Page 62 of Slow Burn
I read over the text for what felt like the hundredth time. It had come through almost three hours ago when Frankie had still been here. She'd done such a great job at distracting me with food, I hadn't even heard my phone.
After I'd walked her out and came back inside the blinking light on my phone caught my attention. And then I saw Adam's message.
Yes, I somewhat understood why he felt the need to flee. But if I were being honest, it'd hurt me a little too. And that just made me feel guilty. I didn't know what it felt like to walk around with scars on my body.
Just because I didn't see him any differently didn't mean others would too. Somewhere at the very back of my mind, a little nagging voice tried to make itself known. What if this thing with Adam grew into something more? Would he always stay in the shadows? Was I going to go to the movies or Oven and Vine alone?
I shook my head and forced that silly little voice to shut the hell up. She was getting way ahead of herself.
Thumbs hovering over the keyboard, I waited a few seconds before I typed my reply.
Me: It's okay. What's not okay, though, is the frustrated state you left me in.
It took a while for the little dots to start jumping.
Adam: I can take care of that.
I laughed; it sounded a little irritated and nervous. There was nothing I wanted more than for Adam to come and freaking finish what we started but I had to go see my parents. While I still had the nerve.
Me:I'm going to hold you to that as soon as I get back from my parents.
When his response popped up, I laughed even more. It was so Adam to just send a thumbs-up emoji. Nibbling on my lip, I slipped my phone into my back pocket and tried very hard to ignore the insistent fluttering in my heart when I thought about the man next door.
The man who had six-foot walls around his heart and still managed to break through every single one of mine. The man who made my knees weak and my heart skip a beat. He was also the one burrowing so deep into every part of me, it was almost impossible to imagine a day without him.
Those thoughts were scary as hell.
No doubt I was falling. Hard. I just wasn't sure whether he'd be there to catch me before I hit the ground.
With a deep breath, I shelved that particular line of thought. I had more pressing matters to attend to.
***
The knots in my stomach twisted tighter and tighter the closer I got to my family home. By the time I walked up the steps and knocked on the door, I was so nervous I thought I might throw up.
I actually almost did when my mom opened the door and greeted me with a wide smile. One I hadn't seen much of lately. The nausea rising in my throat made way for something else entirely when she pulled me to her chest and whispered against my hair, "I'm so happy you're here."
Pulling back, I smiled at her. I wanted the band so tightly wound around my chest to expand, but I knew it wouldn't. Not until I'd spoken to my parents. "Is Dad home? I want to talk to you both."
A mask of worry veiled her features. Her hands shot to my shoulder and gripped them firmly. "Are you all right? Did something happen?"
Swallowing hard, I chose to only answer her first question. "I'm not sick if that's what you're worried about, Mom. I just really need to talk to you and Dad."
Slowly her head bobbed up and down, I could tell she wasn't buying it. Thankfully, she remained quiet as she led me through the house.
My gaze bounced from picture to picture lining the walls. It hadn't been all bad, my childhood. It was only when I started dancing that this wall was erected. One, in all fairness, I hadn't even attempted to climb over. Hopefully, after today we could remove a few of the bricks.
"He's out here," my mom said as we walked through the kitchen and out the back door. My dad was sitting on the patio nose deep in a book. On the chair next to his was my mom's knitting basket.
It must've been nice to simply be in each other's presence while you were still doing something for you. Unexpectedly—or maybe not so unexpectedly—my mind drifted to Adam. He'd happily sit on the beach or anywhere else—where there were no people—and watch me dance. I wasn't sure how I knew; I just did.
And that thought had something else entirely blooming inside my chest.
"Look who stopped by." My mom sounded so thrilled, I felt bad for not coming over more often.
Dad lowered his book and lifted his eyes to mine. I wanted to press my hand against my stomach to keep the knots from twisting and churning. "Madison." He jerked his head in greeting. "What brings you over?"
Deep breaths, Maddie. This was it. The moment that probably could make or break my already fragile relationship with my parents. I took a few more steadying breaths as I dragged a patio chair closer and steadily lowered myself onto it.
