Chapter 8
eight
Adelaide
The next day - late morning
My phone flashes with Delaney’s smiling face.
It’s a close-up of her at Disneyland with Minnie Mouse ears and a grin a mile wide.
I’m beat from the late nights this week.
I tossed and turned a bit after Denver and I said goodnight.
Thinking back to what I did in front of those girls still gives me an enormous sense of satisfaction—petty perhaps, but deserved.
I’m used to the fat shaming comments from time to time.
Let’s face it, people are dickwads everywhere, but it’s so nineteen-ninety.
I know it’s because Hannah is Denver’s ex, and they were looking for any excuse to be mean, but it sure as shit made me feel better to do what I did in front of them.
I wasn’t shocked at the time of kissing him, I was too wrapped up in him to waste a moment thinking, What the heck are you doing, girl?
But now I’m equally horrified, as I am shellshocked, that I did that.
What’s more? He reciprocated. Denver’s kiss was sizzling.
And I mean hot. There was more depth and soul in that fake kiss than I’ve ever felt with anyone, and I was with Cam for two years.
He never kissed me like that nor held my face in his hands with such tenderness.
Maybe it’s the way Denver is so big and towers over me. His bulkiness is sexy as sin, and it feels protective and secure. I know he’d never do anything to hurt me. He’s not a douche like Cam, nor is he anything but sincere.
“Morning,” I manage to croak, pushing my eye mask all the way up on top of my head. I’ve been laying here a while wondering if the coffee is going to make itself. If I had a million bucks, I’d hire a butler just to make my morning coffee.
“You sound terrible,” Del says right off the bat.
I clear my throat and sit up a little, resting on my soft, cushy pillows. “Late night,” I say. “The bar was rocking last night, and I kinda lost my voice from shouting over the music.”
“You’re working a lot there, Adi. Are you sure you don’t just want to ease into Chicago life?”
I laugh lightly. She worries about me. “You probably have a point. But you know me, plus, I need the money.”
“Yes,” she says. “I definitely do. That’s why I’m checking in on you.”
It’s sweet of her to check on me. We have a weekly phone call and text every day. We met years ago when we were both at Harvard. I obtained a master in design studies, which later led to me specializing in interior design through work experience and building my portfolio.
Delaney completed an art degree; she’s a brilliant photographer and equally amazing at painting, sketching, and sculpting. Currently she makes a living from pet portraits and does some painting and drawing on the side.
“I’m fine. I had an interesting night last night, to say the least.”
“Do tell. Is it juicy? Please say it’s juicy!”
I take a breath, because I think I’m going to need one to explain the events of last night. I have also befriended one of the girls at work, Ellie, but I can’t exactly pour my heart out to a complete stranger. But last night? There’s a lot to unpack there.
That fake kiss sure felt pretty real to me.
“Well, Denver was at the bar last night.” Of course she knows who he is.
I’ve spoken of him over the years, and also about what happened when I was a kid with the fire.
She also knows he’s been walking me home, thanks to Daryl’s efforts at keeping me safe, or whatever his delightful excuse is to have Denver watch over me—not that I’m complaining.
My brother, for once, actually got it right.
And I don’t mind Denver keeping me safe, or whatever it is he insists on doing.
He can keep that up until his heart’s content.
“He was at the bar again?”
“Yes, it’s his go-to spot with a couple of his buddies.”
“And?” she presses, poised excitement in her tone.
“Well, there was some ex drama that was unexpected. To cut a long story short, he told her I was his girlfriend to get rid of her.”
Delaney squeals, and I have to hold the phone away from my ear. “O.M.G. Tell me everything, from the beginning.”
So that’s what I do. I spend the next fifteen minutes giving her a rundown of what transpired during the course of the evening, from seeing his ex walk up behind him in the queue and grab a hold, to her friend calling me fat. Then there’s the kiss, the glances, and everything else in between.
I sit back into the pillows and close my eyes.
“Holy smacking doolies, Adi.”
“But it was all a ruse,” I insist. “No matter how good it was.”
“Are you sure about that?”
“Denver isn’t into me like that. He only agreed to walk me home because Daryl insisted he look after me or else.”
Delaney erupts in a fit of giggles. “Or else?”
“Daryl can be quite insistent when he wants to be, plus, he trusts D.”
“Let’s not get off track here. I need to know everything there is to know about Denver Banks and those succulent lips you keep telling me about.”
“We’re not a thing, Del. It was just to ward off his ex, remember?”
“Again, I ask, are you sure about that? I mean, have you actually thought about asking him out?”
I snort. “Uh, no! Are you insane?”
I mean, sure, sparks flew last night, but it wasn’t real. It was for… what reason exactly? Okay, Denver did use me as an excuse to get rid of her—something I will never be sorry for—but what was my excuse?
He kissed me back.
Yep, definitely reading too much into it.
“Now listen here, little missy,” she says, sass in her tone. “Why would I be insane to suggest it? You’re hot, babe, and a catch. Plus, you’re super funny, kind, generous, and really fucking smart. If Denver is half the man you say he is, then I’m sure he’s not blind, or stupid.”
Maybe I’m not just imagining it. Denver did have heat in his eyes when I pulled away from our kiss. I pulled away. He still had his hands cupped around my face.
I felt like a queen. His queen.
If I compared myself to what I think Denver’s type would be—Hannah—I’m not even on the spectrum.
Then again, he admitted it didn’t last for obvious reasons, and one can only assume he meant her charming personality.
You can have all the looks in the world, but if you’re a spiteful, nasty person, that will never look sexy.
Hannah may get all the guys she wants, but eventually they’ll see what she’s really about.
“Here we go,” I mutter.
“Yes, here we go indeed! Repeat after me: I am a hot-to-trot temptress… no, can that—a stallionness—and I can get any guy I want just by clicking my fingers.”
“I’m not going to say that,” I laugh. “Stallionness? Did you just make that up?”
“I can’t remember what you call a female horse, smarty pants.”
“And yet you went to Harvard,” I quip. “Mare or filly ring a bell?”
“Nah, I think stallionness sums it up quite nicely. It packs more punch. Why do dudes get to be the stallions anyway? You need to get out of this funk, Adi. Get under Denver and you’ll feel a whole lot better about things. Trust me, I’m good with vibes.”
I laugh out loud. “Oh wow, you did not just say that.”
“Yep I did, and here’s another piece of advice: Get under him, over him, sideways, backwards, whatever. You two are perfect for each other, and you deserve a nice guy.”
I guess I must’ve sold Denver pretty well then.
“Uh, huh, you’re forgetting about one thing though, sugar. My brother.”
She sighs loudly. “There’s always one drip in the room. Daryl’s a big boy, he’ll get over it. Plus, need I remind you that you’re both CONSENTING ADULTS! Jesus, anyone would think the pair of you need your heads knocking together.”
“No need to shout,” I say, ringing my ear out with my finger. “But I get your point. I just don’t think he feels the same way, and if he doesn’t that would be super awkward.”
“You said he cupped your face when he kissed you, right?”
Uh, yes, I did tell her that because she asked for every minute detail.
“So?”
“So? Everyone knows that when a man cups your face when he kisses, it means something more. More than just he wants to bang you. Take it from me, I’ve done the research. I know these things.”
“Don’t mince around with words, Obi-Wan.”
“So, remember my wise words. Take control. Ask him out. Stop worrying all the time. If he brushes you off or makes excuses then you know he isn’t the one.”
The one.
Delaney knows I’m a one-man-at-a-time kinda gal.
I love love, and I’m not afraid to say it, but having spent time by myself this last year, I’ve come into my own.
Before I was all about needing a man, but it was for all the wrong reasons.
What I needed to do was find myself, and I’ve done that.
I don’t mind a manly man, in fact I prefer it, but Cam never had that balance of letting me take the lead sometimes without feeling his masculinity was in question. I was always in his shadow.
I snort. “It’s too early in the morning to have this conversation.”
“It’s never too early, buttercup. Plus, if Denver is a dud there’s like two million people in Chicago, half of them are men, so there’s plenty more pepperoni on the pizza, so to speak. Broaden your horizons.”
“Your mind is always on the pepperoni,” I sigh, though I’m grinning from ear to ear.
“If your mind was on Denver’s pepperoni a little more you might actually get some action.”
I pinch the bridge of my nose. “Some of us just like to take our time. I can’t just blurt out that I like him and that kiss wasn’t fake for me. He’ll run a mile.”
“Life is about chances,” she says, her tone softening. “I get you’ve gotta read the room with this guy, but from what you’ve told me, he sounds like he’s totally into you. Who doesn’t want a hot firefighter who walks you home every night without laying a hand on you? Swoon.”
She’s got a point. Life is for living and all of that. Plus, he did give me some serious eyes. I wasn’t just imagining it. As much as I try to blow it off as a fluke, or him being in the moment when I kissed him without warning, I know I’m self-preserving. I need to take control.
At the very least I know he has zero respect or interest in Hannah after last night. She dug her own freaking grave and good luck to her.
“Babe? Are you still there?”
“S-sorry,” I say, my mind flashing back to all of the events that unfolded.
“You’re already crazy about this guy, just admit it. You’ve talked about him nonstop for years.”
“That’s because he was always around growing up,” I say. “I kind of idolized him over the years, especially after the rescue. I was so young I barely remember it, but he was just… different.”
“Just pork him already and the second you do, I want to know everything.”
I shake my head. “Not happening.”
“Got to go. I want full details. Take control. Mark my words, the second you really come into the understanding that you can conquer the world, everything will fall at your feet.”
“I love you,” I say. “Truly, you do wonders for my ego.”
“Love you, too. Don’t disappoint me.”