“He cares about you.”
“Yeah. I care about him too.” I pressed my teeth into my bottom lip before adding, “As a friend.”
I wasn’t about to tell her how my body shivered from his touch last night. I’d convinced myself it was an involuntary reaction. One that surprised us both. And I was nervous things would be awkward this morning because of it. But Adam acted perfectly normal, making me glad the whole exchange didn’t make things weird between us.
She was quiet, and I could sense she had more to say.
“What is it, Mom?”
She sighed. “He stayed next to you in the hospital, refusing to leave the room, when you were out. Mia had to bring him coffee and a muffin because he wouldn’t leave until you woke up. We were all worried about you, but you could see the fear and anguish in his eyes.”
I would likely do the same if he was the one in the hospital. That didn’t mean we wanted more than friendship.
“I think you’re reading too much into it.”
“Time will tell, I guess.” The smile was evident in her tone, and I rolled my eyes.
She looped a hair tie around the end of the braid just as the front door opened. Adam walked in carrying a bunch of grocery bags in each hand, wearing a huge smile. “I got everything to make enchiladas and chicken parm, that oat milk creamer you like, and a bag of Sour Patch kids.” He set the bags down inside the kitchen and glanced back over at me. “As well as everything you asked for.”
“Thank you.” I hadn’t specifically asked for the oat milk creamer because he had a big bottle of regular creamer in his fridge that I was fine with using. But it was sweet he thought of it.
My mom snickered and then tried to cover it with a cough. “Well, I'd better go.”
I held back the eye roll as I stood and gave her a hug. “Thanks for helping me.”
“Of course. Anytime.” She turned to Adam. “When she’s feeling up to it, why don’t the two of you come by for dinner?”
“Mom,” I moaned.
“What? Least I can do is make the boy a meal for letting you stay here and taking care of you.”
She was ridiculous.
“Sure, sounds good,” Adam said with a smirk.
Once the door shut behind my mom, I made my way back into the kitchen and started helping pull groceries from one of the bags. “We don’t actually have to go to my parents for dinner.”
He took the orange juice from my hand. “No, we should. I don’t mind, and they’ll enjoy it.”
I shouldn’t be surprised that he cared what my parents wanted. It was just the way he was. Always caring and looking out for people around him.
“Plus,” he added, “you know she’ll keep pestering you until we do.”
That was accurate. And maybe if they saw me doing better and recovering fine, they would worry less and give me some breathing room.
He tipped his chin to the chair I had just vacated. “Sit down and rest. I got this.”
I sighed. Which was what was going to make this whole thing so hard. I was so used to being independent and doing things for myself. It was obvious Adam was going to struggle letting me do that. Maybe once I went back for my follow-up next week, he would be better about it.
Regardless, I felt thankful that he was such a good friend and willing to not only let me stay with him but help me recover as well.
Chapter Eight
ADAM
Monday 1:22 p.m.
Zack added Seth to the conversation
