Page 22 of Conquer

“I’m what? A man?”

He looked at me, his expression almost playful, something that surprised me and gave me a certain degree of comfort.

“Well, yeah. And you’re…hot,” I said.

He smiled.

“I could say the same about you, and I believe you’ve never been with anyone else,” he said.

“I’m not hot. And it’s different for me,” I said.

“Why?” he asked.

I gave him a long-suffering look. It should have been self-explanatory, but Adrian was going to make me explain.

“I had reasons,” I said.

“Like?” he responded.

“Like… I wanted to feel something for the person, you know?” I said, annoyed that I was telling him this, feeling vulnerable because in doing so I was opening up about feelings I shouldn’t have and ones I shouldn’t share this soon.

I’d looked away, but turned to face Adrian when he whispered my name.

“Sam, I know. It’s the same for me. I guess I just wanted it to be with someone special. Someone like you,” he said.

If I could have melted into a puddle in the middle of my bed, I would have. Because when I looked into his eyes, heard the soft tenor of his voice, I knew that what he said was true.

I smiled and he returned the expression. I’d never had a moment like this, and in those seconds that ticked by, I realized I’d lost my heart to this man.

It was too soon. I didn’t really know him. But none of that mattered. It was insane, probably reckless, but I loved him.

“Sam—”

The doorbell rang, cutting Adrian off, and not two seconds later, I heard the lock turn.

“Oh, crap!” I yelled.

“What is it?” Adrian asked, his expression stern.

“My mother!”

“Samara, I saw that car parked outside your house all night. You and your friend get decent and come out here. I brought bagels,” she called.

“Ma, get out of here!” I yelled.

She laughed, and I listened her as she moved around the kitchen, seemingly unconcerned with her impending death by matricide. We were close, but she was way out of line, not that she’d admit it. I could practically hear her now, telling me that I was her only child, so she was well within her rights. And I knew as mad as I was, I wouldn’t hold it against her for long.

I looked to Adrian, but he was grinning, an expression I hadn’t ever really expected to see on him.

“Can you believe her? What are we going to do?” I asked, my face starting to ache from the depth of the frown on it.

Adrian just laughed. “We’re going to get dressed,” he said.

“Why?” I asked, frowning.

His smiled deepened and he shrugged. “She brought bagels.”

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