Chapter 13 #2
This woman, though, continued glancing at them, and Adam got the distinct impression it wasn’t him she was looking at. If anything, she seemed more interested in Kyra. Finally, the woman made her way over to them.
“Kyra?” she said, as though she’d only just noticed that Kyra was there. “Wow! It is you. How are you these days? You look so different from the last time I saw you.”
Adam watched as Kyra glanced up and then back down again. He instantly got the impression that this person was far from a friend.
“Lacey,” Kyra said with a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Long time no see.”
“My goodness,” Lacey said. “How have you been? I heard you took a new job up the mountain as a… a ranch hand?” Everything about her felt so fake to Adam. She was the polar opposite of Kyra, who was so sincere it was impossible to doubt her.
“I’ve been good,” Kyra answered. “How are you?”
“Oh, you know…” Lacey waved a hand as though she had nothing of substance to add, but then she contradicted the gesture and launched into an entire presentation of her life.
It contained so much blatant humblebragging that Adam had to fight to resist rolling his eyes during her speech.
Everything about her life was perfect, and she was, of course, filled with so much gratitude.
The way Lacey wielded the word gratitude like a weapon was disgusting.
The implication that Kyra lacked gratitude was both obvious and the furthest thing from the truth.
Of all the people Adam had ever met in his life, one stood out as the most grateful, the most generous, the most sincere. And that was undoubtedly Kyra.
Lacey came to the end of her monologue and posed a question to Kyra. “You look fantastic, by the way. Have you gained weight?” Though it was posed as a compliment, it definitely didn’t come across that way.
Kyra cleared her throat before answering. “Well, I suppose it’ll become obvious to everyone soon. I’ve gained a little weight because I’m pregnant.”
Lacey let out a gasp that she probably thought sounded less fake than it did.
“That’s amazing. I can’t believe you’re working up there in the mountains while pregnant.
It seems so unlike you. I mean, you tend to run when things get hard, right?
You dropped out of college almost as soon as you started.
Tell me you’re not that hard up for cash.
There are programs, you know. Isn’t the father willing to help you out? Or is he… not in the picture?”
Adam watched as Kyra’s unshakable smile slipped, and he couldn’t stand by and watch anymore.
He put an arm around Kyra’s shoulders and said, “The father’s in the picture.
And Kyra’s going to be fine, not because he’s in the picture but because she’s resilient, brave, and the smartest woman I’ve ever met.
She doesn’t need a man to fix all her problems for her. ”
“Oh, really?” Lacey’s eyes left Kyra and found Adam, which was exactly what he wanted.
He had no doubt Kyra could handle the abuse.
This was someone she clearly knew well, and there was no chance this Lacey person hadn’t treated her like this in the past. But if Adam knew one thing about being chronically independent, it was that having someone stand up for you, while unnecessary, still felt pretty damn good.
Lacey went on. “So, are you the father then?”
Adam glared at her. “Honestly, that’s not any of your business.”
“Wow,” Lacey said, clearly unused to anyone seeing through her act and responding bluntly.
“I guess it’s a touchy subject. No need to be rude about it, though.
For many of us who’ve already had children, the subject is always a pleasant one.
You can’t expect us to be able to predict when the subject is touchy. I assumed Kyra was happy about this.”
“I am,” Kyra cut in. “I am happy about it, and this child is wanted. That’s all you need to know for now.
But I appreciate your concern.” Another smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes crossed her face.
She was much better at this kind of hidden warfare than Adam was.
He could appreciate that, but he didn’t remove his arm from her shoulder.
He sensed that she could still use his support.
Lacey seemed to realize this conversation wasn’t going to end with Kyra tucking her tail and running. She shook her head at both of them. “Well, if this is the father, I’d say you can do a lot better, Kyra. Maybe find someone who won’t drive away all your friends.”
Adam didn’t let her have her last word. “She can do a lot better than me,” he said. “And maybe she will. But I wouldn’t drive away any of her friends, not as long as they’re true friends.” He gave her his best fake smile, but he was certain it looked more like a snarl than Kyra’s did.
Finally, Lacey gave up her attempt to throw Kyra off. She shook her head, said goodbye to Kyra while completely ignoring Adam, and moved on. As soon as she was out of sight, Adam squeezed Kyra’s shoulder and murmured, “She’s a real piece of work. I hope I didn’t misread the situation.”
Kyra shook her head. “You didn’t. She’s always been like that. I don’t think she likes me very much, but I can’t say I’ve ever figured out why.”
“She’s jealous,” Adam said.
“Now you sound like my mother.” Kyra laughed under her breath.
“Your mother’s a smart woman.” They made their way toward checkout, Adam snagging the tag from the swinging bench when Kyra wasn’t looking.
“Anyway, what does she even have to be jealous of?” Kyra said. “She knows exactly what she’s doing with her life.”
“And that’s exactly why she’s jealous,” Adam added. “You’re free to make your own choices and brave enough to be yourself. Life can still surprise you in the best ways.”
At checkout, Adam handed the furniture tag and his credit card to the cashier. “The plant, too,” he told the cashier. “I’m getting all of it.”
“Wait, what?” Kyra turned to him. “I don’t need you to do that. That wasn’t what I planned.”
“I know,” Adam said, shutting her protest down before it even really got started. “I want to buy these things for you, OK? Please allow me, just this once.”
Her cheeks reddened and she bowed her head. “Thank you. It’s really sweet of you.” On their way back to the truck, she spoke again. “It already has, you know.”
“What?” He had no idea what she was talking about.
“Life,” she clarified. “It’s already surprised me.” She turned to him and added, “In all the best ways.”
Adam’s chest swelled with what he could only assume was pride and affection. He refused to apply the word love to it, but he also knew he was being stubborn beyond measure. If he didn’t love her right now, then he’d probably never love anyone. That, he knew without a shadow of a doubt.