Page 104 of Yellow
I quietly backed up and rested on the chair behind me, signaling to Adam that I was going to listen as long he needed me to.
“I was twelve years old when my father killed himself.”
“Oh, I’m sorry, Adam. Onava told me.”
“It’s all right, I didn’t know him well.” His Adam’s apple bobbed. “Turned out he was in debt and left me nothing but a useless letter in which he warned me not to follow in his footsteps.”
Adam raised his head and looked at me with pain in his eyes. “I tore down the picture on my wall that day and swore I’d never be tempted by a woman like her.”
I blinked, unsure what to say.
“But Iwastempted by you and I resented you for it.”
“So what you’re saying is that I’m like your preteen fantasy?”
He nodded.
“But you always said you preferred Native women to blondes.”
Adam gave me long glance. “I know.”
“I’m so confused. What are you saying? You’re attracted to me after all and itwasn’tjust sex to you?”
“Was it just sex to you?” he asked.
“Well, no, but I was certain it was to you, and I didn’t expect anything from you.”
For a while neither of us spoke. I wanted to reach out to him, but the four feet between us felt like the Grand Canyon.
“Maybe we both need time to think about this,” I suggested. “I’m going out with Faith, and you…”
He turned around, “I’m going to see a friend.”
“Who?” I called after him.
“Violet.”
The one you slept with?I wanted to ask, but I already knew the answer to that question and it made my belly twist in a knot.
