Chapter 14 #2
I remember his words from yesterday about home being the last place he needs to be.
What did he mean by that? Has his apartment blocked his creativity?
I saw inside it; the complete lack of personality would zap anyone’s spirit.
Instead of offering my parking spot, I should’ve offered my interior design skills.
I could just picture Adam with bright walls and framed photos and piles of cushions that serve no purpose other than to look cosy.
Maybe he comes to the cafe for the décor.
‘I know you don’t want me here and I’ll try to stay out of your way as much as I can,’ he says.
‘Staying out of my way will only fan Gabi’s suspicions. Speaking of, can you at least give me some details about the sequel so she lets it go? What do you write in your notebook? Is that your research or the first draft? Just let me peek at it in front of Gabi.’
His eyes dart to his laptop bag where the notebook is stashed. ‘That notebook is private.’
‘It’s eventually going to be published so what does it matter if I see it now?’
He stands and takes a step towards the cottage. What would happen if I stood up too? Would he race me inside and snatch up his bag? ‘What’s in that notebook won’t be published.’
‘Why? Is it like a diary or something?’
He takes another step. ‘No…it’s…well, it’s notes on a story idea I’ve had for a little while that…
’ His eyes dart inside again and now I’m more curious than ever.
If he wanted to distract me from the notebook he’s going about it in the wrong way.
Tell me it’s crammed with descriptions of a building’s exterior or layout, like those that fill the pages of The Sleeping Bones, and I’ll lose interest faster than he can snap his fingers.
Act cagey and suspicious like this and I’m all Nancy Drew on his arse.
Snooping was how I found out my dirtbag ex, Brent, was cheating on me.
If he had something to hide he shouldn’t have left his phone unlocked.
And he most definitely should not have saved the nude pictures he was sent.
‘It’s just a writing exercise,’ Adam says, pulling my attention back to him from the photos permanently imprinted in my memory. ‘Seeing that won’t appease Gabi.’
A writing exercise? The ghost of Nancy Drew disappears like a bowl of dessert left in front of me. Gabi won’t have a lick of interest in that. I need sequel-related intel. ‘You have to give me something otherwise we’ll need to makeout just to keep her off the scent.’
His back thuds into the sliding door, the flush on his cheeks spreading down his throat as he swallows hard, his eyes flicking from my eyes to my mouth.
I cross my arms and stare back at him, hiding the wound he’s inflicted on my pride. That’s the second time he’s come close to damaging furniture at the mention of a kiss. It’s not like I’m desperate to kiss him, but he could refrain from twitching violently when I bring it up.
‘My main character leaves New York after his childhood best friend is murdered in London and he comes here to hunt down the killer.’ He goes inside, and the bathroom door clicks shut a moment later.
I shiver, my skin breaking out in goosebumps.
We’re in the courtyard of a quaint little restaurant in the village near the manor.
It’s all twinkling fairy lights and cobblestone paving and there’s so much greenery that I want to steal some to take back to A Cup of Joy.
The sweet aroma of jasmine dances around us as we tuck into our dessert.
I practically moan with delight at the first bite of my sticky toffee pudding.
I glare at Adam and his untouched blackberry and apple crumble.
He’s all warm in his jacket while I sit sans jacket because I thought we’d be dining inside.
I’d give anything to have Aunt Carol’s purple windbreaker wrapped around me again.
Instead, I shuffle closer to Riley and try to steal her body heat.
‘How do you come up with all the twists? That one towards the end of The Sleeping Bones is nuts,’ Tommy says to Adam. ‘Do they just pop into your head?’
‘And that part on the train? What inspired that?’ Gabi asks.
Adam’s cheeks are red as he turns a spoon over in his hands.
‘Wait until you hear how his main character ends up in England,’ I say smugly with a look at Gabi. ‘It’s going to blow your mind.’
‘Is it true a Hemsworth is going to be in the movie?’ Natalia leans forward, her eyes shining eagerly.
Adam’s cheeks grow a deeper shade of red as he mumbles his answer. He clears his throat and glances down at his plate.
Natalia smiles sweetly at him as though his shyness is the most adorable thing she’s ever seen. ‘You’ll have to get us on set when they’re filming. I could do a whole behind-the-scenes series for my followers. You should definitely be online more. With that face, you’d be a hit.’
Adam clears his throat again, his cheeks now blazing.
If I was feeling generous I’d swoop in and save him but because I’m not sure if it’s the line of questioning or he’s reacting to Natalia’s compliment, I don’t.
Adam rises from the table. He shrugs out of his jacket and drapes it over the back of my chair before saying something about needing the bathroom.
I turn around and stare at the jacket. What the hell?
Leave it on your own chair! First he invites himself here, then he invades my personal space in the cottage, and now he’s leaving his stupid jacket on my chair.
Does he expect me to lug it back onto the bus for him?
But, what the hell, finders keepers. I put it on and pull it tight around me.
Now that I’m no longer shivering or having to watch Adam squirm under Natalia’s attention, I turn to my niece. ‘How’s school, Riles?’
‘Fine,’ she mutters and stabs her fork at the cheesecake on her plate.
Between Adam ignoring his crumble and Riley attacking her cheesecake I’m beginning to think I need to teach them both how to appreciate a dessert.
Sugar is a delicacy and needs to be treated with reverence.
I might be able to work my magic on Riley.
Adam, however, seems to be a lost cause.
Who walks away from dessert? Shaking my head, I lick the toffee sauce from my spoon and drag his discarded plate over. It’s rude to leave it untouched.
Riley finally takes a bite of her cheesecake. I clearly just needed to set a good example for her.
‘Your mums said you might go to Tokyo with your school,’ I say, keen to continue my positive influence and drag her into conversation. ‘That’s exciting.’
She shrugs, slouching even further down in her chair.
Tough crowd.
‘Teenagers,’ Gabi says.
Riley swats away Gabi’s attempt to smooth her hair and mumbles an excuse to leave the table.
‘Oh, don’t worry about that.’ I hear Mum’s voice cut through the chatter around the table and I glance over to see Adam seated beside her. ‘There’ll be plenty of time for you to work on your book. You don’t want to miss tomorrow’s hike. It’ll be magical.’
‘I don’t mind missing the hike,’ Adam says.
‘Nonsense. Think of all the research you’ll get done and the fresh air will be good for you.’
‘I looked at where we’re hiking and that’s not relevant to the book so it’s probably better if I stay back and work,’ he says.
‘Oh, no,’ Mum says. ‘I’m not having you miss out. This is a family holiday and you’re part of the family now. It’s not fair to you to be excluded from a group activity.’
‘But I’m not being excluded if it’s my ch—’
‘And then think of us as well. Time is a precious gift, Adam. We never know what’s around the corner so we really need to soak up every moment with one another.’ Mum fixes bright eyes on him.
His lips part and then clamp shut just as quickly. He’s wavering. He’s losing the battle. He’s learning what we’ve all known forever. It’s Dianne’s world, and we’re just living in it.
‘You really don’t want to miss tomorrow,’ she says, sealing the deal.
‘Okay.’ His voice bears the fatigue of a man who has done battle with an army. ‘I’ll work in the evening instead.’
‘After we watch Clovedale,’ Mum says. ‘Betty has everything set up for us to start tonight. We can get the first two episodes in and that’ll leave enough time for a group discussion as well.
I’m sure there’ll be lots of questions after the episodes.
’ She pauses, her eyes darting up as though pondering a new idea.
‘Carol?’ she asks and taps my aunt’s shoulder.
‘Do you think we should just have a free-flowing discussion or would it be better if we come up with questions for the group?’
Aunt Carol’s dangly turquoise earrings swing as she shuffles in her chair. ‘Questions will be fun. Do we have time to put together a list?’
‘We’ll make time. Adam, love, will you help? We could really use your teaching experience,’ Mum says.
‘His knowledge of storytelling would be really insightful,’ Natalia says with a flick of her hair as Adam slinks back to his spot beside me.
‘Oh, yes!’ Mum bounces in her seat. ‘That would be wonderful. Let’s sit down right after dinner and put together a little plan. Tonight’s discussion doesn’t need to be too in-depth. We can ease everyone in and then really amp things up tomorrow night.’
While the two of them excitedly discuss plans, I lean in close to Adam. ‘Put your arm around me,’ I murmur.
His grumble is a mix of inaudible words and, after he takes an agonisingly slow drink of his sparkling water, his arm slides over the back of my chair.
I burrow deeper into him as his free hand forms a tight fist in his lap. He tucks me into his side, and I feel the gentle rhythm of his fingers brushing back and forth over the jacket I stole.