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Because you know it involves going home and leaving Adrian behind. And you’re not ready to do that yet. You just want everything to change to your liking and to be exactly the way you want it to be.
Cursing, I push my chair back with a screech. I’m stretching my arms over my head when someone raps on my door.
With a sigh, I press my face to the peephole, and my heart gives an odd little twist.
Adrian is on the other side of the door, holding a bouquet of flowers.
I open up. Wordlessly, I take them from him and set them down on the table next to the door. I have a feeling we'll end up naked in bed again.
“It’s a nice night out. Want to go for a walk? Before you say no, I’d like the chance to apologize for the other day.”
Some of my anger has dissipated at the sight of Adrian, the familiar pull between us drawing us closer together.
At least hear him out. It can’t hurt, right?
I nod and dart inside for my sweater.
When I return, Adrian is standing with his back half-turned to me, and he is studying the sun as it dips below the horizon.
I let my gaze sweep over him, taking in the lock of hair falling over one eye and the tightness in his jaw.
My stomach dips as we fall into step beside each other, with Adrian charting a path in no particular direction.
“How was your day?”
“It was fine. Yours?”
“It was…interesting,” Adrian replies, with a quick smile. “I think I’m really making some headway with that relative I told you about.”
I press my lips together and don’t say anything.
Adrian brushes his hand against mine. “I know it’s not exactly the kind of thing we should be talking about, but I really appreciate you listening to me. And I’m sorry all of this is messy and complicated.”
I wonder if this is as close to a confession as I’m going to get.
Is Adrian trying to tell me he’s getting help?
That he’s putting in the work to get better?
I pause. “I feel like I can tell you things I’ve never told anyone, but I need to know that I’m not wasting my time here, Adrian.”
Adrian helps me over another log, and we step through the trees, pausing on the edge of the cliff. “You’re not.”
I place my head against his shoulders, and some of the knots in my stomach unfurl. “I love this place. I can’t believe it’s almost time for me to leave.”
Adrian drapes his arm over my shoulders. “You could extend your stay.”
“I have to get back to work and to my life back home at some point,” I whisper, squeezing my eyes shut. A cool breeze tickles the back of my neck. “But if it helps, I wish I didn’t have to.”
In silence, I open my eyes and study the crescent-shaped moon.
Bathed in the half glow of the moon, Adrian turns to me and takes me into his arms.
He kisses me until I’m breathless.
Until my toes curl inward.
Until I forget my name.
