Chapter 9
NINE
As the night carried on, one thing became painfully clear: I was absolute garbage at poker. Not only did my face give me away every time, but I could barely keep track of the cards, much less the different runs and ways to win. Only three hands in, and my pile of chips was running precariously low, earning sympathetic gazes from my fellow players.
If I had known I was walking into a room full of sharks, I might have taken Alex up on her offer to stay in with her and her friends. But considering I was here to spend time with Cole, it felt like a betrayal to refuse his invitation.
And now, I felt like I was in the middle of an inside joke. You know, the one where a movie star and world-class athlete walk into a bar? I stared across the table and met the eye of Grayson Anders, also known as one of the greatest pitchers to ever grace the MLB. I couldn’t believe no one thought to mention he was Curt’s son. That would have probably saved me a lot of embarrassment when I first made the connection. I was tempted to snap a picture and send it to Cam. Gray’s poster had been on his wall since he even decided to play baseball. He’d probably have a stroke if he knew I was sitting here now.
Adam leaned over, whispering in my ear, “You’re doing it again.”
I shook my head, breaking my stare down across the table. “Sorry,” I said, rubbing my hand down my thighs. “I’m not used to seeing famous people just hanging out.”
“I don’t count?” Adam smirked. “I’m hurt, Campbell.”
“I’ve known you almost all of my life,” I chuckled. “Sorry, I don’t think of you like that. You’ll always just be Adam to me.”
“Don’t be sorry. It’s one of the things I like most about you.”
As Adam turned back to his cards, I had to bite the inside of my cheek to keep from blushing. It was like my insides rioted every time he looked my way, which was starting to become a habit of his. And while Cole’s constant check-ins made me feel like I was still a child, Adam was a very different story. I liked having his eyes on me, especially when they studied my body when he thought I wouldn’t notice. But I’d have to be dead not to feel the heat of his gaze on my skin.
“You should fold,” Adam whispered, leaning in so only I could hear him. “Theo’s got a good hand.”
I glanced at the man, noting his ever-present frown still in place. “How can you tell?”
“He fidgets with his wedding ring when he’s feeling confident.”
I smiled at Theo as he sat across from me, watching him twirl the silver band three times. It was a subtle movement, but it was there. I couldn’t believe Adam even noticed.
“I fold,” I said as it reached my bet, tossing the cards back toward Curt .
We watched as the rest of the hand played on, leaving Gray and Theo battling it out until the end. As Theo flipped his cards, Gray cursed, dropping his own back on the pile. “This is bullshit. I swear, the man has no tells.”
Adam turned and winked at me. A lightning bolt struck my core, almost making me bite my lip. I would never admit this to her, but maybe Hadley was right. This little crush was probably just because I’d been single for so long. Blowing off some steam was definitely in order if a wink could knock me off my axis.
“As my loving wife would say, it’s because I am part robot.”
“Only part?” Javi chuckled.
Theo smiled. “She claims she had a new heart installed with the wedding ring. Makes me more friendly and open to people.”
As the rest of the table teased Theo endlessly, I couldn’t help but smile. I loved that he was a softie—a lot like my brother in that way. They were both gone for their partners, and everyone at the table had no problem calling them out on it.
“Don’t be jealous, Gray,” Theo chuckled. “One day, one of those girls you sneak around with will steal your heart, and you’ll be just as fucked as the rest of us.”
“Gray’s already got one,” Curt said, smiling to himself as he shuffled the cards. “The best thing that’s ever happened to him.”
“You do?” Cole asked. “You’ve been holding out on us?”
“No,” Gray said, leaning back in his chair.
“Are you lying to them about that girl of yours?” Curt shook his head. “You need to tell her how you feel. It’s time, kid. She’s gonna go to prom with someone else if you don’t own up to it soon, and we both know you don’t want that. ”
“Enough,” Gray snapped, all our eyes on the pair. He looked at the rest of us, silently daring us to ask about what the man just said. But while the rest of the guys seemed to be stuck on the girl, I was held up by Curt’s mention of the prom, as if it was coming up instead of years earlier.
“Sorry, Pops,” Gray whispered, placing his hand on his father’s arm. “Just don’t like to talk about that.” He took the cards, placing them back in the assigned box. “Cole, if you don’t mind, we’re gonna head out. Got a busy day tomorrow.”
“Yeah, of course, man.” Cole stood to go with them. “I’ll lock up for you.”
As they moved to the front of the bar, everyone else shifted in their seats, not sure how to process what had just happened. Theo eventually excused himself to use the bathroom, and Javi stood up as well.
“I’ve got to check in at home,” Javi said, checking his phone. “Drew’s having a meltdown because our home study is coming up soon. When I left, he was convinced we needed to secure all the furniture and tape off any sharp edges.”
“How’s everything going with that?” Adam asked, standing to join him. “Any word about when you’ll get to start fostering?”
“You’re a foster parent?” I asked.
“Not yet,” Javi chuckled. “But hopefully in the next month or so. We’re finishing up our certification course, and Drew wants us to take a few more workshops to make sure we’re prepared, but our case worker says everything looks good. Once she signs off on our home visit, we’re one giant step closer.”
“That’s amazing,” I said quietly. Even though we’d just met, I could tell any child would be lucky to be in Javi’s care. The man was incredibly warm and welcoming. He made me feel like I belonged without even trying.
Adam and Javi continued their conversation as they walked toward the exit, Cole and Gray talking outside. When Theo returned, he instantly pulled his phone out of his pocket, texting a million a minute. With no one to talk to, I decided to explore the bar, starting with the line of pictures that caught my eye when we arrived.
At least fifty photographs were posted in small, black plastic frames, all with varying signs of aging. The ones in the middle were of Marta and Curt, both holding up a small boy I could only assume was Gray. They stood in front of the restaurant, beaming at the camera. The same photo was taken over the years, Gray standing on his own in the later ones.
Dozens of smiling faces were on the wall, all patrons who had found a place at the Lost Tavern. At the very end were Cole, Alex, and a bunch of other people standing around the front of Fox Creek, holding up a sold sign. While the rest of the crowd were looking at the camera, Cole was staring at Alex, only having eyes for her.
“That was a good day.”
Adam’s voice broke me out of my trance. I held my hand to my heart as I turned to him, trying to hide my embarrassment. “You’re making that a nasty habit.”
“Sorry, Tor, thought you heard me coming.” He leaned in to look closer at the image. “That was the day Cole told Alex about the lodge. She’d gotten screwed over in a business deal, and he rallied all of us to help her out.”
“What do you mean?”
“A bunch of us invested in the property—well, invested in Alex’s dream, really. When Cole asked, it was an easy choice. Besides, they would have done the same for us. ”
A knot formed in the bottom of my throat, the dueling emotions making it hard to feel the world around me. The theme of this week was going to be conflicted sentiments—mostly surrounding my brother and his new home. I wanted nothing more than to be wholly happy for him. He’d clearly found his place in the world and friends who had become more like family. But he had a family, one he’d left behind as soon as he passed the Texas state line. Did he not think we’d support him? That we wouldn’t want to be a part of his new world?
Or were we no longer needed?
Adam turned, his smile falling slightly as he looked at me. “What’s going through that pretty head of yours?”
“Nothing,” I said, shaking away the lingering doubts. “I’m fine.”
“Yeah…” He sighed. “Don’t believe that for one second. We’ve already established you have a terrible poker face, trouble.” He leaned in, turning so we were standing side by side, facing where Cole and Gray were locked in conversation. “I know it’s hard not to feel resentful, but remember what we talked about.”
“I’m trying,” I admitted. “I’m trying so hard to forget everything and start fresh. But I just…” I sighed, rubbing my hand over my eyes. “I can’t help it. I hate that he’s missed so much. And as horrible as it sounds, it was easier when I knew he was a mess, when I knew the reason he wasn’t coming home was because he was struggling. But seeing him so happy, so put together? It rips at me a little, knowing he’s rebuilt his whole life, and I barely have a part of it.”
“Tor…” Adam sighed. “He’s tried to get in contact with you before?—”
“I know,” I snapped, trying not to let my defenses rise. “I know I should have reached out sooner, that I should have let him visit. It’s my fault we’re not as close as we once were.”
“I never said that,” Adam said, taking my hand and pulling me into a corner. “What I was going to say is that there was a reason you needed time, that you waited until this moment to let Cole back into your life.” He reached out, brushing a piece of hair behind my ear. “I know how easy it is to let those dark thoughts win, to believe the worst in the world. But there’s a lot to be thankful for, and right now, I’m pretty damn thankful you decided to come up here.”
“For Cole?” I said, slightly breathless at his proximity. From here, it was too easy to study the depth of his blue eyes, to memorize the vibrant lines and hues. What would happen if I shifted slightly? Would he kiss me, let me feel the weight of his lips against mine? I wanted nothing more than to find out, even though, logically, I knew it would be a disaster. But it seemed like every time I reminded myself of that fact, a louder voice rang out, daring me to try something new, to jump without worrying and weighing the consequences.
“For a lot of reasons.”
Adam’s thumb brushed my cheek, and a flush filled my skin. His gaze darted down to my lips, and for a brief moment, I let myself imagine he wanted me too. My mouth fell open, daring him to kiss me before common sense broke us apart, but it was useless. As quick as his touch had been, it left, leaving me feeling hollow and a little foolish.