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Adam nodded.
“I should have never forced you to promise me anything. Our relationship being what it was—it wasn’t fair to you. In fact, it wasn’t fair to either of us. I set you up for failure.”
He shook his head. “That’s not—”
“Please let me finish.” She stared at a spot on his chest, right above his heart, drawing all the courage she needed to say what had to be said. “I’m new at this relationship thing. I didn’t have a chance to make all these mistakes with relationships that wouldn’t matter down the road. For that, I’m sorry.” She forced herself to meet his gaze. “I ended up making all the mistakes with the person I loved, and I realize I shouldn’t have treated you that way.”
The next part was going to be the hardest thing she would have to do so far, and she thought apologizing for her behavior was mortifying.
Music from the intercoms died down and an announcer’s voice blasted through them instead. “Bronc riders, make your way to Arena A.”
Adam stiffened. Every part of him, from his face to the muscles in his arms, hardened. “I’m not—I don’t have to go.”
Faye tilted her head, lifting her hand to his cheek. “I’m not going to stand in your way, Adam. I’m here to support you in whatever capacity it is that you need.”
For a brief moment, which actually felt more like an eternity, he stared at her. His gaze penetrated her right through to her soul. It was almost as if he was worried that she was trying to trap him.
She reached for his hand, lacing her fingers within his, then brought his hand to her lips. “I mean it. I want you to be happy. You are more than just the guy who fixed my mom’s truck. You’re more than the guy who can make me laugh. You’re just… so much more than I deserve.” Her voice broke and she had to tear her focus from him or risk bawling like a baby.
He hooked his finger beneath her chin, tilting her face up gently to look at him. Chills raced through her body, pinging against every raw nerve she had.
“I love you,” he said.
Her lashes fluttered in an attempt to keep the tears at bay. Up until this point, she wasn’t even sure he had the same degree of feelings for her that she shared with him. He’d kept that sort of confession to himself.
Adam cupped her cheek within his palm, and she leaned into his touch. His thumb traced over her cheekbone and his eyes roved over her face. “I think I’ve loved you since that moment you came into my shop and asked me to help you fix your mother’s car. It was clear from that first moment that your heart isn’t like all of the other hearts I’ve interacted with in my life. You care far deeper and with more sincerity than anyone I know.”
Her breath shuddered as she exhaled. “I love you too, Adam.” She couldn’t bring her voice above a whisper and wasn’t even sure if he’d heard her.
It was as if they were locked in a reality where it was just the two of them. Their connection with each other was stronger than it had been before. In this moment, she knew that she’d made the right decision. Whatever they had to go up against, they could do it together.
“Final call for Bronc Riding contestants.”
He glanced up, away from her face, and their trance was broken. The sounds and smells of their surroundings returned, nearly knocking her off balance. Adam pulled her in for a hug, crushing her against his chest. “I don’t have to go.”
She craned her face around and stared at him with a seriousness she hadn’t had in a while. “Yes, you do. Something about this event is calling to you.”
Adam shook his head. “It’s true that I’ve been searching for something my entire life—trying to feel like I belong somewhere. I’m happy, then I get to a point where I feel like something is missing.” He gave her a pointed look. “I don’t feel that way anymore.”
30
Adam
Adam’s heart sang. There was a part of him that knew he had finally figured it out. Faye had been missing from his life. He hadn’t realized it until Dahlia had tried to kiss him. He wasn’t going to be happy with just anyone. And he was too smart to believe that dating someone would solve his problems. Faye was the one he wanted to be with because she loved him.
And he loved her.
There was something special about their bond that he would likely never understand.
Faye tightened her arms around him before standing back. “You can’t be certain about that.”
He frowned. “What do you mean?”
“There’s a reason why certain things call to us. It might be a person, or a truck, or the sky…” She grinned, then tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “I know better than to fight a feeling like that. I think you should do it—if you want to.”
Adam couldn’t believe what he was hearing. She wasn’t just telling him what she probably thought he wanted to hear. She was insisting that he follow through with what had come between them.
He felt a little off-balance. Wasn’t it wrong for him to get everything he wanted when he’d made all those mistakes? It didn’t seem fair.
