Not Falling Apart

Chapter 20

Miranda’s POV

Something was going on. Why else would Blake be acting so strange? She could tell he sensed she knew something because of the way he averted eye contact whenever she brought it up and tried to cover up with excuses. The other option was he was having an affair with another woman, but she didn’t think so. It would be much less strange though. Her husband, with another man? Unthinkable. But she had to see for herself, know for sure.

So there she was, sitting high up towards the back in The Voice audience. She would be able to see all their little antics on and off camera, and get a better feel for the situation. Blake would never suspect a thing.

It was a little while before taping would begin, but she was there anyway. Thankfully there were quite a few others around her so she wouldn’t be as easy to spot. No one seemed to question her presence there.

She watched as the coaches walked out and made their way towards their seats. Adam sat down in his chair and typed on his phone at the same time. She looked down the row and saw Blake on his phone too, smiling.

They’re probably texting each other, she thought.

They continued for a few minutes, smiling now and then. If they were in a relationship, she could only imagine what they were saying to one another. Blake’s texts would be bad enough let alone Adam. She didn’t know him very well personally, but she knew about him. He was a bad influence on Blake. And quite possibly, getting in the way of their marriage.

The show began, and for a while nothing happened. She found herself enjoying quite a few of the singers, getting lost in the moment. Then during a commercial break, Blake left the area, and a few seconds later Adam followed along behind him. They disappeared from sight. She decided to follow them.

She inconspicuously got up out of her seat and pretended like she was going to use the restroom. She snuck around, dodging security guards, until she made her way in the direction she had seen Blake and Adam go. She heard something, and peered into a dressing room to find her husband mouth to mouth with Adam Levine. They both had their eyes closed, and Adam was cupping Blake’s face in his hands. It was the longest, most passionate kiss she had ever witnessed. She left before they were finished. She had seen enough. And it was exactly what she needed to see.

Adam’s POV

He walked back to his seat, still reeling over his kiss with Blake. It was magical, breathtaking. He wanted more. He needed it.

He stole a glance at Blake and winked, and Blake blew him a kiss. He was still looking at Blake, smiling, when Usher walked by.

“Who’re you looking at?” Usher said with a small laugh.

“I bet it’s Blake,” Shakira chimed in slyly.

“Ugh, gross. That’s enough for me.” Usher moved on to his chair.

“Shakira, it was not Blake.”

“Oh yeah? Who was it then?”

“Um…” Someone in the audience sounded lame. Weird, actually. He was stuck.

“See, I knew it.”

Adam blushed. Damn it, don’t let her see right through you!

Shakira suddenly turned serious, and she leaned over so she could be closer to Adam. “Do you and Blake have something going on? I know you’ve said you don’t but…”

“No, of course not!” Time number two, at least, that Shakira had caught them. And it was always Adam she caught. He needed to be more careful; he was ruining his and Blake’s chance to be together.

She didn’t have a chance to say anything more because it was time to resume the show. Adam couldn’t concentrate. He was beginning to think this was a bad idea.

Blake’s POV

Blake used to love going home, kicking back, relaxing, chatting with Miranda. Now the idea wasn’t so appealing. He’d much rather be at Adam’s, and he and Miranda weren’t on great terms. It made for stressful nights.

He was barely in the door when she started in on him. He hadn’t even seen her.

“Don’t give me any bullshit Blake, what is going on between you and Adam?”

Woah where had that come from? What did she know? Or thought she knew?

“Miranda, nothing…”

“Don’t lie to me!” She was angry.

“I…” He sighed. “We’re friends, that’s all.” Sure, it was hard lying to her face. But he had to protect his relationship with Adam.

She grabbed her purse and stormed out of the house. He spun around and caught her by the arm. “Where’re you going?”

“Away from HERE.”

She jerked away and ran off.

Blake walked further inside and ran his hands across his face. This could get ugly. He didn’t know what she knew, but she was figuring something out and no telling how she would react if she knew the whole truth.

There was no use sitting around an empty house. He gave Miranda a second to leave, then grabbed his keys and headed back out.

***

He was taking a drive, trying to clear his head. How had things gone downhill so fast? He already knew the answer. His wife wasn’t stupid, and she could tell when he was lying to her. And he was lying to protect him and Adam. Adam had lied to, to Shakira. But his lies were worse. Way worse. This was his wife, the woman he loved. The more he thought about it, though, the more he realized he loved Adam. Loved Adam.

It had been the craziest couple months of his life. He and Adam started out as just good friends, then when Adam got sick everything changed. All those days he spent in that hospital room, all the times he cared for Adam and gave him whatever he needed, then after that, all those nights he spent at Adam’s house, where they would talk and laugh like old times. Then when Adam got better, all the wonderful intimate moments. He went from liking Adam to loving him, to wanting to be in a real relationship with him. Crazy things brought them together, and he was sure glad they did. Not only did he get to experience Adam’s weak and innocent side, but he got the chance to realize that he loved that man. And now here they were, trying to hold their love together but being slowly picked apart by the questions from those around them. It wasn’t fair to either of them.

Blake had always told Adam they would make this work. But what was the cost?

What he was about to do next would hurt him more than anything else in his entire life.