“Probably. Sounds heavenly.”
He grimaced. “I’ve gone vegan.”
“You what?”
“You know, all the animal cruelty. It was easy down in Honduras. I didn’t want to eat the meat there anyway. It’s much healthier anyway. You should probably consider it as well since our kids will be vegan too.”
Liz gave a slow nod. “Okay, we can walk and see what we can find. I’m going to freshen up first.”
She locked herself in the tiny bathroom and looked down at the sink. In her rush to see the man she loved, and who supposedly loved her, she’d forgotten to grab her bag. She had no way to contact Adam, since they’d chucked their phones into the ocean. Liz sat down on the toilet and let her head rest in her hands.
As painful as it was to admit, she barely recognized the man who was sitting on the other side of the door. It felt like he was trying to manipulate her into his dreams. And maybe he didn’t see it that way, but he was doing it. Why did he become vegan?
There’s no way in hell Liz was staying away from burgers and fries. Or bacon and eggs—she remembered how Adam made the bacon that morning, extra crispy just like she liked it. And ice cream? How could she live without ice cream? She was the one who did most of the cooking in their relationship, so would he expect her to adjust everything for him?
As Liz sat on the toilet, contemplating her life, she realized Tanner wasn’t the only one who’d changed. Liz couldn’t deny that the weeks with Adam made her feel things she hadn’t felt in a long time, if ever, with Tanner. She was so certain those feelings would come once Tanner and she were on the same continent again, but she felt nothing.
They weren’t the same people, which meant they weren’t the same couple. Liz had the biggest question of all to answer then.
What should she do about that?
Chapter 21
Adam found a dog-friendly hotel down the beach. He’d checked in and ordered dinner to his room. Already, he missed Snow’s company and Nona was sad too. He watched a show on the little TV since he hadn’t done that since they’d begun their journey. Though Snow’s conversations were better than anything he could find on the TV. He flicked it off and headed out to the car for his bag.
He opened the hatch and found Snow’s bag sitting on the top. He didn’t need more of an excuse. He hopped in the car and took off to her hotel. If he was being honest with himself, he was dying to meet Tanner. This was the perfect reason.
Even if Snow did marry him, Adam knew no matter what, he still wanted to be her friend. He hoped he wouldn’t find Tanner to be a jerk. Though if he were being completely honest with himself, he hoped to find her and Tanner in the middle of a massive fight. He’d book her another room in that ridiculous hotel, one that she wanted, and spend the night with her. Hell, he might even have to stop at a jewelry store and pick up a ring.
He pulled into the small parking lot and saw Snow and Tanner walking along the beach. It didn’t appear as if they were fighting, but they weren’t holding hands either.
Adam approached the stairs to the beach. No matter what, he still had to give her the suitcase. But he froze halfway down the stairs. Tanner dropped down on one knee. Oh shit. He was too late.
Adam’s blood ran cold. This shouldn’t come as a shock. He knew this was the reason Tanner had come. That had been the plan all along. Man, that guy had some nerve to just pop in for the proposal. Adam hoped he’d at least stick around for the rest of the trip then. Even if that meant that the rest of Adam’s vacation might have to be just him and Nona. His heart tightened. He didn’t want to do the rest of the trip alone. He wanted to put his own ring on her finger and fill the rest of their trip with kisses and maybe even a courthouse.
Adam watched them against the background of the ocean. Snow had to make a decision now. Adam couldn’t look away. He would know if she said yes or no by one very telling motion.
A kiss.
Chapter 22
Liz stared down at Tanner on his knee. He hadn’t yet popped the question, but she knew it was coming.
“Liz, will you marry me?”
She glanced at the cameramen perfectly positioned for this moment. She hated that she would have to hurt this man she loved, but she knew now, that love was just one ingredient needed between two people who were looking at forever.
“Tanner, I’ve loved you for a very long time. We’ve been through some amazing times together.”
He looked so hopeful, but she wouldn’t give in this time. She had to stand up for herself. For her heart.
She took a deep breath and ignored the cameras rolling. “But we have priorities that will always be in constant conflict against each other. We cannot make each other happy, if we’re only going after what makes ourselves happy. ”
“But, Liz, I love you.” His voice was colored with frustration.
“I love you too. But this is not meant to be. We’re too different. But I want you to have something. You’ve waited a very long time, and I wouldn’t feel right if I didn’t give it to you.” She thought she’d feel disappointed or upset, but everything about this felt right.
She reached down and pulled him up by the hands.
“This is not a wasted kiss.” She pressed her lips against his. He returned the kiss eagerly, pulling her against his body, but Liz knew this wasn’t right. There was no spark, no life. Just love for a man and a relationship that wasn’t right.
He pulled away and gave her a sad smile. “Is the answer really no?”
“It’s really no. I’m so sorry.”
He kissed her once more and then pulled back. He looked sadder than she thought he would. Maybe Liz had realized they weren’t meant to be, but it seemed as though Tanner thought it would work between them.
Which made sense since Liz had always let him chase his dreams.
“I will miss you,” Tanner said.
Liz couldn’t help the tears that came. She would miss him, but deep in her heart, she knew this was right, and eventually, he would realize it too.
“Can we just sit, for a little bit?” Tanner asked.
“Sure.”
She sat next to him and looped her arm through his and laid her head on his shoulder.
“I wish I could say I’m surprised,” Tanner said.
“Yeah?” Maybe she read his reaction wrong.
“I’m talking about Adam. If I’d gone on this trip with you, we’d be engaged right now.”
“Of course, but I expect that even if I’d never met Adam, I still would’ve said no if you hadn’t come on the trip.”
“What do you mean?”
“You always put your charity work over me. It’s bothered me, but the trip was kind of a last straw. Honestly, I didn’t make the decision to say no until you told me we would be moving to Honduras. If you’d come back for the trip in the first place, moving to Honduras would’ve never even come up because you would value my choices.”
He sighed. “I suppose you falling for the Vegas playboy didn’t help things either.”
She pulled away from him. “I have not fallen for him.”
“You’re telling me he didn’t kiss you?”
She wanted to argue, but she couldn’t. Technically they had kissed. It’d been an accident, but that didn’t make it less real.
“That’s what I thought,” Tanner said with a growl.
He was angry, and rightfully so. But now they could both start healing and moving on. “You can keep the Hemmingway room. I’ll sleep somewhere else tonight.” She leaned down and kissed his forehead. “Safe travels back to Honduras.”
She trudged back up to the hotel. She wanted to call Adam and tell him to come back, but they didn’t have phones. She had no idea where he was staying. At least she had her wallet with her. She pulled out her emergency credit card when she got to the front desk. “Do you have any open rooms tonight?”
“The Seuss room, but that’s it.”
Of course.
“Sure. Thanks.”
She nearly laughed when she pushed the door open. It was truly done up like a Dr. Seuss book with bright yellows and blues and a bed that had feet sticking out of the end. She collapsed onto the bed. She didn’t even have her clothes or a toothbrush.
She wasn’t sure what she would do now since she still had a week left with Adam. What would he think about her breakup?
She shivered at the thought of their conversation on the beach. The one where he said he’d put a ring on her finger. Did she want that? She barely knew him. Her stomach buzzed at the thought. He was everything she never knew she wanted. He made her blood sing.
Her eyes drifted shut as she wondered what his lips would feel like on hers.
For real this time.
When Liz woke the next morning, she stretched. She rinsed her mouth out in the sink and splashed water on her face. She hoped Adam was back. She wanted a shower and a change of clothes.
She hurried down the stairs, nearly tripping over the cat who sprawled out in the middle. She stopped and scratched him behind the ears, and he gave her a meow of thanks in return. She smiled at the front desk clerk and headed out.
The Range Rover sat in the parking lot, thank goodness. She searched the immediate area but didn’t see him. He wasn’t inside the car either, but there was an envelope on the window, wedged under the windshield wiper. She pulled it off, hoping it was just a note telling her he was taking a walk down the beach, but it was bulky.
She tore it open. The key fell into her hand. Strange. Maybe he took an Uber somewhere and wanted her to meet him. Or maybe he didn’t want her to meet him. She opened the note with shaking fingers.
Snow,
This trip has been incredible. Truly life changing. I had hoped it had been that way for you as well, but that kiss on the beach said it all. I hope you’re happy with Tanner. I mean it. I wish you the very best.
I want to be your friend, but right now, my feelings are all torn up. Keep the car and finish your trip. Hell, keep the car after the trip. I don’t need it. Look me up when you get back to Vegas, and we’ll do dinner or something, and you can tell me how the rest of your trip went. Maybe by then I’ll be able to look at you without desperately wanting to kiss you.
Forever yours,
Adam
Liz’s heart twisted. Adam thought she and Tanner were engaged, and she had no way to call him. He was such an idiot for convincing her to chuck their only form of communication in the water.
She eyed the Range Rover with mixed emotions. It was her ticket to finishing her trip, but also a reminder of how wonderful the first half had been.
But she did just break up with her boyfriend. A week by herself to clear her mind, gain some perspective, was probably exactly what she needed.
Not more than ten seconds after she cursed him for the stupid phone idea, she silently thanked Adam. If she had a phone, she’d already have him on the other end and be begging him to come back. To finish their trip.
But it wasn’t their trip. At least, it wasn’t supposed to be.
First, it was supposed to be her and Tanner’s.
Then, it was supposed to be only hers.
She’d made the right decision in breaking up with Tanner. It was probably good to see what some time without Adam felt like too.
Chapter 23
Two days later, Adam stood in his father’s office—waiting. He still hadn’t gotten a new phone. He’d be constantly checking it to see if Snow tried to call him and stalking her facebook page. She was gone and he didn’t want to think about what she and Tanner were doing.
He’d spent the last couple of days in his apartment, eating bad takeout and watching Netflix. It was time for him to face the music though.
His father walked in, looking sharp in his ever-present suit. His silver hair was slicked back. His face was free of lines, having been meticulously taken care of with plastic surgery when necessary. He looked nothing like Adam.
Adam had worn shorts and flip-flops.
“The prodigal returns,” he said with a forced smile.
“Nice to see you too, dad.”
“Are you done running around like a petulant teen?” He leaned on his large desk with the bustle of Vegas behind him.
Adam didn’t know quite how to answer that. “I need a break.”
“Isn’t that what you were just on?”
Adam nodded. “Yes. But I need a break from all this. I want, and need, to live my own life. Make my own decisions. So I’m forced to figure out what I want those decisions even to be.”
His father didn’t say anything for a long moment. “You want out of the business?”
“For now. Maybe I’ll come back to the family business, but maybe I won’t. How do I know if I don’t try something else?” He knew what he was asking for. His father had always warned him that if he didn’t take over the business, he’d be cut off.
“I have no heirs other than you.”
“I know. Depending on what happens, you can leave your fortune to charity if you’d like. I won’t contest it.”
His father snorted. “Don’t be stupid. You’ll still inherit everything, but I’ll have to cut you off from most for now. You know, since you’re going to be making your own decisions.”
“Fair enough.”
His dad steepled his fingers and then a small smile spread on his face. “You know…” He rose and walked to the floor-to-ceiling windows surrounding his office. “Some of our clients told me you’d been keeping up with them, even while you were on vacation.”
Adam shrugged. “Well, my absence was rather sudden. I didn’t want to ruin anything. Didn’t take much to keep them happy. Just a bit of attention.”
His dad glanced over his shoulder. “You’re good at this, you know. What we do.”
“I know.” Adam sighed loudly. “I’d just like to see what else I’m good at too.”
“Then you should do it.”
“Thanks. When do you need me out of the penthouse?”
“A month should be fine.”
That was plenty of time for him to find a place on the coast.
“Are you going to marry that girl you were running with?”
“I wish. She’s engaged to someone else.” His heart clenched again. He’d been trying not to think about her.
“And you’re letting that stop you? Are you better for her than the guy she’s marrying? If she’s influenced you enough to make you question your career, sounds to me like she’s worth chasing after.”
“Maybe. But I don’t want to ruin her life. She’s happy, and I’m going to let her be happy.”
His father nodded. “Is there anything else we should talk about? I have work to do.”
“No. Thanks for being understanding.” To some it might appear as if his father was being cruel, but to Adam, his father was being generous. He’d really thought that his father would disown him.
“Sure. You do me no good if you’re unhappy in your job.” He walked in front of Adam and placed both hands on his shoulders, looking him straight in the eyes.
“I will never win father of the year. I’m a businessman, and that’s pretty much it. All I have to teach you is how to do what I know how to do. I know how to be successful in this life. Who to conduct business with, who to marry, what events to attend. But…” He swallowed hard. “If you don’t want to have the kind of life I know how to create, then I agree you have to cut ties from it. Despite being a pretty shitty father, I’ll always be here.”
Adam and his father had never had a heart-to-heart, and just when Adam thought there was no way he could get along with the man, he realized they might actually stand a chance. Adam just had to stop hoping he’d get something from his dad other than the few things he had to offer.
He’d have to find those things elsewhere.
“Will you help transition your accounts to someone else over the next two weeks?” his dad asked.
“Of course.”
“Thanks, son.”
Adam left his father’s office in a state of shock. He was free. It both terrified and excited him. He literally could do anything he wanted now.
As he waited for the elevator, he asked himself the question that he never been able to ask before.
What did he want?
Chapter 24
Liz pushed open the door to her tiny house.
“Dad,” she called. “I’m home.”
The rest of the trip had been wonderful. What a blessing it had been to not have any form of communication. Just the road, the campsites, and her thoughts. After everything that happened, she desperately needed it. She now knew exactly what she wanted.
His name was Adam Winslow.
“In the living room.” Her dad was planted in his recliner, staring at the TV. Once she stepped foot into the space, he got up and wrapped her in his arms. “Gosh, did I miss you.”
“I missed you, too,” Liz said into his shoulder. Crazy to think the last time she saw him was before she left for her trip. The trip that led to her rethinking her entire life. A life with a man she’d never before imagined being with. Part of her wanted to come home and hunt him down first thing and tell him she wasn’t engaged, but she had to keep her head. Plus her father deserved to see her.
“How was the trip?” he asked, his eyes bright.
“Amazing. Seriously, everything I dreamed of and more.”
Dad quickly glanced at her left hand. She lifted it. Might as well address the elephant in the room.
“I broke up with Tanner. It just wasn’t working. I found out that love isn’t the only thing you need to make a relationship work. You need to be willing to compromise and support each other’s dreams.” She shrugged and let out a large breath. “And we weren’t willing to do that.”
He rubbed her shoulders and searched her face, as if looking for her internal pain. Which, surprisingly, there was very little of. “I’m sorry, honey.”
“Don’t be. I’m one hundred percent confident it was the right decision. For both of us.” She couldn’t tell him about Adam. She was afraid of his reaction. He was always so supportive, but she doubted he’d understand her jumping into the arms of another man right after she broke up with her boyfriend of five years.
Roadtrips and Romance (Omega Mu Alpha Brothers Book 5) Page 14