Page 4 of Sweet Thing

“Rosie.” She was a little older than Adeline, maybe by a couple of years. With her colorful ink and dark eyes, she had always struck me as mature beyond her years, unlike Adeline, who had a wide-eyed innocence to her. Or maybe I had labeled her that way because of who she was. Theo Kershaw’s adored daughter.

Rosie moved past Adeline, sending her friend a meaningful look.

“I need to talk to Hatch about that thing.”

“What thi—?” The words died on Adeline’s lips as fast as Rosie took the stairs behind me.

A reluctant Adeline turned back to me. “How much did you hear?”

“Enough.”

She dragged her teeth along a plump lower lip and placed a hand on the doorframe. For a moment, I worried she might faint. Behind her I got a sense of a young girl’s bedroom: posters of people I didn’t recognize, kooky art I wouldn’t understand, a computer desk, a guitar leaning against a wall.

“It’s not a big deal.” The words emerged from my throat rusty and a little too fast.

“I just talked about my years-long crush on you and it’s not a big deal?”

I winced. This got worse and worse.

She realized her error instantly. “Maybe you should tell me which of my shocking revelations youdidhear.”

I admired her for turning it on its head. If she was going to be embarrassed, she may as well drag me down with her.

“Something about you thinking I was, uh, sexy.” I couldn’t believe I had just uttered that word to Adeline Kershaw.Forgive me, captain, for I have sinned.“Like I said, not a big deal.”

“Because you hear it all the time.”

That made me chuckle, the first funny thing I’d heard since I’d stood outside a bedroom door and listened to a couple of young women discussing private things I had no right to hear.

“Nah, I don’t hear it all the time. I’m not exactly a fan favorite.”

“People can separate fandom from lust.” She closed her eyes, and those sooty lashes fluttered against her cheeks. “I’m not making this any better, am I?”

“Can’t say you are. But if it’s any consolation, I’m just as embarrassed as you are.”

“None whatsoever,” she said glumly.

I wanted to chuckle again, but she wouldn’t appreciate it. Had I suspected this crush? Perhaps. Perhaps that was part of the reason I rejected all those dinner invites.

I tried to look at the upside. In a couple of days, she would be on her way, out of the country, far from this moment. New adventures would replace old hurts, and neither of us would think on this awkwardness any longer. Just a schoolgirl crush on an older man. Harmless, really.

Time to wrap this up. “Are we good, Adeline?”

She frowned, like the question was unexpected. I wanted to leave this on good terms. Didn’t she?

“Yeah, we’re good, Lars.”

An urge to kiss her on the cheek took hold of me, a consolation prize for the loss of, well, me. I chased away that nonsense and nodded curtly instead.

“Good luck on your travels. Stay safe.”

“Thanks. And sorry.”

I waved it off as I bolted for the stairs with the slowest, most methodical step of my life. “Think nothing of it.”

ChapterOne

Fourteen months later …

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