by Jolie, Mika
Adam recognized a good argument when he heard one and dumped his board in the back of the Jeep.
“Gay Head or South Beach?” Forrest asked as Adam slid into the passenger seat.
Gay Head was located in Aquinnah and at this time of the morning the waves would be strong there. “Let’s go to Aquinnah. Closer and better waves.”
Forrest nodded and shifted gear to start the Jeep. “And further away from Lily.”
“You’re a fucking genius,” he grunted. Jason’s house was less than one mile away from the popular South Beach. The temptation to go there instead and demand an explanation from Lily would be too tempting. His friends knew him well. Resting his head against the cushion of the seat, he closed his eyes and enjoyed the fresh morning air.
“Has it occurred to you she just doesn’t want to do this anymore?”
“She still wants me,” he answered without opening his eyes.
Forrest snorted. “I mean, has it occurred to you she might want more? You know, a meaningful relationship with love, stability, and a real car?”
“Then she should say so.”
“Except you don’t want those things.”
Adam slid his friend a sideways look. “What’s your point?”
“What if she wants to take your relationship to the next level? Would you give it to her?”
He pondered Forrest’s question. The possibility that she might want something more between them had not crossed his mind. When they started whatever it was they were doing, both had made it clear nothing serious was their only option.
“I don’t do marriage,” he muttered, “and neither does she.”
“Who said anything about marriage?”
“We both decided what this was. If she wants to change the rules she should tell me.”
“But you probably wouldn’t want to continue playing.”
“Is this the part where I point out that she’s the one who doesn’t want to play anymore?”
“No, this is the part you acknowledge that I’m brilliant.”
“Or maybe a pain in my ass. By the way, Claire is coming to town. Are you guys going to give in to the tension and start fucking?” He purposefully turned the spotlight on Forrest, giving his friend a taste of his own medicine.
Forrest grunted and killed the ignition. “You look like shit.”
“Thanks. Tell me something I don’t know.”
“The bags under your eyes are quite a delectable shade of purple. What brand is that?”
“Insomnia.”
“Nice. Gotta try that some time. Tough night?”
Adam shrugged. “I’ll eventually sleep again.”
“I can…”
“No drugs.”
“Actually, I was going to say have you thought about facing your demons?” When Adam didn’t answer, Forrest slapped his shoulder. “Come on, big boy, let’s go release some frustration.”
* * * *
Adam’s legs were shredded from two hours battling strong ocean waves. For two days, he had pushed himself and his body paid the price. But instead of feeling tired, the achiness energized him, a good thing too because he had a busy week ahead with the Food and Wine Festival.
He took slow easy strides down the path leading to the back of the restaurant he opened five years ago. The Wharf’s Side was ideally situated half a mile from the port of Menemsha, and a short walk to the public beach. He took pride in hiring the best chef for this venture and partnering with Forrest’s parents for a farm to table approach, allowing the restaurant to always serve the freshest produce in season. The move turned out to be a success. The Wharf’s Side was now well established as one of the must places to eat when on the island.
He walked over to the edge of the dock, rubbed his hands together for warmth. The distinct crispness of the air sparked interest in lighting a fire and watching the sun set over the yellow, orange and red trees with Lily. They had done exactly that a year ago. The night had ended perfectly with her riding him until he exploded. The memory made him shiver with need. An empty feeling settled in his stomach. He wasn’t shocked by how much he wanted her; he’d accepted that fact a long time ago. Still, he shook his head at the memory and brushed any thought of her aside.
His phone vibrated in his pocket. His first thought directed to Lily. He extracted the phone quickly and glanced at the international number flashing on the screen. He dismissed the pang of disappointment and smiled.
“How’s my favorite son?” His mother asked on the other end of the phone. Her voice filled with warmth.
“I’m your only son,” he responded just as good-naturedly. That was the ongoing greeting between them and Adam would never grow tired of it.
“You made the news again here.”
“Who am I marrying this week?” Both his parents took great pleasure over the Italian’s media obsession with his love life. For the last year, every woman he was spotted with was the flavor of the week.
His mother cackled in laughter. “Ella.”
Adam shook his head and laughed at the news. “She’s family.” And on top of that Ella was happily married to Guillermo. his chef at The Wharf’s Side. His interest in opening a restaurant on the island spurred upon meeting Guillermo and discovering his brilliant culinary skills. The couple split their time between Brazil and the Vineyard. As it happened she was in Italy the last time he was there and they met for lunch.
“I just wanted to let you know you’re engaged to be married.”
“Well, I love you even more for that. How’s Dad?” he asked, picturing his dad chuckling in the background over the conversation.
“He’s here laughing and pretending he’s reading a book.”
“Well, give him my love and thanks for making me aware of my engagement.”
“The least I can do. How’s that girlfriend of yours?
For no apparent reason, one morning during breakfast, he found himself casually telling his parents about Lily. They had asked the questions most curious parents interested in their only child’s happiness would ask.
Who was she? How did they meet?
A teacher. Minka’s best friend.
Was he in love?
It wasn’t that kind of relationship.
After that they had not pushed. But from time to time he talked to them about her.
“I don’t have a girlfriend,” he replied, but Adam couldn’t help but think of Forrest’s words from earlier. What if she wanted more? “Liliana and I have an understanding,” he said for his own self-assurance.
“Darling, I don’t care how hurt she has been; a woman can’t spend a year sleeping with a man and not become emotionally invested.”
There were times he hated the frankness of his relationship with his parents. Right now was a perfect example. “So I’ve been told.” He grunted.
“Will we get to meet her when we come for the wedding?”
Deep down, Adam was dreading that day. Not because he didn’t want to introduce Lily to his parents, but he could already see their brains working, plotting to tie him down. “She’s Minka’s best friend. She’s here. I will introduce you at the wedding.”
“Not before?”
“It’s not necessary.” His parents knew him well enough to understand the discussion was final.
“Well, we love you very much. Call and let us know how the festival is going.”
“Ti amo, and will do.”
Adam hung up and stood staring at the blank screen of his phone. A cool autumn breeze pulled him out of his daze, tickling the barren trees where they cut across the sky. He looked down, noticing for the first time the piles of freshly fallen leaves raked into piles in front of him. It was still early in the day but already the place bustled with activity and excitement. He spotted the Herring Creek Farm truck making the day’s delivery for their farm to table menu at the restaurant. Forrest’s parents waved at him. He waved back and started to make his way over when two black labs came chasing around barking in del
ight, scattering golden leaves everywhere before jumping on him for their usual greeting. Chuckling, he reached in his pocket, lowered his weight to his knees, gave the dogs their daily treat, scratched behind their ears and patted their backs. They nuzzled closer.
“We have to head to Martha’s Way,” Luc called out to him from the truck.
“You’re not wearing your seatbelt,” Adam pointed out, knowing that was a constant debate between Forrest and his father.
“You sound like my son. We’ll see you later.” Luc whistled and the dogs jumped inside the truck.
From the backyard, the ocean air was brisk and he pulled the hood of his sweatshirt over his head. His thumb scrolled to Lily’s number and pressed TALK. To his surprise, she answered right away.
“Adam,” she greeted in a neutral tone.
The reception sent ice through his gut. “How are you feeling?”
“Better. I was going to text you but…”
“No more texting,” he interjected in a rougher tone than he intended. “You’re here on the Vineyard with me. From now on we talk, face to face. Got it?”
“Yes.”
Her voice ripped through him. Adam squeezed his eyes shut as an awkward silence fell between them. He opened his eyes and focused his attention on the moving ocean. “I miss you and I want you. What is the American expression? Blue balls? Well, I think you can officially find my face right next to the term.”
She laughed softly in his ear and he smiled. “I want to believe you’re in as much agony.”
“I am,” she confessed. “But…”
“No buts, Liliana.”
She let out a deep sigh. An awkward silence fell between them.
“Have the rules changed?” he asked, breaking the stillness.
His question was met by a gaping silence.
“What is it that you want, Liliana?”
“We have to talk,” she acknowledged.
“Come to Vapor tonight. I’ll be there.” He needed immediate action and get to the bottom of whatever was going on. He’d suggest now, but he had commitments for the food festival.
“Don’t you have an event there tonight?”
“We can still talk.”
He knew her well enough to know she was shaking her head stubbornly at him. So he pushed. “I’m going to be busy all week with the festival, but I asked you to come here a week early to be with me, not to be at my fucking best friend’s house. So we will talk and you will tell me what you want.”
“What if I don’t want anything? What if I want to stop sleeping with you?”
There was an uncertainty in her voice. Every muscle in Adam’s body tightened. “Then grow some balls, face me, and tell me exactly that and why. You need to tell me why.”
After a short silence, she let out a deep sigh. “Okay,” she said softly. “I’ll see you tonight.” Her voice shook on the words.
“See you tonight, Liliana.”
After he disconnected the call, he was about to head inside the restaurant when Guillermo appeared with two rakes in hand. Adam grabbed the offered rake and patted the older man on his back. Guillermo was a handsome man in his early fifties with tanned olive skin similar to Adam’s and jet black hair sprinkled with a hint of grey. He was a brilliant chef and someone Adam considered a friend.
“Do they always have to cause chaos whenever they come here?” he asked, referring to Luc and Marjorie’s two energetic Labradors.
Guillermo chuckled. “I think they love watching you squirm.”
“They’re not the only one.”
“Problem in paradise?”
Adam shrugged. His relationship with Lily wasn’t a secret. Everyone in his circle knew they were sleeping together. “Does Ella always tell you what she wants?”
The chef chuckled, clearly amused by the question. “After twenty years of marriage, I can tell you I still don’t know what she’s thinking. The only thing I do know is when she says everything is fine, I’m in really big shit.”
Adam swallowed his laughter, let the tension flush out of his body and started raking the leaves into a pile. Guillermo joined him.
“I think I’m in deep shit.”
“Over you being engaged to my wife, who happens to be your cousin.” Guillermo waved a dismissive hand in the air. “Tell Lily the truth. Ella is my wife.”
“You’re my cousin.”
Guillermo shrugged. “Same thing. Family is family.”
Adam nodded. Good point. “I don’t think this is about another woman.”
Guillermo stopped and rested his chin on the rake. “Then you need to beg and accept that you royally screwed things up.”
“Jesus, what is it about begging and accepting fault?”
“Do you want to have sex again? With Lily, that is.”
Adam let out a deep sigh. “At this point, I just want to have sex.”
“Then go have sex. You have women tapping their fingers waiting for you to take them home.”
“I don’t want them.”
“You only want Lily.”
Adam curled his lips in disgust and grunted. “It will bring you great satisfaction to hear me admit to that.”
Guillermo nodded with a smile.
“Fine. I want to have sex with Liliana, only her.”
“So beg and accept that you royally screwed up. Now, let’s talk about today’s menu.”
Adam nodded and switched to Portuguese as the two men discussed their dinner options for the night; all the while, his mind stayed on Lily. The need to touch her and the fact he still had about nine hours to go before they came face to face for round two made him feel edgy. This time, he had no intention of walking away empty-handed.
Chapter Ten
“Once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return.”
Leonardo Da Vinci
In Lily’s world there was one universal truth when it came to her relationship with Adam, it was easy for them to take off their clothes and have sex. Hell, people did it all the time. Only a year ago, she had shamelessly encouraged Minka to jump in the hay with Jason. But opening up your soul to someone, letting them into your spirit, thoughts, fears, future, hopes, dreams, now that was being naked. Adam and Lily had never been that exposed.
At no time had they shared childhood stories. Whatever intimate details she gathered of him had been a fluke. During a night out with their circle of friends, she’d learned his father was Christiano Aquilani, a famous retired Italian soccer player, who could easily rival Paolo Rossi or Baggio. Once off roading with the group, it was casually mentioned; his mother was Sophia Kensington, a former Miss America.
Adam didn’t share anything personal. Not that she blamed him; she was as guarded and shared very little. Allowing herself zero chance to develop any sort of attachment. She even stayed away whenever his parents were on the island. Something, they did at least four times a year. Adam always casually announced when they were visiting, and Lily was smart enough to get the hint and stayed away. For all she knew, they didn’t know of her existence, and that suited her just fine. Well, kind of.
There was that little pang each time she discovered a bit of personal information about Adam from his friends. Things that were common knowledge to the world, he never felt the need to share with the woman sharing his bed. A reminder, she was just a fuck-buddy.
She’d hooked up with him on a whim. They sought each other out when it suited them, no questions asked, no explanations needed. But then they’d started to talk and when they were apart, he’d text. That was where the trouble began. At first she’d tried to ignore the messages. To acknowledge them would cause an expectation. Expectation led to disappointment. But eventually she’d caved, and their conversations went from a simple Good morning text, to a phone call in the morning, a text or two during the course of the day and a phone call at night. No matter where Adam was, he called or texted. And al
though she never admitted it, she came to anticipate their daily interaction.
And then he had to go all chivalrous on her. Taking care of her when she was sick six weeks ago. Delaying his trip back to the island for three days. Making her laugh. Making her tea. Her belly did a flip. Damn his tea.
Why did he have to do that?
Belly flips were definitely not in their rule book.
She had willingly entered a dead-end relationship with him. And for a while it was exactly what she needed. Only now, she needed…wanted that crazy-out-of-this-world kind of love that she knew existed.
But not from Adam.
She turned left into the parking lot by The Shanti, the exact spot she caught sight of Adam strolling down the road over a year ago. She exhaled. She needed to tell him about her pregnancy. Lily exhaled a deep breath, dreading his reaction. She already knew what it would be. He’d want marriage. Not because of love but because Adam took, Adam possessed. The same way he had taken her.
That feeling was wonderful in bed. Thrilling, stirring, electrifying.
But in real life? That would be settling. She never believed on settling, especially when it came to her heart.
No way. Not gonna happen.
Not in her life or her child’s life. Unable to delay their impending conversation any longer, she stepped out of Minka’s Audi and crossed the street from the large parking area by the pier, down the narrow path to Vapor. The evening was chilly but gorgeous, clear skies, and cool brisk air. The typical summer crowd had since dissipated, but the streets were filled with life. People young and old filled the avenue, crowding the local businesses participating in the Food and Wine festival.
The closer she got to Vapor, the quicker her heart raced. Nerves. She slowed her steps, drew in a deep breath, pushed open the door with a trembling hand, and proceeded to the bar. She was met by the booming sound of excitement, deafening chatter, as one person spoke over the other. It appeared she had found the party. Not that it surprised her. Vapor was an honored sanctuary for Vineyard regulars and a familiar getaway for the many notables who frequented the island. The cool feel and warm finish of the brass bar and the Tapas-inspired grazing menu were enough to keep a loyal crowd. But the real reason people gathered at Vapor was to kick back, relax, and enjoy. Even in the winter, when the population was barely at fifteen-thousand, the bar was the place to be.