Page 23 of The Biggest Secret
“Answer the question, Chelsea.”
“You deserved to know.”
“I deserved to know two years ago!” he bellows, and I have to remind him to keep quiet.
“You’re right. I just didn’t think you were ready. I didn’t think it would work. I didn’t think you wanted…”
My words linger and I stare down at the floor. I’m distracted when he steps closer, and I jump when, through gritted teeth, he grinds out, “Excuses, Chelsea. It’s all bullshit. You know who I am.”
“I knew who you were!” His head jerks back as if I just slapped him with my words. “Maybe I should just go,” I quietly say as I make my way to the kitchen.
“No, I’ll go. Seems this is your house now, so I’ll leave.” He turns to leave, but I speak up.
“No, I mean leave town. I shouldn’t have come back here.”
Adam turns back to me so quickly that I flinch. “What kind of game are you playing, Chelsea? Now that I know him, and I know he’s here, I’ll never leave him. You will never take him away from me again.”
My heart is racing. He spun on me so fast I backed up and hit the island, feeling it digging into my back. “Is that a threat?”
“No, it’s a promise.” He turns back around, walks out, and slams the door.
I’m shaking. This is not how I envisioned us having this conversation. Would he really try to take him from me? That was always a fear of mine, and the longer I waited, I knew it became a bigger possibility once Adam did find out.
I hear my phone ring with a text message. I turn to the counter, placing the baby monitor on it and pick up my phone, seeing Francesca’s number.
Chess: Are you ok? I just saw Adam leave the house.
Is this what this neighborhood is like? Everyone all up in everyone’s business? That was always the way of the Casanovas. And Adam was the ringleader they all went to.
Me: No. Yes. I don’t know.
My phone starts ringing in my hand. I sigh and answer, “Hey Chess.”
“What’s going on?”
I walk over and fall onto the couch. “I’m not too sure. It’s the conversation I was waiting for but didn’t think it’d happen in the middle of the night. I need to talk to him, straighten things out.” I pause. Do I ask her? “Francesca, I need to go to him. Can you watch—I mean, can you come over.” My words are jumbled.
“Do you need me to watch Dominic?”
“Please,” is all I can choke out.
“I’ll be right there,” she says and hangs up before I could even ask if she minded or if she was busy. It’s late, but she was already on her way over.Family.They drop everything for anyone. That’s what Adam did all along, wasn’t it? That’s how these Casanovas work. They stick up and look out for everyone. Could I have had that? Absolutely, if I hadn’t ruined it two years ago.
Within minutes Francesca is at my doorstep, handing me a small sheet of paper, taking the baby monitor from my hand and pushing me out the door.
Another minute later, I’m standing in front of Adam’s front door, typing in the numbers from the sticky note with the alarm code on it. I turn the doorknob and it opens. I slip in and quietly shut the doorbehind me. Leaning against it, getting my bearings, the entire room is bathed in darkness. There’s a small night light coming from what I’m guessing is the kitchen, so I follow it, hoping to find Adam.
“You always sneak into people’s homes?”
“Oh!” I gasp and jump a mile. “Jesus, Adam, you scared me.”
“You’re breaking and entering into my home, andIscaredyou?”
I take in the scene. The room is dimly lit except for said nightlight. It’s a wide-open floor plan, different from the home I remembered from years ago. I spot Adam leaning against the counter in the kitchen. His hair is messy like he’s been pulling it. His arms are crossed and he’s holding a glass filled with tan liquid.
Scotch. It was always his choice of alcohol when he needed to calm himself and think.
I walk closer to him. “It’s not breaking and entering if I have a code.” I wave the paper from Francesca in my hand.
