Keys jingle in the doorway, which makes us both jerk away.My stomach drops as I scramble to my feet.
What the hell was I thinking?
Keith steps inside, looking between us.“Oh, hey, guys.”His gaze falls on the baskets.“Wow, really making progress with the festival stuff.”
I clear my throat, glancing at Adrian to see if he looks as flustered as I feel.“Yeah, just about done.”
“You guys have dinner yet?”he asks.
I shake my head.“I was actually just about to leave.”
Keith waves a dismissive hand.“Why don’t you stay and eat with us?Just an hour.”
Adrian subtly nods, and I’m totally torn about what to do.I should probably get away from him, but I don’t want to go, now that I know Adrian wants me here.“I should check in with my mom first.”
“Of course.I’ll put in an order, just in case.If you don’t stay, there’ll be leftovers for Adrian to take to work tomorrow.”
I nod and step onto the porch to call home.Mom reassures me the kids can heat up leftovers or cup noodles, telling me to take my time.She sounds the same, still breathless and weak.So, I know I can’t stay too long.
When I walk back inside, both Adrian and Keith are watching me.Adrian searches my face, which causes me to fidget, while Keith seems oblivious to the tension swirling between us.“I’ll stay,” I say.
Keith grins.“Fantastic.”
While waiting for dinner, we fill Keith in on the fundraiser.When dinner arrives, we gather around, eating and talking.Keith tells us about his day—how someone stuck a Q-tip in their ear and ended up in the ER to get it removed because Keith couldn’t get it out.
“That’s the most disgusting thing I’ve ever heard.”I grimace.“Also, I’m never using Q-tips again.”
Laughter fills the room, but I avoid Adrian’s gaze.The almost-kiss lingers in my mind, rattling me more than I want to admit.Every now and then, I see him out of the corner of my eye staring at me, but I pretend not to notice because I feel conflicted about it.
Before I can overthink it anymore, I stand.“I should get going.”
Adrian nods.“I’ll see you next Friday.”He says it so casually, completely unaware of the internal panic spiraling through me.
Dr.Whisperer would eat this up if they found out.A reporter cozying up to the controversial doctor she’s been writing about?That would be the talk of the town.And I refuse to be that kind of headline, because then, I can kiss the chance of my promotion goodbye.
Adrian hasn’t even redeemed himself yet.He hasn’t addressed the issues that damaged his reputation in the first place from his time in the city.The last thing I need is for people to think I’m biased and undermine my credibility as a journalist.Going to the bar with him is helping him trust me, so I can get his side of the story, nothing more.It’s simply like a business dinner.
I get into my car and roll down the windows, letting the cool air wash over me.My pulse is still beating too fast, my thoughts too scattered.I need to get my shit together before Friday.
Chapter 15
Adrian
Amelialeaves,herfaceflushed, and something like relief or disappointment coils in my chest.
What the fuck was that?
Keith walks in as I follow, he’s completely oblivious to the earlier electricity in the room.I force myself to walk to the sofa and sit, casually leaning back, trying to catch my breath and give my heart a chance to stop hammering against my ribs.As if I wasn’t close to kissing the woman who’s been writing about me in the community paper.
“You guys have made really great progress with the fundraiser stuff.”Keith’s gaze sweeps over the supplies piled on the table.
I nod, trying to look calm, but my mind is spinning.She was going to let me kiss her.Her eyes closed, and she leaned in too, with lips slightly parted.
Fuck.Stop.Don’t think about that.
But I can’t stop.As much as I tell myself the memory of her face so close to mine, the way her breath caught when I whispered about dinner, the warmth of her arm against mine all evening, it’s stuck on repeat.
Even on the porch moments ago, I wanted to reach for her again.
