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He chuckled, but then the sound died off as we stood there for a moment, our gazes locked. I felt the pull between us growing stronger as he dipped his head, his lips hovering just a breath away from mine.
But then, a thought flashed through my mind: being an officer would always come first for him, and I knew that because I’d seen it firsthand. The last thing I wanted was to fall for him for real and wind up getting pushed aside if my wants or needs were ever pitted against his sense of duty again.
So, with a pang of regret, I turned my head at the last second, and Adam’s lips pressed against my cheek instead.
Refusing to meet his eyes, I tried to bury the disappointment that surged through me. Deep down, I knew it was for the best. My heart couldn’t take another round of being second place in his life.
But… well, if that were true, why did that simple twist of my neck hurt so much?
For a long, drawn-out moment, Adam just stood there, staring at me like he was trying to read my thoughts. And I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to know what he was thinking, but I was too darn stubborn to ask.
“Will this ever end?” he finally asked, shaking his head slightly.
“I don’t see how it could.” I sighed. “Neither of us has changed our priorities since that night.”
“You’re right about that, but my priorities were never the problem, Paisley. Yours were.”
I ducked out from under his arm and backed away a few paces, then looked up at him, practically vibrating with annoyance. “And just what do you mean by that?”
“Unless you learn to put yourself before Tyler’s well-bein’, not only will you never be happy, but he’ll never learn to stand on his own two feet.”
“You don’t know what you’re talkin’ about!” I snapped, feeling my temper flare.
“Don’t I? Tell me, Pais, has it ever worked out well for you to coddle him or try to protect him from his own choices?” Adam asked, not giving in an inch. “Tyler’s married now. What’re ya gonna do, move in with him and his wife so you can make sure he doesn’t do anythin’ to get himself in trouble?”
“Of course not!” I exclaimed, heat rushin’ to my cheeks. “That’s ridiculous.”
“Is it?” he asked, shrugging his broad shoulders. I wouldn’t put it past you.”
“Ugh,” I groaned, rolling my eyes. “Fine, I admit, I’ve been overprotective of Tyler in the past, but if I’m not there for him, who else would be? And now that Tyler and Candy wanna stay in Charlotte Oaks, it’s gonna be evenmoreimportant for me to focus on bein’ their support system. They don’t have anyone else.”
“Ya see?” he said, pointin’ at me with a smug look on his face. “Your own words just proved my point. Your priorities are so twisted, you don’t even see how good you have it here. The Coles, my family, even the folks in this town—they’d take Tyler and Candy in like their own, just like they do for everyone else. But you won’t let ‘em, will you? Because if anyone lets him down, you’ll blame yourself. Or, worse, if he makes a bad choice, you’ll blame them. It’s a lose-lose.”
I stared at him in silence, my heart pounding in my chest. It was like he’d reached into my soul and pulled out every worry and fear that I’d been holding onto for so long.
And the scariest part was, he might be right.
“I don’t know what to say,” I admitted quietly, lookin’ down at the floor.
“You don’t have to say anythin’,” Adam replied softly. But I have to ask—would you ever let go of your fear, Paisley?”
I opened my head to reply, but he cut me off with a look and I bit down on my bottom lip.
“From the moment I realized who you were, how often I’d be seein’ you around town, I wished we could have a future,” he confessed, closing the distance between us and taking my face in both of his hands. “But with those Skittles of yours, comfortin’ you no matter what emotion you’re feelin’, you’ll just go on for the rest of your life with that routine instead of actually feelin’ your feelings, huh?”
“You’re wrong,” I whispered, tryin’ to hold back tears.
“I don’t think I am,” he said gently, tilting his head. “And by the way, you never did tell me which color was for when you were scared.”
“Blue,” I mumbled, hoping that would be enough to make him drop the subject.
But instead, he laughed. “Liar.”
Just as the word left Adam’s lips, the door to the break room swung open with a creak. Officer Shephard walked in, holding a flattened and mangled pill box in his hand.
The sight of it made my heart sink.
“Uh, Paisley?” he stammered, his face flushing red. “I’m so sorry, but I accidentally ran over this candy thing out in the parkin’ lot. Hope told me it was yours.”
