Jessica leaned closer, her fingers trailing up to his biceps. “You should let yourself loosen up.” Jessica’s eyebrows raised suggestively. “You used to be a lot of fun in high school.”
What did she mean by that? My eyes shot to Adam. He stood stoic with his arms crossed, no reaction.
Nope. Not my business. I took a step back.
Adam said they were friends, but we were also just friends. Did she feel about Adam how I felt about him? Did he smile at her the way he smiled at me when I wasn’t around?
I felt like a floating third wheel. Not really connected to the conversation, but not sure if I should walk away. I spun my ring, and took a deep breath and held it. My nerves were fuzzy, and I wasn’t sure what to do with my hands.
“Um, I think I’ll go.” I shrugged. Adams’ eyes flicked between Jessica and me.
“Yeah, I’m going to call it a nighttoo,” Adam said.
I stepped toward the cookies, wanting to grab my plate and escape. Adam took a step after me when Jessica reached out and grabbed his hand.
“You seem to have suddenly changed your mind.” Jessica glared at me and gestured in my direction. “Last I knew, you were too heartbroken to date.”
Adam sighed. “Faith and I are just friends.”
I felt that one like a punch in my stomach. The air suddenly left my lungs, and I couldn’t move.
I was the same as Jessica.
Wishing and wanting more in a relationship that would go nowhere.
I sighed; this was a great reminder. I shook the fog loose and walked over and grabbed my cookie plate. Straightening my shoulders, I faced the many eyes that were pressing into my back. “Merry Christmas, I’ll see you after the break.” I put a tight smile in place and left the room.
“Faith, wait!” Adam called my name, but I kept walking. I needed space to reframe things in my mind. I’d been so stupid, I shook my head. I knew he didn’t want to date. I knew I said I didn’t want to date him, but yet, I wanted to be near him. To feel his warmth and watch his mouth curve into a grin. I kept finding ways to touch his arms tonight, and he always seemed to try to get closer to me.
If I wanted to be friends, why did that hurt so bad?
I held my breath for three and blew it out.
This would be better for everyone, better for Danny. Just friends was for the best. To my mind, it made perfect sense. But my stupid heart kept forgetting to listen.
Stepping through the doors, I was met with a sheet of freezing cold air. The air frosted my lungs, and I welcomed the ice on my skin. It would help me ground and reset and get out of my head. I took off my jacketand walked to my car.
I unlocked my door, sat blankly in my seat, and stared out my iced-over window.
This was good.I stared at the ceiling.
This was the check I needed. I took a tight breath and released it.
Chapter Sixteen
ADAM
Faith slowed a step when I asked her to stop, but she didn’t turn around, and I wouldn’t chase her.
I turned to see Jessica behind me, her shoulders now drooping and her arms across her stomach. Her bravado was gone.
This sucked.
“Oh sure, now I have your attention.” Jessica shook her head.
“Let’s go talk.” I nodded over my shoulder. Looked like we needed to have the “I don’t plan on dating you” conversation again? Faith was right though; I never specified that I wasn’t interested in dating her.
Her lips pursed together. “Okay.” Her voice was soft, like she was already broken.
