8. Adam
Adam
I couldn't wipe the giddy grin off my face as I eagerly approached Eliza's door with my arms full of grocery bags.
Obviously, I was still more than ecstatic about Eliza agreeing a few days ago.
The little bargain I made, not me showing up at her place unannounced to make her breakfast. She had no idea about me coming over right now because I knew if I had asked her, then the answer would have been a fat no.
So, I took it upon myself to be the best temporary boyfriend ever and surprise her.
Getting into her place was easy—I had a key.
Was the key given to me by her? Fuck no it wasn't, and technically it was kind of legally—and possibly morally—wrong, but I'd make up for it with a breakfast so good that she wouldn't even dwell on the fact I cloned a key after breaking into her place the other night.
Well, did it count as breaking in if I walked in because the door was open? I mean, the door might have been open because I had the locks replaced, and I just happened to go by while it happened.
But who cared about the finite details?
After casually entering her place, I made myself at home in the kitchen, mindful to keep the noise to a minimum so as not to wake her.
Surprisingly, I managed to go two hours unnoticed, and I probably could've gone longer if Asher hadn't woken up. The happy little guy screeched with glee the moment his tired eyes landed on me, startling his mother awake.
"Asher, wha—" Eliza's half-closed eyes shot wide open the moment she followed Asher's gaze to me. "Oh my God, what the fuck! Adam! What are you—" Gripping her hair in a panic, she held Asher tightly as she hyperventilated. "What are you doing in my place!? How did you get in!?"
Alright, well, how the hell am I going to go about this?
Without making the situation worse.
After a split-second debate, I answered her nonchalantly, "Spare key, but also your lock is broken.
" Then, keeping a very cool demeanor, I held up a jug of juice in each hand.
"Orange juice or fruit tea today? Also, I hope you don't mind mixed cheese in your omelet today.
They were all out of the melty one." No, they weren't out; I didn't buy it because that shit wasn't exactly healthy.
Utterly stunned and confused, Eliza sat there staring and blinking at me as if I were some psycho stalker who broke into her place.
"Do you need a moment to bask in the sun and bloom first, little rose?
" I teased with a chuckle while setting the jugs of juice down on the dining table.
"I can take Asher for a little bit so you can go freshen up a little to wake up," I offered with a kind and warm smile.
Shaking her head vigorously as if to clear it, she stared at me again with bewildered eyes for another good minute before swinging her legs over the edge of the bed and remaining perched there. "Adam, this is not—"
No way she was finishing that sentence, not if I could help it.
"Oh! Shit! Hold that thought!" I rushed over to the stove, turned it off, and pulled the pan off.
"Didn't want your omelet to dry out or burn.
It'd ruin the taste of the mushrooms and cheese," I fibbed with a rather exaggerated smile as I plopped the steaming egg dish onto a plate.
Her lips peeled back in a wary frown as she looked at me very dubiously.
"Did you actually make that, or did you buy it from somewhere and put it on a pan and pretend to make it?
" Slowly, very slowly, she got up to her feet and took a few tentative steps toward me.
"I should really call the cops on you right now for inva—"
She could call me a prick later, but I needed to shut her up.
Shy of planting my lips on hers to get a taste, I settled for the second-best option: shoving a forkful of food into her open mouth mid-sentence.
"Don't spit. Otherwise, it'd be a waste.
" Okay, I was just being a cheeky asshole with that comment.
Blushing madly, Eliza groaned and stomped her foot, glaring at me slightly as she chewed the mouthful. Her scrunched-up face slowly softened the more she savored the food. My victory didn't last long because she turned her head away in a pout when she noticed my winning grin.
After swallowing, she glanced at me out of the corner of her glaring eyes. "J-just because you can make good food doesn't give you the right to break into my home," she remarked weakly in a wavering voice.
I settled for an amused chuckle when my laughter became hard to hold back. She was too adorable being all stubborn, and I wanted nothing more than to poke at her to rile her up more.
Quickly, I set the pan back on the stove before going up to her with my hands held out. "Here, I'll take care of the lil' dude while you eat." Nothing but warm assurance and kindness filled my smile as I urged her with my hands. "You'll be able to see both of us the whole time."
Her lips pressed together into a thin line, twisted into a frown for a second, them went flat again.
She seemed conflicted as she started to pass me Asher.
He giggled and reached for me, but before I could take him, she jerked him back into her body.
A moment passed as her eyes traveled around the room, searching for anything else that might be amiss, before coming back to the kitchen.
Her nose twitched as she inhaled the delicious sent of the omelet, and she gave an irritated sigh as she caved and gave me the toddler.
With a deadpan expression, she crossed her arms and glared at me sternly. "No funny business or I will kill you." That was one threat I'd be taking seriously.
Never mess with a mother, especially when it comes to her children. As harmless as she seemed, I had no doubt about her removing me from the land of the living with ease if I were to harm a hair on Asher's head—not that I ever would.
Eliza's wary eyes constantly bounced between me and her food as she dug in after she sat down.
I didn't take any offense to it; at the end of the day, I was still mostly a stranger to her.
All I could do was take careful steps around her and work my way into her life until I had her heart in my grasp.
While she ate, I took the liberty to change Asher's diaper and clothes before I settled him in his highchair, scooting it close to Eliza.
Once the little guy was comfortable, I went back over to the kitchen and opened the fridge.
"Some fluffy scrambled eggs with some cheese and fruits sound okay for him to have?
" I asked, craning my neck back to look at her with a raised brow.
Her lips twisted in a struggle as if she wanted to say something but held it back.
The slight frown on her face gave her discomfort away so easily, and I couldn't help but furrow my own eyebrows in concern as I tried to read her deeper.
What was she bothered about? Me making food for Asher?
I mean, it was a silly thing to be upset over, but maybe I stepped on her toes a bit by snatching her motherly duties out of her hands.
Turning my body around, I closed the fridge and softly frowned, "Eliza? What's bothering you?" I kept my voice soft and tried my best not to sound accusatory or irked at her. "This is your home, so please, don't hold back whatever is on your mind."
Setting her fork down with a sigh, I watched her look at me with somewhat apologetic eyes. "It's not that I'm ungrateful for this, as weird as it is, but I just…" Her face twisted as she stammered and struggled to find the right words.
Closing her mouth, she cleared her throat before speaking again, "You don't have to do all of this.
You really don't have to put so much energy and effort into this.
I don't want you to get upset if, for some reason, things don't work out.
" Her voice slowly trailed off, until she mumbled to herself.
Toning down my eagerness, I relaxed my shoulders and approached her side, then knelt down. Naturally, my lips spread into a reassuring smile as I looked up at her. I only broke my gaze with her nervous eyes for a split second to take her hands in mine and comfort her.
" Mia rosa , if you reject me twenty-seven days from now, then I will take that defeat with pride and be forever grateful for the time you chose to give me.
" I sweetened her with assuring words while stroking her hands.
"A deal's a deal, and I'm no sore loser," I told her, confident she wouldn’t end this between us.
"You should never feel like you owe it to anyone, not even me, for their efforts put toward courting you.
When we put ourselves into the dating ring, then we always have to be prepared for either outcome. "
It was unfortunate, but that's how the game worked.
Not every race would be a victory, something I've accepted with every aspect of my life.
Well, until now. Even if I was buttering Eliza up with my words, I didn't fully mean them.
I would have her no matter what; it was up to her whether it would be easy or hard.
"If someone chooses to chase after you, then that's on them." Steeling my eyes, I gave her a stern gaze. "And don't you ever let anyone make you feel guilty about it. You don't ever let them gaslight you into giving your time and energy in return just because they put out."
Cracking a smile, Eliza briefly took her hand from me to reach out and gingerly stroke my hair. "You're not a shrink, are you?" she asked half-jokingly with a nervous chuckle.
Chuckling along with her, I shook my head in response. "No, but I did think about it in college." Honestly, I did, but I found it a little boring and tedious to listen to other people's problems all day.
Her cheerful sounds died out to a face full of curiosity. "What do you do then? For work, I mean."