I snorted, and Adair let out a long-suffering sigh. The sounds of Delly and Cole’s bickering were so familiar to me that it was almost a comfort.
“I guess he didn’t realize we were going to drive up and see him this weekend?” I murmured as Adair rolled off me.
“My fault for thinking surprising him was a good idea.” He put on his glasses, then kissed me one more time. “I’ll go deal with this. And make sure he doesn’t find the giant scissors.”
All I wanted to do was stay and wallow in his pine scent, but there was too much to work through, and staying still never helped me sort out my mind.
With a groan, I slid out of bed and fell right into a series of stretches, twirling my engagement ring as I went.
It looked like we maybe wouldn’t be taking that weekend trip to North Georgia this weekend for Cole’s birthday after all. Not if he was already here. I’d beenpsyching myself up for it, for being apart from Dad for a couple days, ever since Adair had mentioned it a few weeks ago.
I folded myself and touched my toes, stretching out the new aches and pains I’d developed from working on the greenhouse and dancing more, gaze catching on the empty cardboard boxes by the dresser.
So much change was coming, and maybe it was okay to be relieved that one more would be delayed.
Grace for all, but especially for you.
For me.
We’d also discussed visiting my old town to see my old dance studio where that sign Dad had made hung, but I’d ultimately vetoed it.
That was my past, and I saw no use in revisiting it. Not now.
Adair felt the same way about his parents. After explaining more of his childhood to me, I had to agree with not meeting them.
My future was here. With Adair. And Dad and Pops. Jillie and Rachel. With Ari, Liem, Cody and even Vinh and Bree, who I was forming a slow friendship with as we—along with Ari—discussed plans for our fledgling nonprofit.
My place was with the people who I now knew, without a doubt, would never cast me or Dad aside.
After one final stretch, I went into the bathroom and dressed in my crop top and dance skirt. While other parts of the day were uncertain, my ballroom class was a guarantee.
I had three classes per week, thanks to the gala.
A knock came at the door, and my heart skipped. I tossed my brush onto the vanity, rushed out the door, and followed Adair’s pine scent all the way to the kitchen table,where a fresh cappuccino decorated with a foam flower waited for me.
Adair smiled at me from the stove, where he was working on breakfast, and I returned it. Jillie and Rachel had gotten him an espresso machine for his birthday all those weeks ago, and it pleased him to no end to try to make new latte art each morning.
Cole and Delly walked into the little dining area from who knew where, Delly dressed in her scrubs and Cole, remarkably, looking like he hadn’t driven practically overnight to get here so early. He pulled me into a quick side hug and then sauntered into the kitchen, falling into conversation with Adair. Delly plopped down in her usual chair, and I sat beside her, eyeing her over my steaming cappuccino.
“Last day,” I said, opening the door for her. Today was Delly’s last day of work. She was going back to Georgia this weekend, with her next semester of college starting next week.
“Last day,” she said, pulling her hair into a ponytail and glancing at me out of the corner of her eye. “I can’t believe it.” She sank deeper into her chair, her ponytail swinging behind her as she angled her face toward me. “So much for that summer romance.” Her eyes flicked to my left hand, cradling the cappuccino mug, and her lips tipped up. “I still can’t believethat,either.”
I smiled at my future sister-in-law. “Same.”
Adair put steaming plates of breakfast in front of us, then kissed my hair. I closed my eyes against the contact and Delly sighed dramatically beside me, mumbling something indiscernible under her breath.
Still so grumpy in the morning.
Cole brought his and Adair’s plates, and we all had breakfast together, every attempt at conversation dyingquickly. The weight of the day, of the future, too thick for casual conversation to grow wings.
Adair excused himself to get ready, and I watched him go. It was impossible not to. His steps were sure now, with only the faintest hint of uneven stride at the end of a long day.
When he reemerged in his dark-green scrubs, I had to hold back my sigh of appreciation.
His hazel eyes caught mine, and just like that, worries about the day ahead disappeared, nothing but foam dissipating on the shore.
After hammering in one last nail, I climbed down from the ladder and into Adair’s embrace.
