“I’m what?” He practically dragged me out of the car and toward the Lusitana.
Inside, the restaurant buzzed with energy. People were everywhere, the tables had been rearranged, and music, which sounded like a continuation of the playlist I’d been listening to in the car, played in the background.
I recognized a few of my favorite regulars, some friends, and standing by the bar, Adam’s parents’ smiles were like twin beacons cutting through the sea of faces.
Had I missed some sort of celebration on the calendar?
As if on cue, Noah suddenly left my side, the music halted, and the crowd parted, making their way around the decorated tables and leaving the middle hallway, which was usually filled with servers going in and out of the kitchen, empty.
This time, there were no servers. No bells ringing in the kitchen.
Adam stood at the other end, holding on to a chair beside him.
My heart thrummed against my ribcage, its rhythm loud in my ears. My palms grew moist, and I discreetly wiped them on my jeans.
Adam’s blue eyes found mine across the distance, and I saw his chest expand as he took a deep breath.
He stood on the chair, taking me back to the last time he’d done the same thing.
It felt like the whole room held its breath as Adam’s voice trembled through the restaurant.
“Life,” he began, “is a series of moments where you must decide whether to hold on or let go.” In a room full of faces, his gaze never left me.
“Sometimes,” Adam continued, his voice gaining strength, “you find parts of yourself in places you never thought to look. And sometimes, you’re lucky enough to explore those newfound places with someone who makes you feel safe.”
The crowd listened, enraptured by his words, unaware of what they meant.
“These past months have been a journey,” he continued, “one where I’ve learned about bravery. About the courage it takes to face the truth that some things are beyond repair. But the hardest battles,” he insisted, “are the ones that matter most.”
A murmur of agreement passed through the onlookers, but for me, there was only Adam and the words spoken just for me.
“I found feelings within me, vibrant and undeniable. Feelings I navigated with the one person who has always been my compass, my confidant, my best friend.” He stepped down from the chair and took a few steps forward.
I swallowed and pressed my hands against my sides because they shook so much.
“River,” he said, and hearing my name on his lips in such a tender manner sent shivers down my spine, “you’ve been safeguarding a piece of me—a piece I didn’t even realize I’d given away. Somehow, without intent or expectation, you had my heart all this time. Maybe even before I knew it was beating for you.”
I took a slow step forward, afraid to break our connection.
“Keep it,” he said, “Keep my heart because without you close, every breath feels borrowed, every moment half-lived.”
“Adam…” I whispered, but I didn’t think it came out at all.
“I needed to step back, to figure out if I sought you because you were there or if it was because it was always meant to be you. You deserve someone who loves you wholeheartedly and undoubtedly. I’ve listened to all our songs and reread all our books. I have nothing left. No more doubts that what I feel for you is real and everlasting.”
The crowd erupted in soft applause. Adam Spencer, with his piercing blue eyes and heart laid bare, had chosen to stand before everyone we knew and declare his love.
I navigated the sea of faces, each step carrying me closer to him. Standing before him, I could see the subtle tremor in his hands, the vulnerability only I’d been privileged to see. In one fluid motion, I lifted him, and he wrapped his legs instinctively around my waist.
Crowd or no crowd, I needed him. Our lips met in a kiss that was the culmination of every moment that had led us here. It was messy and filled with emotion.
“And this is why there’s a fucking third-act breakup in romance novels,” he said when I finally let him come up for air. The crowd around us be damned. They could look away.
I laughed. “I missed you so fucking much, Adam.”
His eyes held mine with an intensity that left no room for doubt. “God, I’ve missed you too. And it case it wasn’t clear in my amazing speech, I love you.”
“Your amazing speech, huh?” I chuckled. He slid down to his feet, which released my hands, allowing me to cradle his face and run my thumbs over his lower lip. “I love you too, baby.”
