Page 114 of That Moment
“I hear you,” I say, and I mean it. My voice is rough. “I hear you.”
He looks past me, out the small office window toward the bays. “I don’t need the details. I don’t want ’em. But if thisis… if this is something you’re serious about? Figure your shit out fast.” His gaze returns to mine. “She’s all in. That’s who Adrienne is. She won’t say it until she’s sure you won’t run. But she’s already there.”
He turns for the door. At the threshold, he pauses, glancing back. “We’ve been friends a long time, Scotty.”
“Yeah.”
“I want you to be happy. I want her to be happier. And if that means you two together, then so be it, I’m happy for you both. You’re one of my best friends, you know I had to say what I said.”
I walk out of my office and stand there another beat after he leaves. My pulse thuds in my throat. I scrub a hand over my jaw and blow out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding.
“Everything good, boss?” Pete gives me a questioning look.
“Peachy,” I say, grabbing a work order from the counter. The letters blur for a second before snapping into place. “Let’s get that Dodge on the lift.”
Chapter 21
Adrienne
I’m useless today. Completely, shamelessly useless.
My inbox is full, the clock on the wall says it’s somehow already after three, and all I’ve done is smile at my computer screen like a lovesick idiot. Every spreadsheet I’ve opened turns into a daydream about Scotty. His laugh, his hands, the way he looked at me last night when he handed me the locket.
I drop my pen and lean back in my chair, grinning like a fool. If anyone walks by my office right now, they’ll know exactly what kind of night I had.
It’s silly, Scotty, thinking I didn’t want people to know that I’m no longer single. Because Iwantto tell someone. About us. About how it feels different this time. But the girls would dissect it, tease it, twist it into something it’s not ready to be. And Axel, God, he’d go nuclear. I’m not sure he’s recovered from Sunday, and the last thing I want to do is poke a bear.
Celeste, though… she’d listen. She’d know what questions to ask without making me feel stupid for asking them back. I slide the locket into my palm and close my fist around it.
Yeah. Celeste.
I shut my laptop, grab my coat, and sling my bag over my shoulder. I never leave work early. In fact, most days, I’m here a lot longer than eight hours.
Celeste’s house isn’t far, so I take the long route. Right now, I need that time. To think. To breathe. It’ll be nice to talk to someone who won’t make me feel like a lovesick idiot for falling for the one man who swore he couldn’t give me more.
The road winds past the edge of town, the Colorado sun almost blinding. My fingers drum in time with the pop song on the radio. I’m lost in thought, enjoying my last few minutes to gather my thoughts when the radio is interrupted by a call from Axel. I sigh, thumb hovering before I hit answer.
“Hey, what’s up?”
“Where are you?” His tone is too casual. Which means he’s already suspicious.
“Left early,” I say lightly. “I had to run a few errands for Mom and Dad’s anniversary. You know, last-minute stuff.”
A pause. “What kind of errands?”
I roll my eyes, even though he can’t see it. “Relax, I’m picking up the cake you were supposed to get, remember? Someone has to be responsible in this family.”
He grunts. “Funny, because Amelia texted me twenty minutes ago. Said she already picked it up.”
My grip tightens on the steering wheel.Well shit.“Well, maybe I’m getting candles, Axel. Balloons. Confetti. Does it matter?”
“It does when you lie.”
“Excuse me?”
He exhales loudly through the phone like his patience is starting to fray. “I’m not even going to bother with the triplet thing. Where are youreallygoing?”
I stare at the road ahead, annoyed at how perceptive he can be at times. “Why do you care?”
