Page 93 of Never Till Now

They’re cherries.

My stomach bottoms out as if I’ve fallen off the Golden Gate and my breath becomes stuck in my chest. My eyes zone in on the familiar blue dress exposing the long legs that caught my attention months ago. The rapid pulse in my neck sends my heartbeat thumping through my ears. Am I asleep at my desk? Everything up to this point feels real, but I have learned how my mind can conjure quite the dreams lately. I take a step forward before someone gets the chance to wake me.

“No.” I hear my monotone voice cut through the silence as I shake my head in disbelief.

“I didn’t ask a question.” She turns and I’m paralyzed.

“You don’t have to. You toss cherries around, and men throw their hearts at you.” I bounce back into our banter as if no time has passed.

“Adam, I…” She stands and bites her cheek while taking a step closer. “I hope you still have a heart to toss my way.” Her thumb and middle finger are twisting her pinkie ring.

She is extremely nervous. Good.

“And allow someone else besides family to own me too?” My own defense kicks in as the shock of her in front of me slightly dissipates.

“Well warranted.” Her head dips down as her forehead creases when she swallows.

She’s close to being sick. Her chest expands as she straightens her spine, walking closer without a word. Please don’t puke, Lauren.

“You’re here because?” I keep my tone flat, waiting for her to prove she feels the same as I do.

If she’s even fucking here for that. Part of me wonders if she’s over me and has gained enough courage to face me for a charity check for her foster bags. I’d be guilted into saying yes, so I don’t look like a dick, depriving children of their basic needs. She walks forward until her scent consumes me. Her proximity alone is enough to make me agree to anything. My fists ball so I don’t cave and say yes if she suggests a casual hookup.

“Look, Adam, I’m sorry I hurt you.” There is a “but” in her tone. “I won’t apologize for my reaction to your news. There were parts of my past that were brought to light and I still needed to work on them.” I open my mouth to respond, but her palm lifts to silence me. “I had only known empty promises and abandonment. That part is textbook. It took time for me to realize that you leaving didn’t mean you were leaving me.”

“I told you that,” I whisper.

“But at that time, it didn’t feel that way to me. It felt like it always had.” Her lips roll in as she tries to keep her composure. “It felt like another ‘this place will be the last. We can keep in touch.’ Another ‘we will take you back if we have room again.’” Her voice shakes. “All happy promises that were never fulfilled. But you meant yours. You never gave me a reason not to trust you.” She shakes her head, takes a four-second breath in and releases it on the same count. “I’ve been working so hard on myself the past couple of months to be everything I want. To be everything you need.”

Lauren takes a brave step forward, reaching her delicate hands out to grasp mine. The hitch in her breath matches mine, telling me she felt the awaited spark through her body too. Her eyes don’t leave mine as she continues.

“In my final days, all my deathbed memories will never be enough to fill the space in my hand the way holding yours does.”

If I’m dreaming, this is something I will never recover from. “Are you saying—” I pause, trying to wrap my head around the truth in her words.

“I love you, Adam.” Her eyes glass over. “As scared as I am that you no longer feel the same, I still love you. I love you so damn much.”

I pause, making sure I’m hearing correctly.

“Adam, I lo—” I can’t respond with words, so instinctively, I capture her sweet lips with mine. Wrapping my arms around her waist, I pull her into me, molding her directly to my soul. Too soon, her lips pull from mine with her heart-stopping smile.

“I hope you’re not mad that I went to your family for a favor.” Lauren’s arms lock behind my neck as she leans back, studying my uneasy expression. “It took knowing what I wanted and asking for a favor.”

“You asked my family for something?” Are they now sponsors?

“In three days, when I fly back home, you’re coming with me, Adam. That is, if I’m still what you need.”

“What?” Disbelief wraps around my brain in circles like the Indy 500.

Through my peripheral, I see someone walking around the corner. I look up and my jaw physically unhinges. There, in a fitted, proper suit and well-groomed hair, stands Emmett.

“I know.” He shrugs with a smug grin. “Who knew I clean up so much better than you?” He walks over and gives Lauren a fist pump. “Your girl really cares about you, bro. It is time I man the hell up and stop taking Daddy’s money for granted.”

“My words,” Lauren states with pride.

“I’m sorry as well, son.” My father rounds the corner, and I wonder how many people are going to parade out of there. “I knew all three of you needed a push to figure yourselves out. The timing just had to align with all of you.” I lean back to check if anyone else is going to pop out. “Your mother stayed back to help Kelsie. There’s no one else.” My father smiles.

I look back at Lauren, who has her eyes glued to the wall. My heart warms and for the first time since I’ve arrived here, I smile back at the photo of us on the mountain. This is really happening. There are so many questions to be answered and work to go over, but all I can think about is Lauren in this dress and her sweet smell tempting me in every fucking way. My body hums, coming to life with the need to feel every inch of her delectable body.