Page 88 of Unwritten (Woodlands 5)

It makes me a little crazy. The noise, the smoke in the air, and the girls are all giving me a huge headache. I decide to retreat inside the bus.

Berry follows me. She unhooks her baby papoose thingy and carefully lays Jack in the portable carrier. One thing about having Berry on the bus, it’s too crowded with baby things to accommodate many people.

“I need a set of those headphones.” Inside the bus, with the door closed, it’s like we’re in the eye of a noise hurricane.

“I know, right?” She tucks a blanket around him and comes to take a seat at the banquette. “Fuck, I’d give anything to have a beer right now.”

“You can’t?” I know nothing about babies.

“No.” She pats her boob. “He drinks from the tap. I could pump and dump, but that’s a pain in the ass. Don’t have a baby, Landry. They’re so much work.”

I look at Jack’s sweet face. “But they’re so adorable.”

“That’s the kicker. You’re mad about a dozen things like not sleeping, having to use three diapers during one change, getting pissed on during said change, but he can smile at you and everything’s forgiven.”

I wink. “Kind of like Ian.”

She laughs. “Yeah, just like Ian, but usually his smile has to come from between my legs before the forgiveness comes.”

“Nice. I like that.”

“So, you and Adam, huh?” She arches her eyebrows as if daring me to deny it.

“Ian told you?” I guess.

“I’m his wife. There are no secrets between us.”

Her smile is inviting, but I’m not ready to share my feelings with Berry. I can’t admit that I fell in love with him when she expressly warned me away. “You told me not to catch feelings for him because he wasn’t going to settle down.”

“Maybe I was wrong.” Her voice softens. “Adam’s careful. He’s friendly with tons of people. Loves the women, but he doesn’t open up to many. People want to take advantage of him—of his money, his connections, his talents. That’s why I gave you the warning. Not because I don’t think he can’t settle down but because I haven’t seen him want to.”

I look out the window. Adam’s now talking to some woman wearing a badge. The girls are hanging back, waiting for the opportunity to pounce. He’s not paying them any attention. “You see something different now?”

I can’t keep the hope out of my voice.

“Ian does.”

My heart swells. “I want to believe,” I find myself telling her. “But there’s Davis. I don’t think he’d like it if I was dating Adam.”

“Has he said that or are you using him as an excuse so you can pretend that Adam’s going to break your heart.”

My jaw drops open at her blunt words. She makes a face. “Too harsh? I just love Adam to pieces and Ian says he’s gone over you. I feel like I gave the warning to the wrong person.”

“No.” I shake my head. “No. You didn’t. I’m—“ I break off and then restart, forcing myself to admit the truth. “You’re right.” Those words are hard to say. “I’ve been hiding. I let Davis talk me into coming on this tour instead of facing Marrow down. I crushed on Adam because it was safe. And then when it wasn’t safe anymore, I threw Davis in between us as a roadblock.”

I swallow but it hurts because there’s a big lump in my throat.

Berry’s eyes hold no judgment. “So what do you do now?”

What can I do? Adam’s already set up camp in my heart, and short of clawing that thing out, he’s there for good. Sitting on my ass and not grabbing the opportunity that’s right there is idiotic.

“I guess I need to talk to Davis and tell him that I love Adam.”

“Maybe tell Adam first.” She winks.

“Probably.”

“Go out and make a big show of it. Adam will love it.”

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