.
“Why?”
“I want you.”
Adrian pulls back just slightly, his blue eyes flickering with something dangerous. His hand cups my face, his thumb dragging over my lower lip.
“You make it hard to say no when you say things like that.”
I arch into him, a silent beg. “Then don’t.”
His hands tighten on me before forcing himself to step back.
“We shouldn’t,” he says, but his voice is strained, like he’s fighting himself. His reaction to my text, the way he said he’s not interested in anyone else, has given me a boldness I didn’t have before.
“But you want to, don’t you?” I challenge.