Page 65 of Lucy Loves Him Not
Olivia
Also, Mom will be fine. We chatted last night. She’s excited. It’s an adventure!
Me
I have their itinerary just in case and got her to agree to an AirTag in her backpack.
Olivia
Are you a helicopter daughter??
Gracie
she is a helicopter older sis. She had me forward my calendar and she talked me into AirTags, too.
it has helped me find lost things, tho. The tags have come in clutch.
Me
see? I’m only here to help.
Iwore a golden, strapless maxi dress to my meeting with Adam with my favorite old pair of strappy sandals. The air was so humid I could almost see it in waves across the sky, so I’d given up fixing my hair. I let it hang loose and wavy.
Adam was in his usual button-down and slacks, his back to me when I walked in, as he dug around a file cabinet behind his desk. I tapped the door frame to announce myself. He swung around to me. His eyes skated down me and my dress.
“Hi, there,” he said, the corner of his mouth curving into a grin.
“Good morning.” I had been too anxious for coffee this morning, my hands shaking as I ran through potential conversations with Adam about our feelings and our future. Wavering between chastising myself that,It’s too soon. We were just fighting over the festival, and imagining myself asking him,Maybe you could stay in Sweet River for a while?
“How’s your morning been?” he asked as I sat down across from him.
“It’s been good. I’ve been a little distracted.”
“What’s got you distracted?” He was looking straight at me with that intentional gaze of his. I looked anywhere but at him. My gaze skipped over the things on his desk: the framed photo ofhim and his brother, books on city planning, and the little vase with fresh daisies.
“Everything,” I said.
“Are you feeling nervous about the festival? It’s almost here and I know it’s different from what you were imagining a few months ago.”
“You know,” I said, choosing my words carefully. “I’m not feeling as nervous about the festival as I thought I’d be. I’m actually feeling the least worried I have since my grandmother passed.”
“Maybe it’s nice having a partner again?” Adam asked hopefully.
“Yes, because that partner is…you,” I said, my eyes meeting his.
His jaw dropped a little at my words, at the surprising honesty. He cleared his throat. “Well, Lucy, this is the most fun I’ve ever had at work. Well…at anything…”
“Guys.” Victor stood in the doorway to the office. “The team got the mockups ready for you to review.” He shook a few sheets of paper in his hand.
“Perfect.” Adam waved him in. I sighed. This was a work meeting, after all.
We spent the next few hours working, reviewing, discussing, and trying to ignore the undercurrent of all there was left to say between us.
During our lunch break, Adam ordered us a few subs and we ate them on the bench outside. I soaked in the closeness to him.
“Why are you always drinking these?” I asked him as he sipped on a bottled iced Frappuccino.
“Because I like caffeine,” he said, twisting the cap back on. “And sugar.”
