Chapter 17
Chapter Seventeen
FAITH
The movie definitely wasn’t about old men out of shape. It was men in bow ties, Santa hats, and six packs, flaunting and dancing in a competition.
Well, this is going to be embarrassing. I shut my eyes.
I was right though. Being in Adam’s arms was like being held by a Norse god and a teddy bear at the same time.
I leaned against his chest, feeling the soft fabric of his sweater under my fingertips, and smelling the citrus and spice.
He shifted slightly, pulling me in even closer.
My heart picked up speed. Adam gazed down at me, and I felt like I must be dreaming.
The movie was a tad bit ridiculous, but Adam was a good sport throughout it. Well, he was until a group of the men started doing a two-finger push-up competition.
“Oh, come on!” Adam scoffed. He must have finally had enough. “There’s no way they are actually doing that.” He flipped his left hand. “Look at the guy’s biceps.” He pointed at the screen. “They’re not even straining. Please.” He looked toward us. “You see this, right?”
I pinched my lips together to keep from laughing.
Rose smirked. “Just because you feel threatened doesn’t mean you need to take it out on them.” She gestured to the screen.
Adam pointed to the TV. “No, I mean, see, his triceps aren’t even engaged.
Look.” He shifted to stand, and I leaned back on the couch, curious.
He took off the sweater and revealed a tight black T-shirt underneath.
He started giving us a lesson on muscle structure as he did push-ups in the light of the Christmas tree.
Merry Christmas to me.
After a few rounds of explaining the different muscles used in push-ups and why you could tell theirs were fake, he realized neither of us were listening, but just watching him instead. He rolled his eyes and came back to me on the couch.
He put his arm back up for me to slide under, and I happily obliged.
After the movie, I walked Adam to the door.
He set the plate of cookies on the entry table.
He put his hands on my waist and pulled me closer.
He held me as I wrapped my hands around his neck and pressed up against his chest. I stared at his mouth.
My breath slowed, and I wondered if he was going to kiss me.
“Thanks for letting me come over for a surprise visit.”
I smiled. “I’m not complaining.”
He chuckled. “Thanks for the cookies too. Danny will love them.”
Right. “About Danny…”
“I won’t tell him anything about us,” he whispered.
I nodded in relief. His head leaned closer, and I closed my eyes.
I hadn’t been kissed in years, and my stomach fluttered.
Then Adam’s lips pressed against my forehead. “Thanks again for tonight,” he whispered, and then he grabbed the cookies and went out the door.
For the record, I was definitely not counting that as my first Adam kiss.
Not that I was complaining.
Okay, maybe just a little.
The next day, I opened the swinging glass door at Merritt’s, following Rose inside. I still felt halfway in the clouds.
Marissa waved her hand so we could find her, even though Merritt’s was nearly empty.
Rose plopped onto the red bench next to Marissa. “Faith is officially almost a stepmom.”
Marissa leaned back in surprise.
“Oh my gosh, Rose!” I glared at my friend.
Sometimes the things that came flying out of that woman’s mouth made me cringe.
“First off, hi, Marissa, how is married life? Blissful and wonderful?” Then I glared at Rose.
“And no, I am not almost anything to anyone, especially something as significant as a mother. I may have cuddled a bit with Adam last night, but that’s it. ”
Rose looked at the ceiling. “Oh crap! Mar, sorry if I hurt your feelings. I didn’t mean anything by the kid thing.”
Marissa shrugged it off. She used to flinch anytime anyone mentioned anything to do with children, but she seemed to be stepping into her own space a bit more. I wondered what her and Scott’s future would bring.
Would they adopt? Travel around the world like some exotic couple? Marissa shook her head. “I can see a lot has been going on, and we need to get together more often.”
I don’t think we had gotten together since the ordeal when Adam volunteered to help. “True.”
Marissa grinned. “So…cuddle buddies, eh? What ever happened to him being out of your league and disgustingly extroverted?”
“Oh, those are still true.” I scrunched my nose.
“So,” Marissa leaned close, “how was it?” Her eyebrows raised at me.
“The cuddling?” I sighed as I melted onto the bench. “Divine.” I giggled.
Rose rolled her eyes. “So how’s Scott?”
Marissa pivoted to face her. “Oh, he’s good, happily running spreadsheets as we speak.
He has an idea about a community center venue or something.
When I asked what he meant, he informed me he needed to work out the numbers before he was ready to talk about it.
” She smiled. “James is talking him through logistics and planning on being an investor, I think.”
Thinking of James, I smiled. He was a groomsman with me at Marissa and Scott’s wedding. He was sweet, a bit eccentric, but sweet.
Rose grimaced. “Not the twin?”
Marissa raised a brow. “Michael doesn’t have the cash to be an investor. Although yes.” She looked at Rose. “Michael might add sweat equity.” She spun her cup. “Why…are you hoping to bump into him?” She raised her right eyebrow.
Rose snorted. “More like I wanted to know so I could avoid him.”
Michael was the groomsman with Rose at the wedding, and I had been worried he might end up with slashed tires by the end.
“How’re things with Blake?”
I wasn’t really sure what Rose was looking for in a guy. She loved dating, but sometimes it seemed like she wanted to prove that a relationship with her could never last.
She scoffed. “I beat him in bowling. He couldn’t take it. I get plenty of drama from my family, I don’t need it from a guy.”
I looked toward the front door as Dotty stepped into the room. “I have a confession to make.” I raised my hand at her and waved her over. Rose and Marissa turned to see who I was looking at. “This is my friend from work, Dotty. I invited her to join us.”
Dotty walked to the edge of the table. “I really hope I’m not imposing. I’m heading back to Haven Falls tomorrow, and my only other invitation until I left was with Helen Sparks.”
Rose shuddered. “I wouldn’t wish that on my worst enemy. That woman still frequents my nightmares.”
I scooted farther down the bench, making room for Dotty, and patted the seat beside me.
“It’s nice to meet you.” Marissa smiled at her. “I’m Marissa. How did you end up in Hillsdale?”
Marissa used to hate everything about Hillsdale, but it sneakily grows on a person.
When I first came, I was like a fish out of water, but I love this little town. It would break my heart to leave it.
Dotty shrugged. “Oh, not much to tell. I started teaching early, got my masters, and applied for principal jobs. I didn’t have much luck, probably partly due to my age, but then Aunt Helen let me know about a position here. The rest is history.”
Rose grimaced.“Oh…she’s your aunt? Um, sorry about what I said.”
Dotty giggled. “Don’t be. I have called her far worse. I’m still not convinced she isn’t the immortal witch I called her when I was seven.”
Rose laughed. “Oh, you’re fun.”
Dotty blushed. “Thanks again for letting me join. I have missed talking to women my age. I like this little town, but it can feel lonely.”
Rose raised her eyebrow. “I have a purely hypothetical question.” She paused, looking at me. “Is there a no dating a coworker slash the parent of a student policy at the school?”
I gasped. “Rose!”
She shrugged. “What, just curious. I said hypothetically.”
“Hypothetically, there isn’t a law against or anything.” Dotty grinned and winked at me. “It can be complicated, so definitely a gray area, but legally it’s fair game.”
“The coach might finally end up being caught.” Rose chuckled. “Oh, so many women are going to hate you.”
My stomach dropped, and panic rose in my throat at the thought of any confrontation.
“I thought he liked you. The whole Christmas party, the man couldn’t keep his eyes off you.” She picked up the menu. “What’s good here?”
Even though we’d come for brunch, Marissa jumped in with her favorite desserts, starting with hot cocoa with cinnamon.