Page 87 of Summer Haze & Tokyo Craze

But was it really what I wanted? The answer is no. And deep in my heart, I know that’s why he did it, even though I told him it couldn’t last past Tokyo.

My heart is racing, and despite my attempts to calm down, I’m just getting more nervous.

Finally, we stop at the ground floor, and it takes everything in me not to push my way through the people who need to leave the elevator before me and elbow them aside to get into the lobby.

But when I finally step out of it, I don’t need to search for him long. As soon as I turn to the lobby, I see him.

It’s not like anyone could miss him, with a giant bouquet in his arms and a smile that could light up the whole building. Ishake my head at him, swallowing past the emotional lump in my throat and blinking away the tears welling up in my eyes as I approach.

“You sneaky little—” I start to say as I get closer, but before I can finish, he’s lowered the flowers, his hand at the side of my face, and tilts my head to press his lips against mine, stealing the words right out of my mouth.

This scene is like straight out of a movie.

The butterflies in my stomach are in full flight, and I wrap my arms around his neck, matching his kiss with equal fervor. When he breaks the kiss, both of us are breathless, and without a word, he quickly takes my hand pulls me after him until we’re outside.

“I don’t know what to say.”

“Good thing I didn’t ask you anything.” He grins at me over his shoulder as he continues to drag me somewhere.

“A bit presumptuous, don’t you think?” I raise an eyebrow at him, relieved at how easily we fall back into our banter. He ignores me as he comes to a stop at an inconspicuous black car, opening the door for me.

"I told you not to talk to my bosses."

"Good thing I didn't. I talked to myfriends."

"Who happen to be my bosses."

He shrugs and shoots me a sheepish smile, motioning for me to get into the car.

“Come on, get in. I’m taking you on a date.”

I shake my head at him but comply. But not without getting another kiss as I walk past him.

“Good thing I’m really hungry,” I tell him with a wink, and he bursts into laughter. My eyes widen when I see the iced coffee in the center console.

“My bribery attempt,” he says as he closes the door behind him and nods at the coffee. “If you’d said no to the date, I would have tried to bait you with it.”

“Good thing you’re very convincing yourself,” I say, still reaching for it and taking a hefty sip. “Nice and strong, just how I like it.” The car starts and it feels like only now my brain is starting to catch up with the past fifteen minutes.

“You got my coffee order from Felix?”

“Of course I did. There’s nothing I wouldn’t have done to get you on this date,” he admits with a sheepish grin. The driver merges into traffic, and I unbuckle myself to scoot over into the middle seat before buckling myself back in and instinctively laying my head on his shoulder.

“Is this okay?” Adam asks suddenly, sounding unsure. “I know it’s a lot, but I came back from Tokyo and realized I couldn’t let you go without a fight. As bad as I imagined it in Tokyo, reality turned out to be so much worse.” He clears his throat, and I set down the coffee, turning in my seat to face him as well as I can on this backseat.

“I really like you, Lily. Really,reallylike you. I want to take you on more dates and to go to sleep with you by my side.And I never want to have to imagine another day that you’re not mine. Will you let me date you for real?”

I look at him with glossy eyes, reaching for his hand and taking it in mine.

“Yeah.” I beam up at him and it’s like the weight of the world falls off his shoulders. “Holy fuck, definitely.”

He grins right back at me, contentment washing over his face as he lifts his arm to put it around my shoulders. Like a magnet, my head returns to its spot on his shoulder, and I take a deep breath.

Peace washes over me, all the tumult of the past weeks melting away as his lips press against the side of my head.

“Good,” he says softly, his breath feathering over my hair. “Because it would have been really fucking embarrassing if you didn’t.”

I chuckle against his shirt, knowing I’m probably leaving a makeup stain on it, but I don’t care.

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