Relief floods through me.
“First of all, calm down. That’s not the reason I’m moving. My boss offered me a job here, and I took it. It has nothing to do with you, and we’re not on speaking terms,” I say quietly, softly, keeping my anger at bay and also trying to avoid Adrian from hearing how angry Lincoln makes me.
“Why are you speaking so quietly?” Of course, that’s what he wants to focus on. I’m about to respond when he draws his own conclusion. “Oh my God, you're with Adrian, aren’t you?” he asks, and I let my silence answer his question. “I see how it is. I’m sorry I interrupted date night—” I have to stop him right then and there.
“You’re impossible, Linc, absolutely impossible. I’m sick and tired of you pretending to have some fucking claim on me. I’m not yours and never will be,” I remind him, but he lets out a harsh laugh. “I didn’t want to let go of you for a long time, Lincoln, because you were my best friend for my whole childhood, but this is toxic. You are toxic for me, and I don’t want to have you in my life anymore,” I reply and hang up before he can yell at me again.
As I raise my head, I notice Adrian walking out of what I assume is his bedroom and leaning against the door frame.
“Are you okay?” he asks, and I let out a deep breath, which sounds more like a sigh.
“Some people in my life want to make things more difficult than they need to be. Lincoln is one of those people,” I explain honestly, earning a small smile from the tall blonde.
“But you love him,” Adrian points out, and I almost laugh.
“I don’t remember my life before him. He was my best friend for a long time, and I love that version of him, but this version, the one who has to fight with me about everything and chose silence as a solution, is not someone I share those feelings for,” I say and shift my weight from one foot to the other.
Adrian’s gaze is on me as he crosses his arms in front of his chest.
“Lincoln hasn’t learned how to properly treat a woman he’s interested in yet, and it shows in his behavior toward you,” Adrian states, shaking his head in disapproval. “You deserve someone who knows what he wants but doesn’t make you feel like shit when he can’t get it,” he goes on, and I finally manage a smirk.
“Hmmm, I wonder who you could possibly mean?” I say sarcastically, making him chuckle as he pushes off the wall. “The good thing is, I’m way too busy for a relationship. Plus, drivers are off-limits,” I say and step past him and toward his balcony.
“For now,” he mumbles from behind me, and I smile.
The view is breathtaking. The sea is straight ahead with countless yachts at the harbor. Lights highlight the buildings on each side of us, but it’s quite dark where we’re standing. Adrian hung a few lights on the railing, and there is light brown outdoor furniture with a cocoon patio chair on the very left. It’s cozy and elegant at the same time.
“I’ve always wanted one of these,” I admit as I move toward the cocoon chair.
It’s quite large, enough to fit at least three people. My fingers trail over the woven material as Adrian walks past me and sits down, pulling me with him. I fall onto his chest and let out a wholehearted laugh. We shift around until I’m on my back with my head resting on his thigh so I can look up at him while he stares down at me. His fingers push my hair from my face before his thumb runs over my bottom lip, sending shivers down my back.
“You’re very smooth, Mr. Romana, I’ll give you that,” I say and Adrian’s body shakes with a laugh, his other hand moving onto my stomach. I suck in a sharp breath, and he immediately removes it.
“I’m sorry,” he says, but I’m already reaching for his hand to place it back on my body.
He smiles down at me, but my eyes close as he traces the shape of an eight along the exposed skin on my hip bone. I feel the ache grow between my legs as his finger continues to work its magic on me. He should stop, and I should tell him to, but that’s the last thing I want right now.
The back of his hand runs over my cheek before his index finger follows a path from one of my freckles to the next until he’s touched almost all of them. My head lifts in the direction of his hand when he removes it, making him furrow his brows.
“Nevaeh, do you normally kiss your friends?” he asks quietly, his voice strained even as he tries to laugh and lighten the mood.
Everything inside of me is yelling to guide his head down and press my lips against his, everything but my head. My head reminds me of work, my fear of failure, my parents and their expectations, of the life I’m working toward.
“I really like you, Adrian. Kissing you has been on my mind since we first met, but everything's too complicated, and you deserve better than that. You deserve easy,” I say, looking away from him.
“Mon beau paradisNevaeh, you should start focusing on what you deserve instead of worrying about me.”
A tear falls down my cheek.
“If you don’t know, I will gladly tell you. You deserve someone who thinks of you first. You deserve someone who doesn’t fight with you every chance they get. You deserve someone who sees beyond your outer beauty and realizes how priceless you are on the inside, too. You deserve someone who knows all of your smiles. Who would wait for you no matter how long. Who’d fight themself to make you happy.”
I move off him and toward my bag.
I can’t take this, any of it.
“Nevaeh,” Adrian pleads, but I’m already by the front door.
“No, Adrian, I can’t—” I cut off and cover my face with my hands.
