Heartbeat by Faith Sullivan Page A

else happened. Something big. Adam was there. Or was I imagining things? No, he was really there. He brought me back from the depths. He didn’t let me drown. He saved me. When I needed him the most, he was there.
    How can this be? How can he appear at such a critical moment in my life? I can’t comprehend it. I don’t want to comprehend it. I am just grateful that he was there.
    I can hear Dad’s voice from the kitchen. He’s been on the phone since the moment we walked through the door. It’s late, but instead of waiting until tomorrow, he called the funeral director, the church, and anyone he can think of to start making the arrangements. He is manic. He never knows how to deal with his emotions, so he always throws himself into the task at hand. We won’t be any source of comfort to each other during this trying time. In fact, he doesn’t want me anywhere near him.
    He hasn’t said two words to me since he ordered Adam out of the room. As far as I know, he is finished with me. I won’t be surprised if he asks me to pack my bags and leave once the funeral is over, now that he doesn’t have to oblige Grandma by letting me stay.
    My heart starts to race. Where am I going to go? Jennifer will help me as much as she can, but I can’t sleep on her couch indefinitely. She is a newlywed with two small kids. There is no place for me there. I’ll only be a burden.
    My cell phone beeps. I have a text.
    No worries, cuz. I slipped him your digits.
    Jennifer. What did she do? Did she give Adam my cell phone number?
    U gave my # 2 Adam?
    Yep! Total love connection.
    Thanks, girl.
    No prob. Had to get around your barracuda of a father somehow.
    Ain’t that the truth.
    Now get some rest!
    Will do.
    Wow, maybe things aren’t so bad after all. Now that I have some small sliver of hope to cling onto.

Chapter Thirty-Two

Adam
    “Thanks again for leaving me stranded last night, Adam. I can’t begin to tell you how much I appreciated it,” Brian says.
    “I’m sorry, man. I got carried away. I didn’t even think…” I start.
    “Yeah, that about sums it up,” he concurs.
    “C’mon, don’t be mad at me. I already explained to you what happened.”
    “And if it wasn’t for this magical, mystical turn of events, I’d kick your ass.”
    “Well, as long as you made it back here safe and sound.”
    “No thanks to that hottie who couldn’t keep her hands off you,” he says. “You really have a way with women, bro. I thought that girl was gonna eat me alive when I asked her for a ride.”
    “Brian, why did you even ask her?”
    “I didn’t exactly know a lot of people there,” he continues. “She seemed like the best option before she started calling you a goddamn bastard who led her on for a year.”
    “She was way outta line.”
    “What did you expect?” he asks. “She was totally into you, and you burned her…bad.”
    “She’ll get over it.”
    “I’d love to be a fly on the wall the next time you have to go to General’s ER.”
    “Maybe there won’t be a next time, if Chuck has anything to say about it.”
    “I’m telling you, bro. You gotta expose that prick for what he is if he starts talking trash about you to his uncle,” Brian warns. “If he’s gonna fight dirty, then you should, too.”
    “I don’t think I wanna expose Katie and her family to any more trouble,” I respond. “They have enough to deal with right now.”
    “On my marathon taxi ride back to your place…don’t forget you owe me the cab fare…I started to think about your situation after you called me on your cell.”
    “And?”
    “Are you really going to throw away everything you’ve worked so hard for?”
    “Nothing happened yet.”
    “But you gotta face reality. Chuck isn’t going to let this go. He’s not gonna make things easy for you.”
    “Then I’ll look for a place with another company.”
    “Hello? What other company?” Brian asks. “Chuck’s uncle has practically a monopoly going.”
    “Then