Page 75 of Slow Burn
I was still staring after them like a lovesick fool when a soft touch to my arm snatched my attention away from the stairs. "I was going to make some tea; would you like a cup?"
"Please."
Wordlessly, I trailed behind Zoe as we made our way to the kitchen. I slipped onto one of the chairs at the dinette while she busied herself with preparing our drinks. When she was done, she set a steaming cup with a string dangling off the edge in front of me. With a few grunts, she took the seat opposite me.
"I have to be honest," Zoe said, steadily lifting the teabag in and out of the boiling water. "I wasn't expecting my brother to have a friend who is a girl." I liked how carefully she had phrased that. Not jumping to conclusions even though her brother and I had snuck into his house hand in hand at the crack of dawn.
"I don't think he expected it either," I told her honestly.
Nodding, she let out a little laugh laced with concern. Her gaze flicked to the entryway for a beat before coming back to me. "Do you know what happened?"
It didn't feel right telling her that her brother had given me his truth or at least a big chunk of it. Shifting in my seat, I sat up straighter. "I know he's been through a lot."
Her eyes narrowed like she was trying to get a read on me. "He has, and unfortunately he hasn't come out unscathed."
"I know," I admitted quietly.
Zoe looked me dead in the eye. "Whatever is going on between you and Adam isn't my business. But if it is what I think it is, I am begging you not to hurt him." Her eyes turned glassy. "I just got my brother back."
My mouth opened and closed so many times, I probably looked like a fish out of water desperately gasping for air. I wanted to tell her I'd never do anything to hurt him intentionally, but before a single sound escaped my lips, a streak of black came whirling past me.
A little girl with the longest dark hair launched herself at Zoe and hugged her tight. The expression on both their faces tugged on something deep inside me.
I'd never really given thought to the whole married with kids thing. But here I was, sitting in Adam's kitchen wondering what that might look like. Imagining a little boy with Adam's dark hair and dark eyes running around, squealing happily.
I could see it so easily, it scared the crap out of me.
"Are you okay?" I blinked and found two gazes on me. One worried and the other curious. "You look a little pale," Zoe added.
Swiping my hand over my mouth, I nodded, "Yeah." But I wasn't and I didn't know how to handle these new feelings. They felt big. Almost too big and the risk of my heart being broken all too real.
My legs felt restless. The need to jump up and run so incredibly strong. But would I really be able to outrun my feelings? To beg my heart to slow down. To not fall so hard.
Before I even realized what I was doing, I slowly pushed to my feet.
"Will you please tell Adam I'm not feeling well and I'll get Sheldon from him a bit later?" I didn't wait for her response, simply spun on my heels, and started walking toward the door.
A few steps into my escape, Zoe called after me, her hurried footfalls closing in. I stopped; screwed my eyes shut for a beat before opening them and pivoting. The poor woman looked white as a ghost when she grabbed my hand. "Please don't go. I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable or said—"
"You didn't do anything, I promise." Patting her hand, I gave her a pleading look, hoping she'd let me go. Give me the space I needed to sort through the mess inside of me.
My shoulders sagged with relief when she released her grip on my hand. "It was nice meeting you, Maddie." Zoe took a step backward. "I hope I get to see you again soon."
"Me too." I spun around and rushed out of the house as if the hounds of hell were giving chase. With every stepI took, my legs moved faster and faster. The tension coiled so tightly around me eased somewhat when I set my hand on the little gate. Until…
"Maddie?"
No.
Taking a steadying breath, I turned to face Adam. He was dressed in dark jeans and a white t-shirt that clung to his muscles like a second skin. Hair still wet from his shower and brows tightly knitted together.
"Where are you running off too?" Adam asked in a low gruff voice.
I opened my mouth and lied through my teeth. "I'm not running."
Eyebrow arching, Adam gave me a pointed stare. "Really? You call this not running?"
Every fiber of my being begged me to step forward right into that massive chest and have those thick arms wrapped around me. I needed it like I needed my next breath. And because of that, I hugged myself instead.
