“Yeah. And scared.” I sigh. There’s a pause, almost weighted, like the world is too heavy right now. “Does he really want to see me?” It’s stupid to ask, but I’m a glutton for punishment apparently.
“Yeah. Whatever you both did while he was undercover really got to him. And you, it seems. I won’t ask, but I will say that if you are going to mess with him, don’t make me bring him here. If there was something real there … then don’t run away from it. I know that”—he gestures to my stomach—“complicates things, but give him a chance to make it right.”
“Thanks, Dad.” I grin at him.
“Please, for the love of all that’s holy, don’t call me that. I get enough shit from the team. I don’t need you jumping in too.”
“Hey, Lex?”
“Yeah, Claire?”
“You’re good people. Thanks for the pizza.”
We eat the rest of the food in silence. Lex makes notes on the pictures while I zone out.
Maybe not all is lost with Adam. But Lex’s words are on repeat in my head. “Give him a chance to make it right.”
All I want is to be with Adam, but I think I’ll always feel like I trapped him with the pregnancy. I don’t think there’s any winning here for me.
I awake from a dead sleep when I hear keys jingle in the door.
I grab the bat that Lex left for me that I keep by my bed and stand next to my bedroom door.
The squeak of the old wood lets me know the general area where the intruder is. The tip of a boot inches into my room, and I don’t think. I just swing.
A hand catches the bat, ripping it from my hands as I fall to the ground, desperate to keep a hold on it.
“Please, don’t hurt me.” Tears well in my eyes.
“Son of a bitch,that hurt,” a man exclaims as he drops the bat to the ground, shaking out his hand.
The moon barely shines a light on him, but it’s enough for me to catch a glimpse of that familiar blue.
“Adam?” I ask hesitantly, shoving farther away from him on the floor.
“Jesus, Lex gave you a bat?” He cradles his hand before kneeling down in front of me. “This is not how I wanted to see you again.”
“What, breaking into my house and scaring the shit out of me isn’t your idea of romantic?” I chuckle, tears still dripping down my cheeks.
“I didn’t think. Lex told me you wanted to see me, and I just … came. I didn’t think about logistics.”
“Clearly. Is your hand okay?” I grimace.
“Ahh, no. You’ve got a hell of a swing there. I think you broke something, but it’s okay.”
“That is not okay.” I gasp.
“I mean, at least I know you can protect yourself.” He chuckles.
“That’s not funny! Oh my God. I can call Lex.” I struggle to stand up.
Adam stops me with his good hand. That’s when he finally looks at me fully.
“Wha— I mean … what?” His eyes are wide. Fear, excitement, and confusion all shine bright through his clear blue eyes. “Are you okay?”
The tears I tried to keep at bay when I thought someone was breaking in fall like a waterfall. I can’t believe Adam is here and that I probably broke his hand, and yet he’s worried about me.
“I th-th-think we should sit down.” I try to talk through my sobs. Emotions I didn’t even realize I had been shoving down rise up and flay me wide open.
