Page 25 of Surrendering the Skies

Adele’s smile reappeared. “If you ever decide to go down that path, let me know. I can put you in touch with some people I know.”

“Thanks. I appreciate your offer, sincerely.” Shaking her head, she took another sip of wine. “But enough about me. I didn’t mean to drag down the whole evening with all of my problems.”

“You’re not dragging anything down,” Marcus said. “We’re sitting around, catching up and having a nice conversation, like friends do.”

“If you say so.” Geneva stared into the depths of her glass. “Let’s talk about something else, though.”

“Very well.” He shifted in his seat. “I guess I’ll take my cue, then.”

She jerked her head up again.

He planted both feet on the floor and leaned forward, clasping his hands between his knees. “Ash, I owe you an apology,” he said. “I’ve already apologized to Adele for not being completely forthcoming with her when it came to discussing prior relationships. And it wasn’t fair to you to leave you out, so I’m sorry.”

Ash waved him off with a flick of his wrist. “Don’t worry about it.”

“No, it needed to be said.” Marcus glanced at Adele, and then back to the other side of the room. “I shouldn’t have tried to hide anything, nor do I feel ashamed about anything we’ve done. You’re important to me, too, and I don’t want to risk losing our friendship.”

“Well, thanks. It’s always nice to hear.” Ash set his glass down on an end table and covered Geneva’s ears with his hands. “I wouldn’t have made a big deal out of anything, and I don’t want her to brag about being right, but I am glad to learn you don’t consider me a dirty little secret.”

She swatted his arm but then rested her palm on his leg. “Nothing about you is little, or secretive.”

“Shh. Enjoy your victory.”

Marcus leaned against the arm of the sofa, some of the tension in his jaw lessening. “None of us would be where we are today if it wasn’t for our past experiences, right? I don’t know why I wasn’t more truthful in the first place, but I’m relieved everything is out in the open.” He brushed his fingers over Adele’s wrist and smiled. “That’s it. My life is an open book to you now, and I promise I won’t keep anything from you ever again.”

“Good. Because I want to know every part of you.” She finished off the remnants of her drink and tugged on her necklace with her free hand. “So…if there’s a part of you that misses being with another man and you want, or need to spend some time with Ash to be happy, I…I’m okay with it.”

He drew back to stare at her. “Adele, I thought we—”

“I know. But, to be fair, we had the conversation about dating exclusively before I had all the pertinent information.” She let go of her jewelry and swiveled to meet his gaze, tucking one leg beneath her. “There’s one condition, though.”

His eyebrow arched. “What is it?”

Determination glimmered in her dark-brown eyes. “I want to watch.”

Geneva almost choked on her next mouthful of wine but recovered without calling attention to herself.Damn, I didn’t think she had it in her.Next to her, Ash moved as if to stand, but she tightened her grasp on his knee and held him in place.

The skeptical expression remained on Marcus’s face, and his cheeks brightened. “Shouldn’t we talk about this later?”

“Oh, don’t mind us.” Geneva raised her glass to her lips to camouflage her amusement. “Besides, weren’t you just saying something about how good it feels to be honest and open and so on?”

Adele tilted her head toward him. “I meant it when I said I wanted to know everything about you.” Notes of steel crept into her voice as she lowered her volume to a whisper. “You did it forher.”

He let out a nervous chuckle, his eyes darting back and forth. “I…I mean, this isn’t only my decision to make.”

“Hey, you know me.” Ash reached over and twirled a lock of Geneva’s hair around his finger. “I’m easygoing and up for anything. Though I’m assuming I’ll need to ask permission.”

She pursed her lips at him before sipping from the glass. “I’ve never told you what to do before. You’re in charge of making your own choices.” Though unexpected, the idea of Ash and Marcus reuniting in such an intimate way made her pulse flutter. “However, if you think I’m going to stay down here on the couch by myself while the three of you head upstairs, I’m telling you right now, you are sorely mistaken.”

Adele nodded without hesitation.

“Wait,” Marcus said. “You think something’s happening tonight?”

Geneva shrugged. “I don’t think any of this was planned. It certainly wasn’t on my end, but I’m letting you know where I stand on the issue.” Spinning her wineglass between her fingers, she turned her attention to Adele. “So we’re clear, I’m not expecting to participate in any of their activities. But I’m fine with hanging out on the sidelines with you.”

Marcus ran a hand through his hair and shook his head, though hints of a smile played at the corners of his mouth. “This is crazy.” He laughed. “Though based on past events and how we’ve wound up in all sorts of situations, I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised.”

Ash swallowed the rest of his drink with one gulp and set his glass down on the end table. “We’ll take it as a compliment.”

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