Page 127 of The Last Saturday In July
Jess sat up a bit straighter. . ‘Actually, I’ve just had an email from Ian Finnegan. Two wedding bookings this morning, and people are also interested in staying in Linford’s haunted rooms.’ She met his gaze squarely. ‘We might have that high concept we need to stand out.’
Adam closed the door. ‘It sounds good, but that’s not what I came to talk about. I need to ask you something.’
Shit, maybe Ian had said something after all. ‘Okay.’
‘Why did you not go through with your wedding?’
She sucked in a breath. ‘How do you know?’
‘I ran into Kate.’ He sounded half amused. ‘Actually, she marched into my office and told me to sit down and listen to her.’
A pulse began to beat rapidly at Jess’s throat. ‘If you already know what happened, why are you asking me?’
He gave her a steady look. ‘I know you didn’t get married, Jess. It’s the rest I’m interested in.’
Where did she start? And why did he want to know? She’d had enough drama in her life in the last few days, and she wasn’t sure she could handle Adam’s judgement.
He ran a hand through his hair. ‘Sorry, look, it’s none of my business. Take the rest of the day off if you want, I’ll cover for you.’
As he turned to leave, Jess caught his expression: it was the same one she’d noticed before, when he’d tried to get close, and she’d pushed him away.
Say something, Jess. ‘Wait.’
Adam stood still.
She swallowed hard. ‘That’s not all.’
He reached behind him and shut the door with a soft click but made no attempt to move.
Jess tried to organise her thoughts. ‘Simon wasn’t the right person for me. I wasn’t the right person for him either, to be fair. But that wasn’t the only reason I didn’t marry him. I, that is, what happened on the Isle of Man made me realise that things weren’t right with us. I don’t do one-night stands, and I shouldn’t have cheated on Simon, or lied to him. I shouldn’t have lied to you either.’
He appeared to be listening closely. Feeling strangely calm now, Jess continued. ‘The other thing I’ve realised in the last few weeks is that I like you. A lot.’ Adam’s mouth twitched slightly, but Jess wasn’t sure if it was a smile. ‘I don’t know if you feel the same way anymore, but ...’
The rest of the sentence disappeared, as he walked over to her. ‘Did you just say you like me?’
Jess tried to wet her lips. ‘Um, you’re a good guy.’
‘So, we’re friends?’ Adam’s eyes glinted as she looked down at her, but she took a slight step back, her mouth drying at the thought of what she had to say next.
‘There’s something else. And I need to make it very clear that this had nothing to do with me not going through with my wedding. Because the thing is … ’ She swallowed again. ‘The thing is that night on the Isle of Man I’d been drinking a lot and I threw up on the ferry.’
Adam frowned. ‘Okay.’
Oh God. ‘Right. And if you’re on the pill, sometimes it doesn’t work when you’re sick.’ She stopped, hoping he’d piece the rest of it together. For a long moment, Adam said nothing.
‘I used a condom.’ He spoke slowly.
A tear rolled down Jess’s cheek and she swiped it away.
‘I know. I’m sorry.’ She tried to read his expression. ‘You don’t have to do anything, Adam. I mean, I’m not asking you for anything. But if you want to change your mind about us, I’ll completely understand.’ In that moment, Jess knew that no matter what Adam decided, she was going to keep her baby. And if that meant she’d be on her own, she’d manage.
‘How can you be so sure the baby’s mine, Jess?’ Now, something in his expression made her hope.
‘The timing,’ she said, simply. ‘Simon and I hadn’t, you know … been together in the weeks before my hen weekend. And this last month since you and I …’ She shrugged. ‘The thing is, it’s just not possible that it’s Simon’s. I did a test last night. It’s very early days, but I’m definitely …’
Before Jess got a chance to finish, Adam had wrapped one arm around her waist and was pulling her close.
Excitement and relief shivered through her as she met his eyes.
