Passion's Crossfire

Chapter 114

Mallory

I pace around the living room, anxiety gnawing at me as I wait for Adam to return. An hour has passed since he left me at our apartment building entrance, and the suspense is driving me mad. I'm curious about what's going on, grateful that he didn't insist I accompany him. Right now, the last person I want to face is his mother. I wonder what he wants to talk about, what could have happened.

The sound of keys jingling at the front door pulls me from my thoughts, and I snap my head in its direction. I see Adam entering the apartment, and a wave of relief washes over me. I rush to him, hugging him tightly. Adam is startled but quickly returns my hug. "Hey," he says.

I pull away, my impatience bubbling to the surface. "Will you tell me what the hell is going on now?" I demand.

Adam chuckles. "Okay, order some pizza, I'll get some wine, and I'll tell you all about it," he suggests.

I quickly dial the number of the pizza place he mentioned as his favorite and place the order. As I hang up, Adam places a bottle of wine and two glasses on the coffee table. I watch him open the bottle and pour wine into the glasses. We sit on the couch, and he hands me a glass. We clink, and I take a sip, my mind racing with anticipation. Adam takes a deep breath.

"There's a chance that my mother was cheating on my father," he reveals, and I am shocked to my core. "Adam, this is awful. I am so sorry," I say, my heart sinking for him.

Adam shakes his head. "It's okay, baby. I'm shocked as well. I just had some time to digest all of it," he replies, his eyes reflecting the turmoil within him.

"How did you find out?"

Adam fills me in on everything his Aunt Lily told him, and I try hard to wrap my head around this new information. "So, I went to my parents' home to ask James about it, but he couldn't help me more. He said exactly what Aunt Lily told me," Adam explains, disappointment evident in his voice.

"So... dead end?" I ask, a knot forming in my stomach. I feel awful asking this question, realizing the gravity of the situation. I can't imagine how I would feel if I ever found out that my mom cheated on my dad, or the other way around.

"Dead end," Adam sighs, leaning back on the couch. I move closer, sliding under his arm.

"I don't know if I should tell Dad," he adds, uncertainty clouding his expression.

Fuck - this is a difficult situation. "I don't know either, baby. Maybe you shouldn't? There's a chance this is a misunderstanding," I suggest, my heart aching for both Adam and his father. It would break his father heart to find all this out.

"I know. But maybe he has a way of figuring out if all of this is true," Adam says.

"Maybe," I say quietly.

We sit in silence for a few minutes, the weight of Adam's revelation hanging in the air. His fingers trace comforting circles on my back, coaxing relaxation out of my tense muscles. Despite his touch, I still can't wrap my head around what he just told me. I don't know what to feel about it.

On one hand, I feel a deep sadness for Adam and his father. This woman had a beautiful family—a loving husband and a wonderful son—and she seemingly threw it all away, as if she never cared for them. On the other hand, there's a strange sense of relief, a flicker of hope that this nightmare will come to an end if it's proven she did cheat. It's a conflicting mix of emotions, and I even feel a pang of shame for harboring that hope. Wishing for someone to have cheated feels like a betrayal of my own values, but it's an unsettling desire nonetheless.

Taking a deep breath, I try to shove away my thoughts and the shame that accompanies them. The doorbell rings, and Adam gets up to retrieve the pizza.

We settle in, devouring slices of pizza and sipping wine. Adam and I chat about various subjects, deliberately avoiding the looming shadow of his family's situation. The hours pass, and the once-tense atmosphere in our apartment begins to lighten. The wine takes its effect, easing the edges of our worries.

Eventually, the conversation winds down, and a comfortable silence settles in. We find ourselves in the soft glow of lamplight, content in each other's presence. The day's turmoil has taken its toll, and we decide to call it a night.

The next morning, I wake up to an empty bed, and I quickly realize that Adam has already left for his father's office. I stretch lazily, feeling the warmth of the morning sun filtering through the curtains. Deciding it's time to start the day, I make my way to the kitchen to brew some coffee.

As I enter the kitchen, I spot a note from Adam on the counter. "Good morning, beautiful. I love you," it reads. A smile tugs at my lips as I take in his sweet message. I prepare some toast, pour coffee into a mug, and settle at the table to enjoy a quiet breakfast.

Just as I'm about to take a sip of coffee, the doorbell rings. I glance at the clock on the wall, puzzled as I'm not expecting any visitors. Intrigued, I get up and walk to the door. Opening it, I'm greeted by the sight of Kylie on the other side.

"Surprise!!" Kylie exclaims, jumping forward to envelop me in a tight hug. I hug her back, still processing the unexpected visit. "Kylie! What... How...?" I mumble, genuinely surprised to see my best friend standing at my doorstep.

"Thank Adam," she winks, offering a cryptic smile. Kylie bends down, retrieving a duffel bag from the floor, and walks inside, surveying the apartment. "Well, that's what I'm talking about! Great place, Mal," she compliments.

I grin, genuinely happy to see her. "Thanks, Kylie," I reply, appreciating her enthusiasm.

"I will be staying for the weekend," Kylie announces, and my heart practically explodes with happiness. "Really?" I ask, unable to contain my joy, and Kylie nods. I can't help but clap my hands enthusiastically. "We are going to have so much fun," I declare, already envisioning the weekend ahead.

I motion for her to follow me. "Come, I need my morning coffee," I say, leading the way to the kitchen. Kylie sits on the kitchen table, and I pour coffee into another mug, handing it to her. "Are you hungry?" I ask, and she shakes her head.

Sitting across from her, I take a sip from my own coffee. "So, what did Sean say about you spending the weekend here?" I ask.

Kylie scrunches her nose. "As if I would ask for his opinion, after everything he put me through," she says defiantly.

I chuckle. "You're never letting this go, are you?" I tease.

"Never!" she responds, adopting a comical expression. "I thought so," I say, giggling along with her.

God, it's so good to see her. I can't wait to catch up, share news, and simply enjoy each other's company.