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Chapter Five
Adrian
Because of the sceneChy and I put on at the gun range earlier, my guys skipped our late breakfast, opting to give the two of us some much-needed time together. Yet here I am sitting alone at my breakfast table, fixated on Cheyanne’s untouched plate.
She was only here for a minute before my reluctance to talk aboutussent her stomping away from the breakfast table and out the exit. It serves me right. I haven’t been as straightforward with her as she needs me to be. I’m not surprised she’s pissed.
Regardless, the silence in the room feels heavy and suffocating, amplifying the knot of anxiety that tightens my stomach.
Restless, I fidget with my napkin, my mind lost in a maze of questions and emotions. The memory of our kiss at the range lingers, and my heart aches with longing. How am I supposed to sit David down and tell him I want his daughter? How can I expect him to be okay with that? I’ve known Chy her whole life, watched her grow up with my kid. How is it twenty years later after all I’ve seen and done, expect this thing between Chy and me to go anywhere outside of these mountains?
A stark realization of what’s happened over the last week floods my mind. My mixed signals, the sudden distance I’ve created—it all leaves me feeling uncertain and vulnerable. My appetite diminishes. I push the plate away, my hunger for answers overpowering any desire to eat.
Constantly, I glance toward the dining room entrance, hoping to glimpse her returning, but she remains absent. Leaving behind my uneaten breakfast, I walk out of the dining room, my heart heavy with the weight of an uncertain future. I won’t let this uncertainty consume me. I have to find her, to clear the air and understand where we stand. It’s been less than an hour since Cheyanne flew out of here like a bat out of hell and I miss her... I miss her presence, her warmth. I miss the ease and comfort we share. A wave of sadness washes over me as I realize that our intimate moments have irreversibly altered the dynamic between us.
***
ABOUT TWENTY MINUTESlater,I spot Cheyanne standing near the picturesque garden on the east lawn, bathed in the warm glow of sunlight. Determination fuels my steps as I walk towards her, my heart pounding with anticipation.
“Chy, can we talk?”
She turns to face me, her eyes reflecting her impatience.
“Why? What are you going to say now that you couldn’t say at breakfast?”
I take a deep breath, gathering my thoughts.
“I’m scared, Chy. Scared of how much I want this to work between us. Scared of what this relationship means for us, for David, for everything we know. But I don’t want to let that fear rule me. I want to be with you.”
Cheyanne’s eyes soften as she looks at me. “But it’s not just about us. We have to consider David, our family. It’s not an easy decision to make.”
“I can’t help the way I feel,” she says.
“I want to try, Chy. I want to make this work.”
Cheyanne looks at me, her eyes filled with longing, love, and confusion. “I know there’s going to be consequences.”
“We have to take things slow. We’ll talk to David. Figure it out... but I can’t stand here and pretend I don’t want you... that I don’t love you.”
My admission hangs heavy in the air for a moment. We both stand there, shoulder to shoulder, lost in our own thoughts. Finally, Cheyanne steps closer to me, her eyes penetrating mine. “I love you, too,” she says softly. “And I’m willing to take things slow.”
A small smile graces her lips. She reaches out to take my hand. “Whatever it takes.”
We stand together, a blooming garden of flowers rustling in the wind. Our hands are clasped together as we look out at the garden. The warmth of the sun on our skin is a welcome contrast to the heaviness in our hearts. We both know the road ahead won’t be easy, but at this moment, we’re willing to take that risk.
