Page 92 of Blood & Lace
"And you came here anyway?"
I opened and closed my mouth before sighing. "I didn't know what else to do. He's hurt right now, and freaking out, and I can'tfigure out how to help him. Last time he came here, he ended up so drunk he could hardly walk."
He turned away from me and squared his shoulders. His voice was softer now. "That might have been my fault. Is he okay?"
I nodded. "I was just glad he called for me. I got him home safe and in bed. But since then, he's been different."
Silence descended upon us, and we both went back to cleaning. Before I knew it we were done with the kitchen and moved onto the bathroom.
"Adam," he finally said, breaking the quiet.
"Lucero."
"Yeah, I've heard. He said your marriage was complicated."
"It's not. I'm very happy, and I wouldn't want to be married to anyone else."
Adam laughed. "Yeah, I can tell. How long did you two date?"
"We went on our first date a few weeks ago. It was amazing. I'm hoping to trick him into another one."
Adam stopped short, staring at me. "There is something wrong with you, isn't there?"
"My siblings all say I am bullheaded, but other than that? No."
We moved to the bedroom, and Adam finally stopped trying to beat me to trash piles. He concentrated on one side of the room and I did the other. We were done in a matter of minutes.
"Better."
Adam looked around, his blue eyes skipping over the place. "Yeah, thanks."
I pulled him into a side hug. "Anything for family." He was still stiff in my hold but that didn't bother me. If being with Onyx had taught me anything, the more I showered him with brotherly affection, the softer he was bound to get. It worked onOnyx. I got to kiss him a whole lot more than when we first got married. "You smell."
Adam's face went beet red and he pushed away from me. "I haven't gotten to the laundry."
"You have nothing to wear?"
"No."
"Oh, wait right here." I took the last bag of trash and took it outside to the full dumpster. The back alley reeked but that was a problem for someone else. I made my way to my car and popped the trunk. I found a few spare clothes I had in the back. They'd be a bit big but it wouldn't be too bad on him.
I jogged back to the apartment, and when I knocked, Adam opened the door and moved to the side.
"Here, go take a shower."
"These pants won't fit me."
"Then wear the shirt, and I'll go see if you got something okay to wear for bottoms."
Adam looked skeptical, but I ushered him toward the bathroom. "Come on, I know you're hungry and we can't go get groceries with you smelling like this."
"I don't leave?—"
"Oh, how about cacio e pepe chicken?" I thought about the meal I wanted to cook. "And tiramisu for dessert."
Adam's eyes glazed over as he licked his lips. "You're going to cook?"
"Yeah, and I'll prepare a few dishes that you can freeze. Although, they’re best hot." An idea came to mind the moment I said it. "Oh, you can come over and join us for dinner."
