A heavy silence settles between us as tears threaten to ruin all of Daisy’s hard work.
“What an utter pig. You didn’t deserve that.”
Finally, I can agree with her. I wish I hadn’t been such a coward, but I didn’t know what else to do. God, what must our parents think of the whole thing? I couldn’t tell them any of it. Except that I didn’t know Nick was married when we started seeing each other.
“Alright. Listen. Fuck this Nick douchebag. Focus on Adam. From what you’ve told me, he’s not going to let you get away with running from him.”
I laugh. She’s hit that nail on the head.
“And I know he’s rich and all that, but he’s done a lot for this town. For the people who live here, not just his bottom line. So, give him a real chance.”
“Sure.”
“Sure?”
I shrug. “What about?—”
I wave around me as if I can encapsulate all my worries with the gesture.
“What about the Kincaid brothers, you mean?”
A blush hits my cheeks with such ferocity that I don’t really need to answer that question. Daisy sighs, sits behind me, and grabs my hand in hers for a reassuring squeeze. “Just be honest with them, and the rest will shake out the way it’s supposed to. Go have fun.”
“Fun seems to get me in trouble.”
“No, people taking advantage of you gets you in trouble. None of this shit is your fault. Just like last time. Just because you’re notthe innocent Pinebrook Princess anymore doesn’t mean you’re not good.”
I take that nugget with me—I’m still a good person even if I’m not perfect—when Adam arrives for our date. I meet him at the door before my parents can answer it.
His fine navy blue coat brings out the green in his eyes, which are twinkling at me in the dying sunshine. Adam’s smile is small but still dazzling. “Afraid to let me meet your parents?”
“I’m pretty sure you’ve already met my parents. And this is our first date, I’m not seventeen. Yeah? So let’s skip that part.”
Adam laughs. It’s big and booming and churns warmth low in my belly.
I bite my lip at him, and he extends his elbow. Taking it, I let him escort me out to his Mercedes Benz SUV, open my door for me, and hand me inside. He even buckles me in, which has him leaning across me and depositing his fresh scent in my space.
The sudden urge to sink my teeth into his skin hits me.
But he’s closing my door before I can act, and he climbs behind the wheel a few seconds later. After backing out of the driveway, he takes my hand and links our fingers together.
I like that he doesn’t push me to talk. I’ve always been a fan of quiet. The ability to settle without the need to fill the silence. To be content with that.
It’s a natural culmination from what Gabe and I built in my youth.
And the thought of him makes me bristle.
I shouldn’t be thinking about him while I’m on a date.
Adam squeezes my hand, a silent question. Am I alright?
“So, where are you taking me?”
His brilliant smile resurfaces. “To one of my favorite spots.”
“Cryptic.”
“Don’t tell me you’re not a fan of surprises.” The playful tone in his voice pulls the smallest smile out of me. I do like surprises. Good ones anyway.
