Roses

Chapter 13

Zoey

I sit in Adam's Mercedes, pretending to stare intently out the window when really all my attention is focused on the man behind the wheel. This is why I've been running away like a coward from all situations where I'm required to be near this man lately.

I tried to protest my way out of this one too, but he was having none of it. He looked like he was ready to throw me on his shoulder and dump me in his car if he had to so I gave in.

"How was your day?" Adam asks with a touch of amusement in his voice like he knows about the effect he is having on me.

"It was great, actually." I turn to face him. "We discussed about the serial killer. Went on a walk. Your father's fun to be around."

"Give it a few days." He stares out the windshield with a gritted jaw, the sarcasm in his words doing nothing to hide the bitterness in his voice.

"Do you miss New York?" He asks after a tense moment and I don't understand the shift in subject. Is he trying to send me back or what?

"Sometimes." I spent nearly ten years there. It is hard not to miss the familiarity.

"How was your life back there?" He drawls on his question, trying to keep his tone nonchalant but I can sense something more.

"It was okay... ish. Decent job. Decent," I pause to exhale and then add in quietly, "relationship." His hands around the steering wheel tense at the word.

"Interesting," he mutters. "But that's all behind you now, isn't it?"

"Yes." That much is for sure.

"Good."

Good. A single word. Yet the inflection in it is so clear. He likes that my old life is past me. Almost makes me want to wonder what he'll do if I suddenly decide to go back.

A shift in the air lingers till he pulls up in front of my house, and I rush to get out. Adam and I in closed spaces is a disaster. But before I can open my door, he grabs my other wrist. Dammit. I slowly turn to face him and raise an eyebrow.

"Be my date to a party," he says, not asks. I wait for him to say or do something. Like maybe laugh out loud and call it a stupid prank. But when his face remains the same I realize he's serious.

"No, thank you."

"Wasn't asking," he says, that hint of amusement coming back to his face. The hell?

"What?" I manage to keep my voice from turning shrill.

"I said that I wasn't asking," he speaks slower this time.

"I heard you. But I meant," I struggle a moment before finding the right words to express myself. "You can't possibly expect me to just go on a date with you."

"No, I can't. Which is why I only expect you to be my date to a party."

"It's the same thing," I yell.

"No, it isn't. I am asking you to play the role of a beautiful woman on my arm to a public event. The other would mean..... more." Something flickers in his eyes and he looks away. "Consider it part of your job."

I knew that job was too good to be true. And now I'm paying the price.

"Fine," I bite out. I jerk my hand away and get out of the car.

"It's in two days. I'll text you the details," I hear him call out behind me but I don't turn to acknowledge his words in any way and get inside my house.