Page 46 of It Was Always You

Later that night, Adam climbed into bed in his T-shirt and boxers, and Lily made her way over in her shorts and tank top. They’d both got a little tipsy at dinner, and she suddenly felt very nervous about sharing a bed with the man she adored. He was on his back, eyes closed, with one hand on his stomach and one behind his head. He looked so incredibly sexy. She wanted to snuggle up to him, kiss him, make love to him. But instead, she gingerly climbed into the empty side of the bed and lay as far away from him as possible.

After a while, she heard him sniff and felt the bed judder. She rolled over towards him and realised his hands were covering his face as he wept. Sliding across the bed to him, she pulled him into her arms and let him cry until he fell asleep.

Adam awoke to find himself wrapped around Lily’s body. Shit! His arm was lying across her bare stomach where her tank top had ridden up in the night, his nose nuzzled into her neck, and his legs were entwined with hers. He remembered her holding him as he let his anguish pour out all over her. Again. She would be so pissed off if she woke up and found they were lying together, rather like lovers, in the middle of the large, luxurious bed. Carefully he untangled his limbs from hers and rearranged his boxers. He stood and watched her sleep for a moment.

She really was beautiful. With her dark, unruly curls spread across the pillow and her olive-skinned abdomen exposed to his gaze. His eyes followed the deep curve of her waist to her hip and he swallowed hard. How strange things had worked out this way for them. How strange she thought of him as a brother. He fondly remembered the poem she had written for him as part of her best-man-woman speech. My best friend, my protector, my confidante. How different things could have been if either one of them had crossed that arbitrary line in the sand. He had been tempted in the past. The very distant past.

Too late to think like this now, idiot, and how completely inappropriate.

She shifted in her sleep, pulling him out of his reverie. Her tank top shifted to expose the bottom curve of her breast. He realised he had been staring at her and that something had begun to stir deep inside of him and he momentarily hated himself. Quickly turning, he made his way to the bathroom and switched on the shower.

He turned the dial to cold.

Lily awoke to the sound of running water coming from the en suite bathroom. She stretched and glanced down when she felt a cool breeze across her middle. Realising her breasts were almost out there for the world to see – well, for Adam to see – she pulled her top down. Hopefully that happened after he’d gone to get a shower. Her inner voices reigned once again. Otherwise, he’s had a great view of my goods… Hmm, I wonder what he thought if he did see… Stop it, Lily, for goodness’ sake.

Adam returned from the shower, towel drying his hair, in a pair of joggers slung low around his narrow hips. Ever since she’d teased him about the weights he’d bought when they were teens, he had always denied the fact he worked out, but looking at him, half naked before her, she knew he did. He had defined abs and that delicious V that disappeared into his joggers. She drew her eyes back up his body as her face warmed. Good grief, Lily, seriously, get a bloody grip. He’s a half-naked man. You’ve seen them before. Lots! But this one is Adam, and we love him. Oh God, I sound like bloody Gollum now!

Adam cleared his throat. ‘Erm, morning, Lil… Listen, I wanted to apologise.’

Lily scrunched her brow. ‘Apologise? For what?’

‘For crying on you like a big baby.’

‘Oh, that. Don’t worry. I’m used to you now.’

He huffed. ‘Thanks.’ He slung the towel over his shoulder. ‘And for waking up after pretty much sleeping on you all night.’ He cringed at the memory and at the fact that he had been quite turned on at the time.

He noticed her cheeks flush at his words, and he pulled his lips in to stifle the smile trying to make its way across his face. It took a lot to embarrass Lily, but it looked like he had succeeded without intending to.

She fiddled with the sheet she had pulled over her legs. ‘Oh, don’t worry. I suppose you’re used to having the whole bed to yourself nowadays, eh?’ He allowed his smile to fade and her eyes widened. ‘Sorry… was that really insensitive?’

He sighed. ‘No. It’s true… I just don’t like to think about it, I suppose.’

‘No wonder, Adders. I’m so sorry,’ she whispered.

He took a deep breath. ‘Look, we can’t go on feeling this awkward all the time we’re here. This is clearly a lot different to sharing a bed as kids, eh? I’ll sleep on the sofa tonight. I think it’ll be easier.’

‘No! That’s not fair, Adders. This is your holiday. I should sleep on the sofa.’

‘Absolutely not. I won’t argue about this. That sofa is comfy and twice as big as mine at home. It’s practically a double bed anyway. I’ll be fine. It’s decided. Let’s get ready and go sightseeing.’

Her demeanour changed as if she had acquiesced about the sofa. She climbed out of bed and made her way towards the en suite. He watched her retreating form and tried not to stare at her round, pert bottom. Reminding himself how inappropriate his line of thinking was in light of their reason for being in New York.

She glanced over her shoulder, and he thought he saw a glimmer of something in her eyes briefly, but it was gone as soon as it appeared.

She yawned. ‘Where do you fancy going today?’

‘The Empire State Building,’ he said with glee in his voice.

She smiled. ‘Oooh, you can be Tom Hanks, and I’ll be Meg Ryan.’

He laughed as he felt warmth radiating from his face. ‘Nah, I think, after my behaviour last night, it should be the other way around.’

She stopped and turned so that she was fully facing him with her hands on her hips and her lips pursed.

She narrowed her eyes. ‘Are you saying I look like a man?’

He bit his lip. ‘It’s the dark curls… very Tom Hanks.’ He smirked and ducked as she pulled a cushion from the sofa and threw it at his head.