Aching for Adam

Chapter 6

As soon as she spotted me, Suzie squealed, "Ohhhh! Elle! I'm so glad you're here!"

She stood in a stunning blush princess gown with a sleeveless bodice and a beaded skirt. Her hair was pinned up, curls tumbling loosely on either side of her face. She looked like a queen.

Her husband, Nathan, arrived at the same time and wrapped an arm around my shoulders. "Hi, Elle." He smiled.

Suzie kissed my cheek, and I noticed she'd been crying.

"I'm so happy to see you. Congratulations to you both! Are you okay, Suz?" I asked, hoping they were tears of joy.

"I'm fine, I'm just... so emotional." She chuckled, dabbing at her eyes. "Oh crap, I'm ruining my mascara. Can you come help me in the bathroom?"

"Of course."

I greeted her parents shyly. They answered with a polite smile and curt nod. I wished for a warmer reunion, but I figured they probably sensed my discomfort.

I was more than grateful when Suzie grabbed my wrist and tugged me away. "C'mon, I really gotta pee!"

As we made our way down the hall, I waved at a few familiar faces. With the bride at my side, chatting happily about her new husband and everything I'd missed, my confidence lifted. For the first time that night, I actually felt like I belonged there.

Inside the ladies' room, Suzie locked the door.

"Okay, tell me how you've been," she said, settling onto a bench and patting the space beside her.

I laughed. "So you didn't actually have to pee?"

"I do, but first things first. Tell me everything." She smiled.

I sat beside her and sighed, my defenses melting under her warmth. "Well, things haven't been that great lately."

She frowned. "I'm so sorry, Elle. What's going on?"

I dropped my gaze. "Suz, this is your day. I really want to be here for you, not the other way around. Why don't we talk about this another time?"

"You know I won't leave this bathroom until you spill all the deets," she warned. And I knew she wasn't bluffing. She was gentle, but she always got what she wanted.

"Fine. Well... there's not much to say. Rick isn't the right man for me. That's pretty clear. I'm just waiting for the right time to move on. Otherwise, everything else is fine—work, my family, my health. I can't complain." I forced a smile, though the mood of the evening had me focusing on the worst.

A tear slipped down my cheek.

"Oh my gosh," I whispered. "I wasn't expecting that." I huffed out a shaky laugh.

Suzie stayed quiet, so I kept going. "It's just... seeing you, your family, and seeing Adam—it brings back a lot. Unresolved stuff, I guess. But I'm really glad to be here for your special day, Suz. It means a lot that you invited me." My smile grew more genuine as I wiped at my tears. Sitting with her felt comforting. She still felt like family.

"Elle... I'm sorry. After I sent out the invites, I realized I hadn't thought about what I'd be putting you or Adam through. It was never my intention to put you in an awkward spot. But selfishly, I'm happy you're here. I missed you."

"I missed you too. And honestly, it's harder for me than it is for him. I just haven't found a new happy place without Adam. Don't worry, Suz—the important thing is that you're happy. Besides, I'm staying at The Plaza tonight, so how could I possibly be sad?" I snickered and drew in a deep breath.

I'd booked a room at the chicest hotel in the city on a whim. The Plaza reminded me of a night years ago, when a storm had flooded Adam's family home. We'd all stayed there—his parents in one room, Adam, Suzie, Nathan and I squeezed in another. We'd laughed and talked until late, crammed together, and for the first time I had felt like I was truly part of their family.

"Actually, Elle..." Suzie glanced down. "I don't think this is any easier for Adam. You should have heard him when I told him you were coming. To be honest, I don't think things are going great with his girlfriend either. She didn't even show up tonight. That has to mean something."

My face froze.

She pressed on. "This isn't really my place to say, but I need to. I understand why you left. But you've been back for over a year now, and you two are meant to be together. You were so happy. I know my brother—he always thought you were the one. I don't think he ever got over you. Maybe you should talk to him."

Another tear slid down my cheek. Deep inside, a spark flickered.

"Suzie, I don't think we're in that place anymore. I don't think we could ever go back." She handed me a tissue. "I wish—"

A knock rattled the door, cutting me off. 

"C'mon, go pee so we can get back to your wedding." I smiled as I stood.

"Fine, but promise me you'll talk to him." Her eyes were serious now.

"Of course I will, Suz. I'm not just going to ignore him." Dammit. Ignoring him had been my plan, but I couldn't tell her that.

I'd just have to face him.

Turns out I didn't have to look far. As Suzie and I stepped out, a woman pushed past us into the bathroom, and there he was—Adam. Standing right outside, pacing. He froze the second he saw me.

"Hey," he said, his deep voice cutting through the noise, his eyes fixed on me.

I looked at Suzie. She grinned, gave me a nudge toward him, and whispered, "See you later, Elle."

I turned back to Adam and drew a very, very deep breath.