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Adam was quiet for a moment. "Ryan. Coach’s stepdaughter is transferring after all."
"Oh." I blinked. "He’s calling you at three about that?"
Once again, silence. But it was a poignant one, heavy in the air, and I knew Adam was wrestling with something, trying to figure out what to say to me.
"Ice princess?" he croaked. "I’m so sorry."
I blinked, surprised. "What do you mean?"
Adam drew away and gazed down at me, new creases on his face. Slowly, he placed his hands on either side of me. He swallowed.
"I’m so sorry," he repeated, his voice thick. "You didn’t deserve to be treated like that. I was a shitheel and a fuckhead—and when you transferred—I made your job hell and I’m so sorry and I wanted to apologize. I’ve wanted to say I’m sorry for so long but I thought I could just ignore it and get past it because I’m scared that—"
"Hey. Hey." I pulled him back to me and wrapped my arms around his neck. "It’s okay."
"It’s not okay," he mumbled against my skin. "I’m so sorry."
That’s why Adam was freaking out. This had been sitting on his shoulders for a while. And I should’ve accepted the apology—that’s what I needed to do—because it was good for him to do that—but I couldn’t fight that overwhelming need to take care of him. All I wanted to do was hold him too.
“It’s okay, baby,” I promised him, holding him close. “Thank you though. And I’m sorry I pushed you in a pool."
He should’ve laughed. He didn’t.
"Adam?" I leaned over and kissed his neck. "I love you."
His shoulders finally relaxed. All that tension eased away and he kissed my neck, drawing in a slow breath. "I love you more."
The kitchen was quiet and there was a new softness between us. I ran my fingertips along the back of his neck. All these little strings connected us. All these little things kept pushing us back together until we ended up against the counter.
“I’m going to keep you safe,” he whispered. “I promise.”
"Do you want to go back to bed?" I murmured.
Wordlessly, he nodded.
97
Adam
Must Be Nice
I had no idea if my parents were stupid enough to try it on campus but I wouldn’t give them the chance. I didn’t trail after Piper, I hovered over her. The two of my parents were the most manipulative people I’d ever met, they could say anything, do anything, and if they thought Piper was the way back to me, I couldn’t risk it.
I checked my phone again at the door, trying to look normal. "Ice princess, we had ten minutes, ten minutes ago."
"I’m almost done!" she called from the bathroom, fixing her hair. I didn’t just have her overnight clay masks anymore, I’d been incorporating more and more of her in my dorm. A turtle pillow sat on my couch, a fern from her mom sat on my windowsill, and there were sparkly stickers on my laptop. She was taking over. And it made me feel better just looking at it.
Shaking my head, I started sorting through the papers on the table. Piper had picked out the card and I stuffed it full of gift cards—a true team effort. I just didn’t know where she put it, and if she was still getting ready, I had to find it.
"Piper, where’s Ryan’s card?" I called out.
"On top of the fridge!"
I almost walked over when I spotted the clean white envelope, underneath some sports magazines. The crap must’ve piled on top of it. Already sealed and everything, I’d just needed to write Ryan’s name on top.
"It was on the table!" I called back to her.
"What?"
