All day Friday, Flannery and I spent holed up in my bedroom putting together the absolute best wardrobe options. Being summer, a skirt was first choice. It showcased my long legs, something I already knew Adam loved, and we paired that with some cute strappy sandals. Flannery insisted I wear this pretty sequined tank top that made my boobs look great and take a plain hoodie in case it got cold later. My little virgin had learned a lot the last two years.
With that set, she stayed with me while I did my hair and makeup. The hair I put loose curls into and the makeup I went with “less is more.”
“Nervous?” Flannery smiled over at me.
“Oh, please. It’s Adam.” I looked back into the mirror while applying some lip-gloss.
“Right,” she said more seriously, “it’s Adam.”
“Lucy, I’m home,” Cain called out with a truly horrible fake accent right before we heard the front door shut. We burst into hysterics both at the accent and because he startled us. We hadn’t been paying attention to the time so had no idea it was six o’clock already.
Normally, his company had the summer hours thing going on that everyone left early on Fridays. But he had several things to finish up, had a meeting, then wanted to go by his parents’ house. Flannery said he’d be home more at six-ish. And there he was.
“Wow, someone has plans tonight,” he said, looking directly at me before kissing Flannery quickly.
“You knew that, right?”
“Yes, he did.” Flannery snuggled into his side. “It’s his way of saying that you look nice.”
“Would it kill you just to give me a compliment?”
“I think it might.” He smiled back until Flan gave him a playful punch to the gut. “Ouch. Ok. You look great. Burger would be an idiot not to throw you over his shoulder, take you back to his cave, and do very dirty things to you. There. Better?”
“Oh, you sweet talker.” I laughed back.
Since the parents, as I playfully called Flannery and Cain while I was staying with them, didn’t have the kid (me) to worry about they decided to go out to eat. It’s not like I really hindered their lives in any way but Flannery sometimes felt obligated to hang out with me even when I told her to go. This is one of the many reasons she was my best friend.
So they left before I even did. But right at seven there was a knock on the door. I’d been sitting there staring at it for a good twenty minutes and almost grabbed it open before he finished hitting it the first time but waited long enough so that he knocked again. Then I opened it.
Chapter Twenty-Four
This was supposed to be a laid back kind of date so I expected the khaki shorts and black t-shirt that came to a slight V at the base of his neck. And Adam always looked good. But I hadn’t expected him to look so damn mouthwatering. Maybe it was just because he was standing there for me or maybe everyone saw him the same way. I didn’t know. I didn’t really care. I immediately filled with want. Longing really, because it had been a long time since we were last together. Desire shot to every pore when I thought about being in bed with him.
“Ready?” He offered his hand but didn’t step through the door.
“Yup.”
“Your face looks pretty good,” he said once we were in his car and he pulled out onto the road.
“Wow. You’re as much of a sweet talker as Cain.”
A big smile spread across his face. “I meant you look pretty healed up.”
“Yeah, still have some of the nasty bruise across my chest but I’m mostly good.” Finally, the car came to a stop and I saw where we were eating. “To all that is holy in the world.”
“You said you like bar-b-q.”
“I’m going to make such a mess of myself.”
The thought didn’t stop me from ripping the seatbelt off and hopping out of the car. He took me to a restaurant that looked like it’d have really good ribs. Like we’d find this place in the Wild West. Inside was the same, there were booths along the one wall while the middle had high tops. To the right was a dining room filled with family style tables. The hostess took us to a booth on the left. I preferred it because it was a little more secluded.
We fell into easy conversation just like no time had passed and ate a ridiculous amount of the most tender meat I’d ever had. For part of the time, we kept laughing at the funny sayings on the back of the t-shirts the wait staff was wearing.
After, we were off to a movie that he’d chosen. A comedy which kept us laughing the entire time. My muscles only protest mildly, but Adam had great taste. He offered me popcorn and candy after that million calorie meal we ate. My answer was pretending to vomit in the middle of the lobby. People around us watched, some with disgust, but Adam laughed loudly and said he rescinded the offer.
“I had fun tonight,” he said with a duffle thrown over his shoulder as we walked hand in hand up to the apartment. It’d gone by too fast. I was acutely aware of every minute we were together which I don’t think helped. It was like I was constantly counting down until he left again or until I’d see him again.
“Me, too.”
Inside, I was hoping we would’ve already kissed goodnight. But no, instead, we both got changed, he settled onto the couch with Cain in a nearby chair, each with a beer in their hand when I plopped onto the other end. What is happening here? This was not how you ended a date, especially a good one. Adam was acting like it was any other night and we were all just hanging out. This was not something I was used to dealing with.
“Where’s Flannery?”
“Bed. She wasn’t feeling great.” Cain tipped the bottle against his lips.
“Please tell me you haven’t knocked her up.” I pinned him with what I hoped was a menacing look. It never worked but I had to try.
“Yup. Triplets. Found out today.” I threw one of the couch pillows at him. It hit but not very hard. “Fuck. No, Kendra. I think she’s just run down from all the wedding stuff. It’s called being tired.”
“Just making sure your weird super seed didn’t invade my best friend.”
“Super seed.” He smirked. “I like the sound of that.”
“You’re so gross.” I rolled my eyes, which just made both of them laugh harder.
“You said it.”
“Ok, anyway. Since you boys are being all boy like with your grunting and beer and super seed, I’m going to bed, too.” Couldn’t believe I said that. It was only like eleven-thirty and I’d hoped for a least an hour of good old fashioned making out. I guess a girl could dream.
“Just so you know we don’t do anything with each other’s super seed,” Cain called down after me. Jack nut. But I loved him and he took great care of my best friend. I was halfway down the hall before I heard Adam behind me. Spinning around so fast I startled him.
“Are you coming to my bedroom?” He nodded with a small grin. “Are you staying?”
“Not tonight.”
“Nice way to dash her hopes,” Cain yelled out at us. How he heard I had no idea. I wanted to have a snappy comeback but really, my hopes were dashed plain and simple. Instead of trying to save face, I turned back to slump into my room.
“So,” I said after Adam shut the door quietly.
“So.”
“What are you doing in here?” His eyebrows shot up hitting his hairline. “Not that I’m not glad you’re here.”
“Well … ” He stepped into my personal space, “I didn’t want to forget the best part of our date.” I cocked an eyebrow in challenge. “Did you think I’d forget the goodnight kiss, especially with you?”
I didn’t have the chance to answer. His body pressed against mine and I was already melting. Each hand cupped a side of my face, his long fingers stretching out into my hair and his thumbs stroked each cheekbone until I thought I was about to jump on him so hard we’d slam into the floor. Some kind of curling, swirling feeling settled in the very bottom of my abdomen. My body was on edge, so responsive to every single touch.
Then finally … finally h
is lips brushed mine so softly I thought I could’ve imagined it. My eyes popped open just to make sure he was really standing there. He was. Before I could close them, he pushed us back together. It was the best thing I’d felt in the longest time. His tongue stroked my lips for permission to enter which I gave gladly. It was sweet at first then turned hungry and I’m not sure if he was the one to change it or I was. Eventually we had to breathe.
“This is going to be harder than I thought.” His voice was breathless as his forehead dropped to mine.
“It’s exactly as hard as I remember.” A shift of my hips let him know what I was talking about and it was right there on the other side of his zipper.
“Not that,” he laughed. “The whole ‘taking things slow.’ One kiss and I want to throw you on that bed to make sure you know how I feel.”
“Adam.” I sighed. He took a step back so he could see my face. I led him over to sit on my bed, which may have turned out to be a dangerous decision given the fact that we were both already on edge. “I don’t know how to do this.”
“I can teach you.” The smirk he added earned him a playful slap.
“I don’t know how to act like I don’t already know everything about you and you about me. Because you literally know everything now, Adam. I don’t know how to pretend that I haven’t kissed you a thousand times yet it still makes my toes curl. And I don’t know how to act like I don’t know that there are certain spots I can place my mouth that make you forget everything. I don’t know how to do this.”
Taking a deep breath, I realized I needed it because that all came out fast and a little psychotic. But Adam … he laughed. Bastard.
“I don’t want you to act like you don’t know those things. Although I think we’ll eventually have to see if the mouth on certain parts is still true.” His fingers drew small circles on the inside of my thigh, which was so not helping at that moment. “I want this to be real. Not some game. I want to be able to love you and have you accept that. I want you to be able to love me.”
“I do. I so do. I love you, Adam, and I know I didn’t say it for a long time but I will. I will say it every day until you believe me.”
“I believe you, Kendra.”
With those words, I couldn’t wait another second. My hand gripped onto the back of his neck causing our mouths to collide in a hungry flurry of lips and tongues. I just kept on pulling until I landed on my back with him on top of me. My knees spread apart so he’d slide in right where I wanted him. His hands gripped my hips, pulling me toward him then pushing me away causing the absolute best kind of friction. Before it could go any further, he pulled away and was sitting on the end of the bed.
“What’s the matter?” I propped myself up onto my elbows.
“We can’t do this tonight, Kendra.”
“And why is that?”
“Because this is how you make things better. Always have.” He shook his head then ran a hand through his hair and down his face. The pup tent he was sporting told me he wanted this as much as I did but there he was denying us both. My mouth clamped shut causing my jaw to clench. He finally looked at me but shook his head again. “Whenever you want to make something better, apologize, or make me feel better, this,” he motioned to the bed, “is how you do it.”
“Why is that wrong?” It came out like a whine but I didn’t care.
“It’s not wrong, necessarily.” Adam sighed again, turning his body toward me. “Make-up sex is great, and trust me when I say ours will be off the charts, but our relationship has to be solid before we move on to that.”
“And what the hell does that mean?”
“Calm down.” He looked down at me. “Listen. I told you before I want to make sure that we are on solid ground before sex comes into play again. Because with us it is so fucking good that we’ll both forget about the other stuff. For a while anyway.”
“Yeah, yeah.” I got what he was saying. I didn’t like it because it delayed the sex but I got it. He wanted to make sure I wasn’t going to run off like a scared cat when things got emotional and intimate. He wanted to make sure I was ready for what I said I wanted. I was. I’d make sure I was and even in those moments where I’d want to run, because I wasn’t deluded enough to think they wouldn’t come up, I’d never run again. He was my forever.
“So, I’m gonna go because if I stay in here much longer, I’m going to forget I said all that.” A giggle bubbled up from my chest and as much as I wanted him to backtrack on everything he said I let him go. He was right and if I wanted this to last we had to do this his way because I’d been the one to screw it up before.
Sinking into bed, I could hear Adam and Cain’s voices from the living room. They were soft so I couldn’t make out what was being said but I could imagine. When I heard Cain’s loud laughter break the surface of silence, I was pretty sure I knew. Boys.
Chapter Twenty-Five
The next morning, I showered and dressed before ever leaving my room. Adam had seen me in every state imaginable yet I still felt it necessary knowing he was out there on the couch. I’d heard the day was supposed to be pretty hot, so I threw on a pair of shorts, a tank, and pulled my hair back into a messy bun because days like that made me consider cutting my hair off. And I couldn’t be making rash decisions that I’d immediately regret.
Before I got down the hall, I heard voices in the kitchen. They’d all beaten me to the punch. Once I got inside, I found that they looked pretty cozy doing it as well. Adam had been a sorely missed part of us most of the summer.
“Morning, sunshine,” Flannery greeted me as soon as I came through the door. “Wow, you look nice.”
“Yeah, it’s supposed to be hot today.” Adam was watching me, leaning against the counter sipping on a cup of coffee. “Good morning,” I said softly when I got near enough for him to hear me and I could pour a cup of my own.
“Morning.” Another sip. “I’ll be ready in a few and we can go.”
“Ok.” Then he was gone leaving me confused. I wasn’t asking him to dry hump on the table in front of my friends but didn’t think a good morning kiss was too much to ask.
“He hasn’t brushed his teeth,” Cain offered up with a mouthful of what I think was toast.
“What?”
“He hasn’t brushed his teeth. Guys don’t really care except where their girl is concerned.”
“You guys don’t even make sense.” Flannery shook her head. “You should always care if your breath reeks.” She sighed then put her attention back on me. “Ok, so, I have a list of everything we’re supposed to do over the next couple of weeks.” She slid a sheet of paper toward me. Looking it over, I found exactly what we’d talked about the last time we were with Linda and Adele. Everything I expected.
“Sounds good. I just have to go get my car today but then I’m all yours.”
“Oh no. I need you on Monday. Until then, you’re Adam’s.”
I liked the sound of that.
A few minutes later Adam called me from the living room. It really was unfair how guys could get ready in the amount of time it takes a girl to brush her hair and still look good enough to drop panties wherever they went. After saying goodbye to Cain and Flannery, we were back in his Skylark, a car I hoped he never got rid of, on our way to Lansing.
My car looked beautiful, like it had never even been in an accident. Adam still checked everything over, popped the hood to mess with whatever they told him they replaced. I found it incredibly hot. The look of him in long khaki shorts and a blue tee, leaning over the front bumper on my car and the fact that he cared enough to make sure everything was right. Super hot.
From there, I offered to show him my new apartment, the place I’d be spending all my time while in law school. Although he laughed at the last part, assuring me I wouldn’t be spending all my time there. Until recently, I hadn’t loved the idea of the new place being my prison but I felt like it wouldn’t feel like one anymore.
We made the drive, him following beh
ind me. I’d offered to leave my car parked or his so that we could ride together but he said he wanted me to test the car to make sure everything was good and he’d follow just in case. Since we were already in Lansing, it only took twenty minutes to get to my place.
“Wow, this is nice,” he said, covering his eyes with those aviator glasses as he got out of the car. He’d lifted them, I assume to get a better look. The building impressed me much the same way when I first looked at it. It was like I knew it’d be the one.
“I thought so.”
“It’s secure?” Aww … that was the first thing he thought about? Made my little heart go pitter-patter.
“Yeah, you have to be buzzed in.”
Adam followed me through the front door to my apartment, the second on the right. I’d chosen this exact unit because it was on the ground floor and there would be nights I’d barely be able to drag my butt inside not to mention the pain of hauling groceries up a flight or two of stairs. It was also not adjacent to the parking lot so I thought it’d be quieter.
My twelve hundred square foot apartment spread out before us in a state of complete disarray. Before the accident, I’d really only been working on the kitchen which wasn’t even done. Everywhere else, furniture and boxes stacked everywhere because not only did I have everything from our old apartment, but I’d been picking things up along the way. This place was almost twice the size of the place Flannery and I shared the last two years of college. With an open floor plan though it felt even bigger.
“This is … nice,” Adam offered after looking around thoroughly.
“Obviously, I have a lot of work ahead of me. Nothing even made it to the bedroom except the bed I bought.”
“Why a new bed?”
Grabbing his hand in mine, I pulled him toward the room in question. This was my favorite thing about the place. The bedroom was large enough to house a king sized bed, my dresser, and I’d still be able to shove a desk and bookcase into the corner for school crap.
Up for Forever Page 17