fooling around.” Kelly shakes her head like we’re being impossible. “Can’t you take a joke?”
“Not when your baby bump is staring me in the face.” I can see she’s visibly shocked by the vigor of my retort. She’s not used to me talking back to her.
“Katie, I know this is going to be a sticky situation for all of us, but I know we’ll get past the awkwardness.” She rests her hands against her stomach, aggravating me even more. “I love you too much not to work through this. That’s why I want you to stay with us. It’s obvious that you don’t trust me around Adam, and I want to alleviate your fears by having you right there with us under the same roof. That way, what could go wrong?”
“Do you really want me to answer that question?” I stare up at her like she’s crazy. When did we suddenly become this big happy family?
“If you don’t think it’s a good idea…” Adam starts, but I don’t let him finish.
“I don’t, but we’re not exactly left with a lot of options now, are we?” I twist my fingers through my hair, trying to think rationally. “Kelly needs somewhere to crash, and I want you in my life. We’re going to have to make it work. I just don’t know how I’m going to convince my father.”
“We’ll keep the story the same. We’ll just leave Adam out of it.” Kelly seems to have it all figured out, and that’s what worries me. “Let me take care of your father. I’m sure I can handle the old brute.”
“What…and I can’t?” Again, I snap at Kelly. I’m usually meek and mild and let her walk all over me. She’s not used to the antagonism that’s coming from me. Maybe I’m sick of trying to hide it. It’s about time I let my true feelings show. If Adam’s unexpected appearance in my life has taught me anything, it’s taught me that. He’s someone worth fighting for.
“I didn’t mean it like that.” Kelly huffs like she’s put out and wants me to apologize to her. God, she sure doesn’t lack for nerve.
I take a deep breath to settle my emotions, but it doesn’t work. I feel lightheaded again. I need to sit down. I try to make it back to the bed, but my knees give way before I can get there. I brace myself against my impending fall, but it’s Adam who saves me from face-planting onto the floor. He has me in his arms with no intention of letting me go.
“Oh my God, Katie! Are you all right?” Kelly screeches, and I just bury my head deeper against Adam’s chest, trying to tune her out.
“Kelly, I think you should leave. You’re only upsetting her more.” Adam strokes my hair, comforting me. “She had a rough day as it is. We can talk about this later.”
“Yeah, there are things you should know about her health…” Kelly words eat through me and I clench Adam’s shirt with my fist. If anyone’s going to tell him about it, it’s going to be me, not her.
“I said later.” His hand closes around mine, indicating he understood my silent plea. When he picks me up, I cling to him as he quickly escorts Kelly to the door, practically shoving her through it.
“Well, if you need anything, I’ll be right downstairs.” I don’t even hear everything she says because Adam’s already closed and locked the door.
Carrying me back to the bed, he carefully sets me down before sliding in beside me. I’m glad he’s staying. I feel so tired all of sudden, so completely drained. I don’t think I’m going to be able to keep my eyes open much longer.
“Adam, I have something called an immune deficiency disorder…” I start to explain, yawning halfway through.
“You can tell me more about it later, okay?” he whispers softly against my ear. “You’re exhausted. Get some sleep. I know you’re dealing with some health issues, but I just want you to know that if you come and stay with me, I’ll do everything in my power to take care of you.”
And those are the words I’ve been longing for someone to say to me all of my life, even
“Not when your baby bump is staring me in the face.” I can see she’s visibly shocked by the vigor of my retort. She’s not used to me talking back to her.
“Katie, I know this is going to be a sticky situation for all of us, but I know we’ll get past the awkwardness.” She rests her hands against her stomach, aggravating me even more. “I love you too much not to work through this. That’s why I want you to stay with us. It’s obvious that you don’t trust me around Adam, and I want to alleviate your fears by having you right there with us under the same roof. That way, what could go wrong?”
“Do you really want me to answer that question?” I stare up at her like she’s crazy. When did we suddenly become this big happy family?
“If you don’t think it’s a good idea…” Adam starts, but I don’t let him finish.
“I don’t, but we’re not exactly left with a lot of options now, are we?” I twist my fingers through my hair, trying to think rationally. “Kelly needs somewhere to crash, and I want you in my life. We’re going to have to make it work. I just don’t know how I’m going to convince my father.”
“We’ll keep the story the same. We’ll just leave Adam out of it.” Kelly seems to have it all figured out, and that’s what worries me. “Let me take care of your father. I’m sure I can handle the old brute.”
“What…and I can’t?” Again, I snap at Kelly. I’m usually meek and mild and let her walk all over me. She’s not used to the antagonism that’s coming from me. Maybe I’m sick of trying to hide it. It’s about time I let my true feelings show. If Adam’s unexpected appearance in my life has taught me anything, it’s taught me that. He’s someone worth fighting for.
“I didn’t mean it like that.” Kelly huffs like she’s put out and wants me to apologize to her. God, she sure doesn’t lack for nerve.
I take a deep breath to settle my emotions, but it doesn’t work. I feel lightheaded again. I need to sit down. I try to make it back to the bed, but my knees give way before I can get there. I brace myself against my impending fall, but it’s Adam who saves me from face-planting onto the floor. He has me in his arms with no intention of letting me go.
“Oh my God, Katie! Are you all right?” Kelly screeches, and I just bury my head deeper against Adam’s chest, trying to tune her out.
“Kelly, I think you should leave. You’re only upsetting her more.” Adam strokes my hair, comforting me. “She had a rough day as it is. We can talk about this later.”
“Yeah, there are things you should know about her health…” Kelly words eat through me and I clench Adam’s shirt with my fist. If anyone’s going to tell him about it, it’s going to be me, not her.
“I said later.” His hand closes around mine, indicating he understood my silent plea. When he picks me up, I cling to him as he quickly escorts Kelly to the door, practically shoving her through it.
“Well, if you need anything, I’ll be right downstairs.” I don’t even hear everything she says because Adam’s already closed and locked the door.
Carrying me back to the bed, he carefully sets me down before sliding in beside me. I’m glad he’s staying. I feel so tired all of sudden, so completely drained. I don’t think I’m going to be able to keep my eyes open much longer.
“Adam, I have something called an immune deficiency disorder…” I start to explain, yawning halfway through.
“You can tell me more about it later, okay?” he whispers softly against my ear. “You’re exhausted. Get some sleep. I know you’re dealing with some health issues, but I just want you to know that if you come and stay with me, I’ll do everything in my power to take care of you.”
And those are the words I’ve been longing for someone to say to me all of my life, even
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