Page 28 of Love in the Time of Conversation Hearts

“I was sitting in the back.” He examines his nails, then shoves his hand into his pocket. “And I ducked out early to get our bags. I wanted to beat the traffic home.”

Is that true? Or did he just want to avoid me all morning? I was okay with never sleeping with him again, but I’m not sure how I feel about awkward encounters—or worse, no encounters—from here on out.

But a hotel hallway is not the place for those conversations, especially when he’s obviously itching to get out of here. So, I swallow my insecurities and nod. “Okay, then. Let’s get home.”

Somehow, I expect the normally social Adam to open up some conversation, or at least turn on some music, but the only sound between us is the hum of the road passing us by and the incessant drumming of Adam’s fingertips on the steering wheel. It only takes me fifteen excruciating minutes in the car to crack wide open.

“We should probably talk about last night.”

Adam’s eyebrows shoot up his forehead, but his eyes remain trained in front of him. “What would you like to talk about?”

“Well…” I watch the snowy scenery pass us by as Adam’s fancy SUV zips over the road. “Maybe… it was fun?”

He glances at me briefly, then returns his focus to his driving. “That sounded more like a question than a statement.”

“It was fun. Very fun. But, I don’t know, do you think it should happen again?”

“What do you think?”

I sigh. “I think it could get complicated, what with you and I working together.”

To his credit, Adam nods slowly as if he’s considering my words. It almost looks as if he’s letting them roll around in his head, seeing how they fit. “You’re not wrong,” he says after a few silent moments.

I don’t know what I was expecting. This is what I wanted, right? But that relief from when I read his note is nowhere to be found. My shoulders slump, and I shift so I’m staring out the passenger-side window.

“I told you, Cora.” Adam’s voice is quiet, but no less decadent for the lack of volume. “I’m a fan of enthusiastic consent. If this isn’t something you’re ready for or want to continue, that’s your call.”

It’s my turn to consider what he’s saying for a moment, and I do. I let a few snowy hills fly past the window before I steel myself against this disappointment of my own creation. “I had a great evening, but I think it would be smart if we took a step back.”

Adam’s gaze lingers on me enough that it makes me nervous how long he’s not looking at the road. But he turns his head back and nods once. That’s it. Awkward conversation, done.

It’s for the best. It really is. It would be too complicated to continue sleeping with the mayor of Heartsong.

So why do I feel like shit about it?