Road to Evergreen | #Wattys2016

t w e n t y - o n e

I help Adam carry his things and adjust his seat belt in the car. He keeps nagging every second that, "I'm totally capable of handling myself," and "stop treating me like I woke up from a coma." But I just ignore his comments.

I turn my car on, and make my way out of the parking lot. I glance at Adam and he is staring outside of the window. He looks pale, tired and lost in thoughts. I reach to turn on the radio station and She is by The Fray blasts out from the speakers. Adam turns his mouth into a smirk as he winks at me remembering our first date. And my mind goes back to what Jeremy said about the cop and Adam. I want to ask him what really happened. I've been curios all along but he looks so relaxed and warm that I don't dare to distribut him.

As we near Adam's building, he gestures for me to pull aside.

"Why are we stopping here?" I ask. There's leaves all over the floor, a wet rusty bench, and kids playing around with a ball.

"I want you to meet someone very dear to my heart," he replies as he opens the door and gets out to the cold.

"Max!" He yells to the kids. The one with dorky glasses who looks younger than Harry, jerks his head up. His face beams as he runs toward Adam and embraces him in a hug.

"Hey little guy," Adam says to Max as he messes his brown hair.

"Where have you been? I waited all day yesterday for you," Max pouts.

"I had a little incident but it's okay. I promise I'll make it up to you and take you for ice cream later today. Deal?" He tells Max.

"Okay," he gives in.

"I want you to meet someone," he tells max and turns to gesture for me to get out of the car. and so I do.

"Max this is Lesley, Lesley this is Max," Adam introduces us. As Max eyes lock into mine, a wave of familiarity wavers over me. I know him but I don't know how. He reminds me of someone I can't place my finger on. I snap back to reality as I notice that I'm scaring the kid off by just staring so I give him my warmest smile, "Hi Max, it's nice to meet you."

He turns to Adam and tells him, "She's very pretty." Adam and I burst into laughter.

"She's mine so you better back away," he jokes.

She's mine. I can't help but smile.

"Can she come with us for ice cream later as well?" He asks Adam.

A pair of hazel and green eyes are waiting for my reply as they turn around to face me. Can I? Should I? "I have work in 3 hours but I think I could manage to go before that," I shudder.

"Go tell your mom that I'm taking you out and you'll be back in an hour. I'm waiting for you here, okay?" To that, Max sprints to the building.

Adam's hands go around my waist, and he holds me so my face is just above his as we stand on the sidewalk, leaves crushing under our feet. I capture his green eyes. They are that colour of the forest after it rains. The colour of the tadpoles making ripples in the pond. That green colour that brings hope and life no matter what has happened. And looking into those eyes, I could see it. And he knows that I could.

"What's on your mind?" I ask him.

"Lesley, remember when I told you that you mean the world to me?," he asks. I nod. He continues, "I want you to know that I wasn't lying at all."

"What are you trying to say?" I ask, confused. He rakes a hand through his hair as he holds me with the other. "I really suck at speeches," he weakly laughs. I meet his eyes.

"Ever since I found you, Life became beautiful," he pauses and continues, "Your voice is the melody of my heart," he smoothers his thumb over my throat. "Your eyes are a blessing in disguise," he leans in and kisses each one. "Your heart beat is the only voice I care to listen to," he places his hand over my heart. "And your lips are an inescapable gravity," he leans in and kisses me softly on the corner of my mouth. My face flushes with red and shivers chase over my body. He inhales a breath and continues, "What I'm trying to say is that I love you, Lesley Parker. More than words could describe," he exhales.

My heart is beating so fast: one..two..three.. four..five..six..seven..eight..nine..ten..eleven.

"You are the best thing that ever happened to me," he states.

I suck in a breath and hold on to him as long as I can. His words are perfect. More perfect than I could have ever imagined. I search his eyes and bend down to kiss him. Our lips collapse urgently and our tongues follow. He kisses me with so much life and passion that I would give up anything for him. For all the hope he's giving me.

"I love you, Adam Reindl," I say as I pull back.

He lowers me to the ground and holds my hands against his chest. I rap my arms around him as we grin from ear to ear. I'm aching and I don't know why. So, I glance at our surroundings. My heart constricts, a lump forms in my heart, and a tear escapes my eye. I try holding it back before Adam notices it, but it's too late now as he wipes it away.

He kneels down and holds my face. He searches my eyes, as his eyebrows frown and concern crawl his eyes, "what's wrong? Why are you crying?"

"I-I never knew I could be this happy," I stutter. A big smile spreads on his face as he picks me up and whirls me around. We are both laughing as he kisses every corner of my face. I hold on to him hard, so afraid of losing my safe haven. I nuzzle into his neck and inhale his scent as my heart flutters. I guess that's what happens when you're happy. When you found the one. Life starts to make sense.

My thoughts are interrupted as Max comes back sprinting. Adam puts me down smoothly but immediately interlocks our hands together. I grin to the sight of that.

God, he's perfect.

"You ready?" He addresses Max.

He nods.

"Umm, would you mind if we pass by to get my brother from my apartment? I'm pretty sure he would enjoy it and I would like if you would meet him," I explain.

Adam presses my hand closer, smiles, and says, "that's not a problem," as Max jumps with enthusiasm.