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He shakes his head. “Don’t finish that sentence. You need to listen to me, Scarlett Carter, because as much as I love you, sometimes you make me want to shake some sense into you.”
It’s like someone’s reached inside my chest and taken hold of my heart. My next inhales are wobbly, unsteady. What?
Adam closes the gap between us and takes my cheek in his hand. His eyes shine, no longer dim. They burn bright as he traces my Cupid’s bow with his thumb.
“From the moment you stepped into my office, you swept me up in a tide of grumpy comebacks and frowns that I ached to see flip. I became obsessed with learning more about you, so I did just that.
“I’ve learned that you only ever drink black coffee because you actually like how bitter it tastes. I know that you always tie your left skate before your right because that was your pre-game ritual and you can’t break the habit. I know you can’t brush your curls because when you do, they turn to ‘fluffy strands of frizz,’ and I know that you have a heart too big for your chest. Shit, baby, I haven’t been able to stop learning things about you because I am so incredibly in love with you that I can’t.
“And it’s because I’m in love with you that I would put my own happiness aside to make sure you got everything you wanted in life. If you wanted me to walk away from this—from us—and have you report only to Banks, I would arrange it right now, even if I shattered myself in the process. If you told me right now to find you another job in another province, hell, another fucking country, I would do it if it meant you didn’t lose something you love doing again.”
Tears drip down my face faster than he can wipe them away. I reach for his hands and cover them with mine. He presses our foreheads together and bumps my nose with his.
“I know you would make the same sacrifices for me that I’m prepared to make for you. That’s why you were going to quit, because you were willing to give up something you love to be with me,” he finishes softly.
“You’re the most annoyingly happy person I’ve ever met, but I went and fell in love with you anyway,” I reply, releasing a mangled laugh. Adam smiles before it grows to a full-fledged grin. “You are incredible, Adam, in every way possible. I didn’t think I was ever going to find anything that made me feel the way hockey did, but I found something better instead. I love my job. But I love you more.”
These words feel right. They feel like they’ve been waiting to be said for a while, but I was too full of self-loathing and disappointment to notice them.
“It feels so good to hear you say that,” he breathes before covering my mouth with his in a bruising kiss.
I loop my arms around his neck and pull him closer, kissing him back with an urgency that says everything I haven’t been able to put into words.
This man loves me, despite my flaws and my less than appealing personality. Somehow, we just fit. We were drawn together like magnets from the moment we met. There was no stopping this.
We were inevitable.
Adam pulls open the passenger door of his car for me as I step out. The summer sun roasts my neck and shoulders, making me wince.
He takes my hand and links our fingers together before shutting the door. I exhale a wavering breath and try to collect myself before we head toward my house.
“I don’t know what to prepare myself for,” I admit.
“Do you want me to come inside with you?” He brushes his thumb back and forth across the back of my hand.
I shake my head. “I don’t know how she’ll be once she sees me. It’s probably best if you don’t come in.” Even if leaving his side is the last thing I want to do right now after what happened this morning.
We didn’t spend any more time in the kitchen after our kiss. Mrs. McConnell called shortly after we broke apart and told us my mother was okay. She was disoriented, confused, and embarrassed, but she was okay.
After hanging up, Adam had pecked my lips once more before ushering us back to his room. He helped me find my clothes and, after we were both dressed and ready, drove us here.
My mom’s car is still at the pub from last night, and despite my reluctance, Adam insisted he’ll bring it to my house tonight. My pulse hasn’t steadied in hours, and I can’t help but realize what an odd feeling it is to be so unapologetically obsessed with someone like this.
Adam nods in understanding, although I can tell he wants to push me on it. “Are you ready?”
“I have to be, right?
“No. You just have to try to be. This isn’t an easy responsibility to carry, but you’ve been doing so well already under the weight of it. I’m here to help now, and once we find a caretaker, they’ll help too. You can handle this, Scarlett. I know you can.”
“Thank you,” I whisper, the use of the word we not evading me. His words fill me with enough confidence that I start to lead us to the house. “What time do you need to pick up Cooper?” I ask to distract myself.
We’ve reached the garage when he says, “After lunch. He most likely isn’t even up yet.”
“A late sleeper, huh?”
Adam laughs. “Yeah. I think he’s still catching up on all the sleep he lost when he was a toddler. The kid loved to play cars at two in the morning.”
“Let me guess, you got up and joined him every morning?”
