Chapter 19
Chapter Nineteen
Adelaide
Zander puts me in the shower the second we get back to my house.
He literally carried me out of the park, blasted air conditioning on me in his SUV, and stripped me in the bathroom, before setting me up in my bathtub and turning on the shower head.
If I didn’t feel so loopy, I would swoon.
Or maybe I’m already swooning and it’s just adding to the whole heat exhaustion thing.
But, really, I’ve never seen anyone step into action like that.
It was hot.
Like really hot.
Like I’m sitting in a bathtub wet in more ways than one kind of hot.
Zander searches through my bathroom cupboards, attempting to find the aloe vera I have stocked away somewhere.
Normally, I would let him know exactly which organized basket within the cupboards I’d put it in, but I can’t yet wrap my mind around it.
I know I’m doing better, though, because I can form thoughts other than how absolutely terrible I feel.
I could probably stand without having to close my eyes now.
“Shit,” Zander mutters as he knocks a basket of skincare out of the cupboard, and then, “oh, found it!”
He piles the rest of it back in, and I vow to rearrange it once he leaves.
He brandishes the green bottle triumphantly.
I smile from my bathtub home. He pushes himself off the floor and places it down on the counter, then picks up his phone.
To my understanding, he’s been texting Tabitha, updating her on any change in my condition.
Which, once again, is hot.
I’m pretty sure this isn’t a symptom of heat exhaustion, and even more certain I shouldn’t be having sexy, thirsty thoughts while potentially dehydrated…but here we are.
“Hey,” I say, and Zander’s eyes snap right to mine. He immediately pockets his phone and is at my side. I giggle, reach out for his arm, feel the tingle of connection between us. “I think I’m ready to come out now.”
“You sure? How are you feeling?”
“Better. Like I’m not dying anymore.” His relief is visible and the grin he shoots my way threatens to undo me further. “Kind of achy, though.”
His eyebrows draw together and he lowers himself back to his knees. He places a hand on my forehead, as if this will tell him anything while I’m in a cool stream of water. Unsatisfied, he runs his fingers along my cheeks, down under my jawline, and flat against my chest. The ache increases.
“This definitely doesn’t help.” I shake my head with a laugh.
“What do you mean?”
I see him mentally checking off symptoms in his head and wonder when he had a chance to look them up.
It only endears him further to me. Because, oh my god, how hot is it that I’m completely naked in front of him, dripping like some pornographic fantasy, and the only thing he has eyes for is my face.
The only thing he cares about is my well-being.
“I’m horny for you,” I say as bluntly as possible. I rub a hand over my face, brushing water out of my eyes, and feel the heat creep up on my already flushed cheeks. “No one’s ever cared for me like this.”
For the first time since he brought me home today, his eyes dip down my body.
“Not that I think it’s a good idea to go there when you almost passed out on me,” Zander says. “But if you’re up for it…otherwise let me get some aloe on you and we can cuddle on your bed.”
“I don’t think it’s a good idea, either. We’ll revisit later.”
He turns off the shower and extends a hand.
I grab hold, and though I don’t really need it, I let him help me up and out of the tub.
He folds a towel around me, rubs his hands along my sides, catching water droplets.
I’m guided to the closed toilet seat, complete with a cover I crocheted.
I sit and tip my head back into him. Into his soft touches.
The ache in my lower belly shifts into a wave in my chest.
This. Man.
His fingers run through my hair and pool damp, red strands down my chest. Then, his lips ghost the flesh on my neck.
My eyes flutter shut. Gingerly, he dabs at my burned shoulders with a second towel.
He doesn’t linger, mindful of my winces.
I feel the lack of his energy as he steps away to grab the aloe.
For a moment, I question whether I’m still loopy. The fact that I can sense him. That it feels like a loss when he’s not immediately next to me. I don’t know what that means. I can’t rationalize it or make some stupid joke of it.
It’s been just over two weeks.
Just over two weeks and he’s somehow seen me more than anyone ever has.
I don’t get it.
But all my thoughts cease as his cool hands land on my shoulders.
I gasp as the aloe touches my skin, massaged in with strong, talented fingers.
He continues his measured kneading, finishing up on my back and moving to my chest. His hands run along the edges of the sunburn, matching the scoop of my dress’s neckline from earlier today.
I glance up at him, peering through my lashes, and note the focus in his eyes. He doesn’t stop until he’s made sure my entire sunburn is covered. I grab his face and bring it the mere centimetres closer to mine, catching his lips. His hands drop to my sides, cradling me in place.
“Thank you,” I whisper when I pull back.
“You don’t have to thank me,” he says, squeezing me through the thick fabric of my bathroom towels. “Anyone should take care of you this way.”
“The point is that you are taking care of me this way. And I appreciate it.”
He kisses me again, this time caressing my cheek before pulling away. Unexpectedly, when he straightens, he strips the shirt off his back and offers it to me.
“Here,” he says, giving me the still-warm grey T-shirt, “this’ll probably be most comfy for you right now.”
I blink. “You literally just did the most gentlemanly thing you could have possibly done.”
“I think that was probably when I scooped you up at the festival.”
“That was very impressive. I’m tall and not perfectly fit. I would have at least expected some ouchie grunts.”
“The fuck is an ouchie grunt, Addie?”
I make a terrible impression of what I would sound like picking someone up. It winds up resembling angry sex noises. I can’t keep a straight face and burst out laughing, Zander follows suit.
Once we’ve regained control of ourselves, I shove his shirt over my head and drop the towel. He has about five inches on me and the bulk from all his intensive activities. The shirt happily manages to be a minidress on me.
“Go get in bed and I’ll make something for us,” Zander suggests.
“You’re going to go mess up my kitchen aren’t you?”
“I could just order pizza, if you want.”
“No. Mess up my kitchen. Cook for me. We’ve established I think you’re hot so this is just, like, icing on the cake.” I pause, then hum. “If you can find cake, I’d love that.”
“Do you have cake?”
I shrug. I’m a little treat girl through and through, so, yes, I do have cake in my fridge. The cake is covered in rainbow sprinkles and was frankly, too tempting. But, then again, everything at Dam Baked is too tempting.
Zander grabs hold of my hand and leads me from the attached bathroom, back into my bedroom. I lay down on top of the patchwork quilt I made out of spare fabric. Once he sees I’m not dying, he hands me my water bottle and tells me to drink, then slowly makes his way downstairs.
The first thing I do is pick up my phone. I have so many notifications, I’m surprised it hasn’t blown up.
Dad
Are you alright? Tabitha told me you felt sick and went home. Did that boy go with you?
I sigh. This should be Zander’s chance to show my dad he’s not the enemy. Somehow I doubt he’ll see it that way.
Addie
I’m fine! Zander’s taking care of me. He’s been wonderful. I wouldn’t have known what to do on my own. I’m so glad he was with us.
I get a thumbs up in response, which is wildly reassuring and comforting.
I debate sending more, telling him how I’ve never felt so loved, but decide against it.
He’ll probably think I’m just sick and not thinking straight.
I scroll through texts from friends, people who know my dad, people I‘ve worked with and, generally, half the town.
I respond to a few before going to my thread with Tabitha.
Tabitha
Text me when you can!
Tabitha
Are you okay??
Tabitha
The fact that I know you’re fine because I’m getting a play by play from your boyfriend LOL
Tabitha
Ok I am officially Team Zander. That man LITERALLY swept you off your feet. The second I went to him he was on it. And now he’s tending to your every need and making sure I know you’re good?? 10/10 no notes. Green flag, green flag, green flag
I have to hold back the grin that threatens to overtake me. I don’t want Zander walking back into the room and seeing me looking like a lovesick fool. He’d probably think I’m still overheated. But I let out a little giggle.
Addie
idk he could be lying. I could be dead
Tabitha
WTF is wrong with you??
Addie
Nothing. Or like something. I think I’m in love
Tabitha
ADELAIDE LAUREN RAMSAY
Addie
Not joking and also not heat-induced. Remember how I made fun of you when you met Simon and said you were certain he was the one for you?
Tabitha
I do remember that
Tabitha
And to be fair, those were bold words from a 14 year old…but this is real? That’s what you’re feeling?
Addie
I don’t know. I’ve never had that instant connection before. I just feel like he gets me
Tabitha
Addie, I think he gets you.
Crap.
As if summoned from the I-Love-You Gods, Zander manifests himself shirtless in my doorway, carrying a tray with plates of confetti cake and nachos smothered in cheese, tomatoes, and ground beef.
“That’s quite a combo,” I say.
“The internet said salt is good for heat exhaustion, and you said cake. This seemed like an ideal combo to me.”
I eye his body, up and down, before landing back on the food. “Yeah, everything is ideal.”
He hands me the tray and I place it on my covers.
In a moment, there’s a half-naked man in my bed.
His legs extend the length of the quilt, bare feet knocking against mine.
I reach for a chip so I don’t have the urge to touch him.
He does the same. Our fingers meet in the centre of the nachos as we reach for the same one, like some less fancy, messier version of Lady and the Tramp.
“These are really good,” I mumble around a mouthful.
“You don’t have to compliment me on an extremely basic meal,” he says, crunching a chip between his front teeth. “Anyone can make nachos.”
“Yeah, but you didn’t burn them. And you seasoned the meat really well. What is this? Paprika?”
“Well, yeah, actually. It is.”
“Did you touch my Spice Village?”
He smirks. “Your village is unharmed. I went searching through your kitchen cupboards to find what I needed, assuming the village was for decoration.”
“My plan was for them to be functional, but some of them are so fragile that it didn’t make sense.”
I lick cheese from a nacho before devouring the rest of the chip. Zander’s eyebrows raise, so I do it again, more obnoxious, this time.
“You’re forever living up to your name,” he says.
“Of Adelaide Lauren Ramsay?”
“Silly Goose.”
He boops my nose with a greasy finger. I roll my eyes, stick my finger in icing, and do the same to him.
“Do you have an icing fetish?” Zander asks, crossing his eyes to see the smear on his nose. “You seem to like me like this.”
“Mmm just makes you sweeter.”
He wipes his nose with a napkin, then decides to dive into his slice of cake. I watch the muscles work in his jaw as he chews. “This is so sweet.”
“It is. I eat a few bites a day.”
“You just hack into it with a fork?”
“Yeah, didn’t you notice?” I turn my plate his way and show him the jagged fork marks he missed. “It’s satisfying. Just a little treat to keep me going. Lasts me for, like, two weeks, and then I go get another.”
“This is how mice eat.”
“So then I’m a silly goose, whimsical elf, mouse. Proud of it.”
“I would be too.”
The flush creeps up my neck and concern creases Zander’s forehead, as if I’ve suddenly developed a new sunburn. A blink of understanding comes over him. He leans in to kiss me. The salty tang of my lips meeting the sickly sweet of his.
“You feeling okay?”
“Uh huh,” I whisper. “Much better.”
“Okay, good. Now, tell me why your bathroom is devoid of colour. It’s the only place in the house like that.”
I nearly choke on the giggle that comes out of me. That was the last thing I expected him to ask. I point to a corner of my bedroom with a giant cardboard box.
“I’m working on it. The white pisses me off so I’m swapping the tub tiles for these gorgeous mosaic ones. Each one is a different colour, so I’m going to start red and go all the way to the purples.”
“You have so many things on the go.”
I shrug. “I like keeping busy.”
“You busy yourself into heat exhaustion.”
I cringe. Zander runs a hand over my face, smooths the line between my eyes.
“Honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised if I did. Today was more about me being outside for too long and not touching up my sunscreen while being a fair skinned redhead…but I think a lot of my little projects are about distracting myself.”
“Oh, Addie,” he says. He brushes hair away from my eyes, cradles my face, kisses my forehead. “You don’t have to do that.”
“I know. I don’t want to do that. Not now. I think you may be the reason why I’ve paused so many of them recently. You make me want to be here and face things head-on.”
He exhales shakily. “I like what you see in me. Who I am around you.”
“God, that’s so funny, because I like that you see me period. It’s like everyone always sees the Beaver Creek darling, or the pathetic girl whose mom left her, or the weird girl who makes her own clothes. With you, I’m all those things, but I’m also just Adelaide.”
“You’re more than just Adelaide.”
I smile. “I know. And you’re more than just Zander.”
We stare at each other, the weight of words unsaid between us. I know he feels the same way I do, just as I know we’re both biting our tongues. He nudges the tray of food out of the way with his foot, nearly to the edge of the bed. I roll and let him pull me flush against his chest.
We don’t move for the rest of the night, talking about nothing and everything, listening to each other breathe. The light wanes. Fireworks crackle overhead. Zander and I fall asleep in each other’s arms.