Page 4 of The Biggest Secret
After being pushed aside all my life, it was easy to make the decision to run and stay away. But it’s not fair to Dominic and he’s the reason I came back. He deserves to know his family.
I can’t hide any longer. Especially here in this small town of Christmas, Texas where there is absolutely no disguising oneself.
Entering the small bed and breakfast with bags of groceries and Dominic on my hip, I call down the hallway, “Adley! Are you back yet?”
“In here.” I drop the bags on the counter and Dominic squirms to get down.
“Addy! Addy!” Dom yells as he races down the hall to her room.
“Hey, slow down, buddy!” I laugh while watching his little feet carry him quickly around the corner.
Reaching her doorway, I lean against the frame and watch as she smothers Dom in kisses. Thank God for my sister, the only one who never left me. I’ve needed her more than anything these last few years and she’s stepped up. She’s never complained and put her life on hold to help me move back to the town that I thought would be my home for life.
“I grabbed some basic snacks and easy meals. We’ll have to do a better shop, but I really need to find us an apartment first.”
“Yes, this little B&B is cute but not long term.” She stands now as Dom has lost interest in her kisses and is already pulling out his little cars that he stashed in here yesterday.
“How’re you doing?” she asks.
I shrug. “It’s strange being back here. I recognized a lot of the olderlocals, which means I know they recognized me. They were polite enough, not too nosy with the questions, but it’ll only be a matter of time before it gets around.” This town is unbelievable. It’s like they take each and every resident under their wing whether you want it or not. “They all mentioned the game tonight, stores will be closing by six, so it gives everyone time to get to the field.”
She watches me closely. “Are you going to go?”
I shrug again because I feel like that’s all I know how to do. I’ve made the decision to come back here and that’s about all the mental capacity I have in decision making right now.
“I think you should go. I think if you run into Adam, amongst a crowd andalone,” she emphasizes the word while giving a head nod towards Dom, “you’ll be able to read his reaction to seeing you a little bit better.”
“And what if he refuses to acknowledge me? Then I’ll have to navigate another way to cross his path.”
“If that happens, we'll storm his house, tie him down, and make him listen!” she laughs, and I smile at her antics. She’s the perfect type of crazy I need right now.
“What ifshe’sthere?” I don’t even want to speak her name.I twist my ring around my finger, the smooth metal soothing my anxiety.
“Then you call me for backup.” She cuffs her hands around her mouth. “Do not engage. I repeat. Do not engage.”
I toss the blanket I was folding at her. “You are absolutely ridiculous.”
She shrugs. “I know, but my readers love it.”
I take a deep breath, shaking out my arms like I’m preparing for an MMA fight. “Are you ok to hang here with D for a little bit? I won’t be long; I’ll just see if I can find Adam quickly and ask to meet for coffee at a later time. He’s going to be preoccupied with Jackson and the game tonight and I don’t want to be a bother.”
“Of course, we’re ok!” She grabs Dominic and he giggles as she swings him around. I follow her out of the room and into the small living room/kitchen. Yeah, we definitely need to find a bigger apartment. She places him on the chair next to the counter and startsunpacking the groceries. “Go. Find something hot to wear, do your hair, and go get your baby daddy!”
“Stop it!” I hiss at her but I’m laughing. “If only it were that easy.”
I know better. I know Adam and I know why I left. He’s got his priorities, and I wasn’t one of them. Now I have to hope a new set of priorities will change his mind.
Chapter Five
ADAM
Sophomore year of college—Fourteen years ago
I’ve seen Chelsea Jo every day since our first meeting in business class. We had lunch that day and have been inseparable since. I’ve never met anyone like her. She’s funny, sweet and challenges me with every word. I like the fight she gives me. She’s not a simple girl falling at my feet just because I can catch a football. I watch it happen with Jackson and there’s no feeling in it. It’s boring and easy and I don’t want that.
Chelsea questions me and wants to know me, genuinely. We talk about my family, my twin brothers and my sister, Francesca. She doesn’t say too much about her family. From what she’s mentioned, her mom is back in her hometown and her sister is in her senior year of high school. They’re close, and though she didn’t want to leave her sister when it was time to choose a college, she did want out of her house. There’s no mention of dad but I know she’ll tell me in her own time, so for now I’m happy with what she issharing.
She answers her phone on the first ring, and I hum into the phone. “I’ve missed your voice.”
