Page 83 of Lucy Loves Him Not
I went to toss the trash in the kitchen bin, finding Olivia pouring herself a glass of water. “I’m glad we came back.” She pointed at my face. “It looks like you finally caught your breath.”
“Finally.” I rested my hip against the kitchen counter.
I glanced out at Victor and Adam, the two stepped away from the group for their own conversation. “Were you worried about Victor?”
“Of course.” Olivia looked down at her glass.
“Did you text him to check on him during the storm?” She hadn’t been dramatically sharing each communication with the rest of us like Gracie and I did.
“I texted all my friends.” She gave a little shrug. I knew Olivia was committed to ignoring the kindling sparking between her and Victor. Eventually, it’d ignite.
I headed back to Adam who was still talking with Victor. His back was to me and I realized neither of them had noticed my arrival.
“So, have you had a chance to think any more about that job offer in Tennessee?” Victor asked him.
“Man, I haven’t had a chance to think about much more than the festival—” Adam answered when I stepped into the middle of their twosome.
“Tennessee?” I repeated, my confusion spiraling through my voice high and loud.
“Oh, yeah.” Adam ran his fingers over his jaw. “I got this job offer early this morning. I know this recruiter and…I’ve barely been able to think about it. You know howtodayhas been.”
My heart was frozen. My brain was frozen. “Tennessee,” I repeated because apparently that was the only word I knew anymore.
“No plans yet though, right, buddy?” Victor tried to help, his eyes darting between us both.
“Yeah, no. I have time before I need to respond,” Adam said, his eyes a search and rescue in mine.
I took a step back from them, from this awful new development. “Is it…a good job?”
“A great job, actually. What I’m doing now, but on a larger scale.” He emphasized with his hands.
Victor laughed. “A lot bigger.”
“Not hard to be,” I said bleakly. Sweet River wasn’t some metropolis.
“I just found out,” Adam said again, apologetically. “I was going to tell you.”
“No worries.” I shook my head. “I’m just taking it in.” I was in shock. Like I’d been reminding myself to be gentle with something fragile, but then it dropped and crashed to the floor anyway.I knew it could happen, right?I’d been the one proceeding with caution.
So, then why am I still so surprised? Why am I so crushed as I sweep the pieces off the floor?
Victor bowed out, giving Adam a pat on the shoulder before he walked away.
It was just Adam and me now. He put both his hands around my shoulders gently, giving them a little rub. “It’s not official yet.”What wasn’t official yet? Us or the job?
My heart snagged on theyet.“Okay, you have time to decide, right?” I looked down at my feet, my hair a scarlet curtain over my face.
“Right,” he said.
“It feels like…” I went quiet. The other shoe had dropped and so had all the hope I’d mustered.
“Feels like what?” Adam caught my gaze as I lifted my head up.
“You just got here,” I said, my voice small and vulnerable.
“I know,” he said.
“What do you feel?” I asked. I knew it wasn’t a fair question. He’d only known since this morning and today he’s been hiding from storms and surveying damage.
