Page 29 of Wait For You

“Bedtime is in half an hour.”

“I know, Mom.” He tossed me a quick smile over his shoulder.

I stepped into the room and ruffled his hair quickly before departing to return to the kitchen. When I sat down, Haven followed me into the room and glanced around. “I should get home.”

“You’re like me when Eric was younger. I found it hard to leave him for much time at all,” I offered

Haven cast me a sheepish smile. “I know. I don’t like leaving Jake for too long even though I know he’s asleep, and Rhys is there, and everything is fine. It’s just…” She shrugged.

I gave her a quick hug before she departed. McKenna got up from the table and followed her to the door. “I’m going to head home too.”

“Go to your lover boy,” Rosie teased with a dismissive wave.

McKenna’s cheeks went pink. I grinned. “We all understand. You’re in love.”

“Dinner at my place next time,” she said, lightly squeezing Rosie on the shoulder before she left.

Rosie helped me start to clean up. “I can handle it if you need to go,” I said.

She eyed the plates and glasses on the table. “I’d like to help.” We began cleaning before she glanced over. “I just have one question.”

“What’s that?”

“What were you doing at Adam Cannon’s house?”

Fireweed Harbor was a small town, complete with the usual gossip that raced through it like tiny flames. There was also the unique situation of being in Alaska and off the road system. You had to take a plane or boat just to get here. We had all the amenities, but the winters were long and dark. Residents were bound more tightly together by the shared experience of living on the edge of the wilderness, the wildness itself its own force, tightening the bonds we already shared.

I loved all those things about my hometown. Although I’d hated them while I was married because I’d been so ashamed and found myself keeping secrets from everyone in my life.

I stared at my friend, feeling my cheeks heat. As much as I loved my friends caring about me and worrying about me and wanting me to be okay, I hadn’t even been thinking. Rosie lived right near Adam, which I hadn’t thought about the other night.

I scrambled in my thoughts, trying to find something, anything to explain away my presence there.

Rosie pressed her lips together to keep from laughing. I finally sighed. “I don’t have a good reason.”

She nodded slowly, holding her hand out for me to pass over a plate I’d just finished rinsing. She put it in the dishwasher. “I feel kind of slow, but did you ever have a thing for Adam? I mean, we all know him, but…” She shrugged.

“I know! We’ve all been friends since we were kids, but Adam was?—”

When I paused, Rosie interjected, “Four years older, which is like forever in school. By the time we started high school, he had just graduated. After that, he was in Seattle. We’ve gotten to know Rhys better because he married Haven. And the other brothers have been around town more. Adam keeps to himself.”

“Honestly, I never had a thing for Adam. I thought he was handsome. The whole freaking family is good-looking.” I handed her the last plate, and she put it in the dishwasher before closing it. After I dried my hands, I passed the towel to her.

I turned around, resting my hips on the counter and crossing my arms while I tapped my foot nervously on the floor. “I don’t know what happened. At McKenna’s dinner party, I went to the bathroom. I came out, and Adam was waiting, and it was just a weird thing. I wanted to kiss him, and I’m pretty sure he was going to kiss me. And?—”

I got hot just thinking about it. Rosie fanned in front of my face for me with a laugh, and I rolled my eyes. “Then you spent the night with him,” she added.

“Nobody can know,” I said hurriedly. “If Rich finds out, he will make my life a living hell. As it is, Eric’s a chess piece for him to make moves against me.”

“How bad is it with Rich? I was hoping he’d ease up,” Rosie said softly.

“Colin suggested that he check with Rich’s attorney to see if he’ll drop the custody case if I agree to forgo child support. He’s not paying anyway.”

Her gaze sobered. “I’m sorry. I’d kick Rich’s ass for you if you’d let me.”

I shook my head quickly. “I appreciate the offer.”

“I don’t think you need to worry about Adam keeping things quiet. There’s a reason none of us know him that well. He lays low. That family is not an easy family to be a part of. So much gossip to ignore. I’m sure he’ll understand your situation.”