Page 157 of To Hate Adam Connor

“Yeah, I second that. I don’t understand either. Why can’t you ask me that?”

He walked to my side and cupped my face in one hand. I barely registered Aiden letting go of my hand and going to Jason’s side. Adam always did that to me, always made it impossible to look away from him.

“Because I don’t want you to think. Because I don’t want you to have the option to say no to me. You’re mine, Lucy. When there is only one answer to a question and you already know what it is, it’s pointless to ask it. You will get married to me today. You will become my wife and you will always be mine.”

His wife.

His fucking wife.

I gulped and nodded. “You’re right. It’s pointless to ask when you know the answer.”

His other hand came up, and he held me still. “So, yes? You’re going to do it?”

“I thought you said I didn’t have the option to say no.”

“You don’t,” he repeated in a low voice, his eyes moving over every inch of my face. “But I can never be sure of what you’ll do.”

“I understand. So…okay.” I lifted my shaky hands and put them over his. “Let’s get married. And why not today, right? It’s as good a day as any, and if all my favorite people will be there, well, that means it will be the best day.”

He smiled slowly, as if he had actually been afraid I’d say no, as if he didn’t already know I couldn’t.

Then as his smile got bigger, my eyes filled with more tears.

“That’s enough, Lucy,” he murmured, kissing my leaking eyes. “That’s enough, my beautiful warrior.”

My body shuddered, and Adam wrapped me up in his arms before I could slip away and meet the floor.

His whispers were the only things that were getting through to me.

“You’ll never be like them, Lucy. You’re not cursed, sweetheart. You never were. You were just waiting for me to find you.” His voice was so tender, so loving. “Who am I kidding? You couldn’t even wait for me to find you. You fell right into my backyard, got right up in my face.” Still crying in his arms, I held on tighter.

He had found me.

He’d never acknowledge it, but yes, Adam had found me.

“I love you,” I whispered into his now soaked shirt.

“And I love you, my Lucy.” I felt his lips on the top of my head and closed my eyes.

He was perfect. He was everything I’d always been afraid to want for myself.

Lifting my head, I looked into his eyes and managed to give him a shaky smile. “You are the hero of my story, after all, Adam Connor. You are my unexpected prince who broke my curse. Who would’ve thought, huh? I think I’m glad it’s you because I would’ve hated to start from scratch and teach someone else how to kiss properly.”

He laughed, his eyes going soft. “I’m afraid you’ll never get to kiss anyone else but me again. You okay with that?”

I nodded, my heart still feeling wonky in my chest. “I can live with that.”

“Good.”

“So, Lucy, will you marry us or not?” a voice chimed in.

I let go of Adam and leaned down to kiss Aiden’s cheeks. “Thank you for asking, my little prince. My answer is a definite yes.”

“Good. Now can we eat the pancakes? I’m really hungry, and I’ve been waiting very patiently.”

I laughed and straightened. “Yes. Yes, we can eat the pancakes.”

A now tear-free Olive sent me a quick wink and went to help Aiden and Jason with the pancakes.

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