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“Don’t you need a reservation to get into a place like that?”
“You do,” I beam. “Luckily for us, I know people who know people that know people closely linked to the owner, so I was able to get us a table.”
When we arrive at the restaurant, all eyes turn to us the second we walk in and get shown to our table. The murmurs start up immediately and phones light up as people try (and fail) to take covert pictures. I forget that people know his face, largely because of the docuseries. My face was rarely on the camera during the interview, so I doubt anyone would recognize me. That’s not the case for Adam.
Of course, they know who he is. Even with a fresh haircut and civilian clothes, Adam is a huge man with distinct features. He easily towers over everyone in the room, including the security men walking towards us.
“Excuse me, ma’am, but we are going to ask you both to leave,” one of two security men says.
I splutter. T-they’re kicking us out?
“What the hell do you mean? Do you have a reason for asking us to leave?” I ask, stepping closer to Adam and placing a hand over his arm. Faces all around the restaurant darken with disapproval.
“There have been a lot of complaints about—”
I roll my eyes at his words. “We just got here. We haven’t been here long enough for someone to complain.”
“We don’t want trouble.”
Oh, I’ll show them trouble.
Adam places a hand over mine, stopping me from launching myself at these bouncers. His face stoic, but he shakes it just slightly. I sigh and relax my shoulders. He just got out, the last thing I need is to cause him trouble.
“Fine, we’re leaving,” I hiss, glaring at the two men. “And never coming back.”
With an annoyed huff, I drag Adam out behind me. Once we’re at the car, I completely deflate. I can’t believe I spent hours looking for the right dress only to get kicked out of the restaurant. What was the point of all this? He’s been pardoned! Why are they worried about a guy like him getting out of prison not people like my kidnapper, a man who preyed on the innocent? If I weren’t so angry at the moment, I’d probably be more worried about what that means.
“Their pasta isn’t even that good,” I mutter. Adam breaks into a laugh. I turn to him with a frown.
“You spent the entire drive here gushing about how they had the best pasta in town,” he smiles.
“It heals the mind and soul,” I say bitterly. “Now it’s going to taste like elitism and shitty attitudes. Do you want to go eat someplace else?”
Adam shakes his head, but the smile remains. “I’m probably going to get the same treatment anywhere I go.” His smile falls when he turns to look at me. “I’m really sorry for ruining your night, Yuri. I know I’m not accepted in most places, but you don’t have to share my fate.”
His words make me want to storm back in and cause a scene, but I can’t bear the thought of it backfiring and making his life more difficult. I may be a green news reporter, but I could recover from something like that. Adam, though? There are so many people that don’t think he should be free. I can’t give them a reason to gloat.
My head drops back against the headrest as I sigh. I really wanted Adam to have a nice meal. Damn it. “Is the reception better at the restaurants closer to your place?”
“I, uh, live at a hotel.”
I perk up with surprise. “What do you mean?”
“Leases usually involve background checks,” he shrugs. “Landlords don’t want to rent their space to a convict, so I’ve been living at a hotel until I find a place I can go. I can’t go back to work either, my face is too familiar, so I’ve been having my nephew run all my businesses to keep from chasing away customers and investors.”
My eyes widen in horror. I can’t imagine feeling so unwanted by the world. It’s like they don’t even see the man. They only see the criminal record.
I reach over and take his hand in mine. “I can’t believe how stupid everyone is being. I’m sorry.”
Adam chuckles, but I wasn’t trying to be funny. Something about this massive man makes me want to protect him, even though he’s far bigger than me.
“Come live with me,” I say without a further thought. Adam’s eyes shoot to mine, his brows going up in shock at my words.
“What?”
“I live in a three-bedroom house. I haven’t done anything with the third room yet, but it’s better than a hotel, right? I can rent it out to you until you find your own place.”
I have no idea what’s come over me, but I can’t stop myself. Everyone’s being so cruel to Adam. I want to show him that some of us don’t actually believe he’s a bad guy.
