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“I’m sorry.” I hated to hear his pain, and there had to be more than he was showing. “But we all deal with loss in our own ways. Who was she to judge?”
He shrugged. “We find out who people are when things are at their worst. But that’s just backstory so you understand—Deacon was there for me. And that Valentine’s Day he shut the shop early, cleared a huge space in the back room, and we spent the rest of the day watching ninja movies and monster movies that were so bad they were good. He told me the point was no calendar or person got to tell us when or what to feel.”
“Which is why I would’ve been on your porch this morning, doing exactly what I did, regardless of if today was Valentine’s Day or some random Wednesday in August,” Adam said.
And that was about the sweetest story ever, tied up with the sweetest sentiment. “I’m glad you did. I’m glad you’re here.”
He pressed his lips to my forehead. “Me too.”
We talked about so many little things. The kinds of conversation most people never wanted to overhear because it would be dry to anyone it didn’t matter to, and we fed each other cheese and fruit for lunch. Adam’s visit was simple but perfect.
He cleaned up after lunch, and pulled me back into his lap when he returned to the couch. I was going to have a hard time sitting anywhere else after this.
“You know what I’ve never done on Valentine’s Day?” Adam said.
“Bungee jumping? Because I’m going to need to wait a little bit before we try that.” I wiggled my injured leg.
He laughed, cupped my face, and gave me one of those long kisses that was as sweet as the strawberries had been, but had an underlying spice that made me think he might consume me in flame if he pushed a little harder.
He broke away and searched my face. “I’ve never made out with someone on Valentine’s Day. You know, a really good, intense session of kissing and groping.”
“It seems like a shame to not have experienced that at least once in your life.” My imagination was already racing along the possibilities and my body whimpered for the reality of it.
“Right?” Adam slipped one hand to the back of my neck and tightened his grip, holding me captive. The way he crushed his mouth to mine was both playful and possessive, and I gasped in surprise.
An unwelcome voice came out of nowhere, whispering in the back of my mind and askingwhat about Deacon?
What about him? Adam was here, and I was enjoying every minute of his company, from the talking to the kisses and everything in between.
I pressed in harder, searing thoughts of only Adam into my mind, and memorizing the way his mouth seared my skin and consumed my soul and left me desperate for more.
TWENTY-TWO
ADAM
Everything about this was incredible—Brooke’sweight in my lap, the little sounds of delight she made, and the heat that flowed between us.
I felt like a teenager again, making out with my crush, and exploring each other like it was our first time. Her shirt was pushed up around her neck and her bra was undone, so I could memorize the topography of her breasts, and figure out which licks, sucks, and nibbles produced the best results.
She had my shirt off completely, and her nails on my skin were delicious.
The sound of tires on pavement and the growl of an engine reached us from outside and Brooke froze.
She was instantly as pale as her white cotton panties. “That’s Paige’s car.”
And suddenly this waswaytoo much like when I was a teenager. We managed to pull our clothes back on, straighten them, and slide Brooke back onto the couch just as the front door opened.
“Look, hon. Adam’s back,” Brooke said when Paige walked in.
Paige rolled her eyes. “Big fucking deal.”
“Did I miss something?” I asked.
“Her best friend ki—”
“Oh my fuck.” Paige talked over Brooke. “Are you going to tell everyone?” She turned from the room and a moment later a door slammed.
Brooke’s sigh was nothing like the ones she was making just a few minutes ago. “There was a lot of that this weekend.”
