Aching for Adam

Chapter 7

"Hi," I reply, smiling nervously. My palms instantly get sweaty.

"How are you?" He smiles back and it takes me a few seconds to answer. "Good, and you?" My heart starts beating faster.

"I'm fine, thanks." There's a moment of silence.

"How's your work?" He asks. His face is straight, but I can see his jaw clench.

"Good, good. I moved back about a year ago, I started my own business. Things are going really great on that front," I say.

"Well, I'm glad." He says, his shoulders seeming to relax a bit.

"What about you? Work going well?" I ask, trying to hide the fact that I desperately hate small talk. But he already knows that.

He smirks, "Yep, work going well." God, I missed that smile.

Another moment of silence. I'm trying really hard not to think about his lips, about running my hands through his hair, tugging on his shirt... "Focus," I think to myself.

"Listen, I'm sorry if this is awkward. I think my sister just really wanted you to be part of her big day, and she didn't stop to think about...this." He looks down, and back up, straight into my eyes. "But... I'm happy to see you, you look well."

My heart stops.

"Adam, I—"

I'm suddenly interrupted by the band, calling the bride and groom on the dance floor for their first dance. I look around, everyone else had disappeared; they were probably all in the gardens, waiting for the reception to officially start. And for the food, of course.

I smile. "We should go," I say.

"Wait, Elle." I turn towards him and he's suddenly so close I could reach out and touch his face. But I don't.

I catch a whiff of his divine scent and my head starts spinning.

"Elle..."

I start to panic. I don't know what he's going to say, but I know I'm not ready for it. Whatever it is, it can't be good.

Is he going to say something like he's happy for me? Is he glad we parted, because it was for the best? Does he want me to leave the wedding?

Before my mind goes any further down the rabbit hole, I stop myself. And I stop him. "We should really go, I don't want to miss their first dance. You know how much of a sucker I am for these things." I grin.

"Yeah, I do." He gives me a crooked smile. He knows how much I love weddings.

I had been planning ours since the day we met. I used to make him watch wedding shows, ask for his opinion on bridal fashion... he always tried to support me, even suggested I changed careers and become a wedding planner. Truth is, all of that stopped the day I left him. I'd always dreamed of the perfect wedding, for as long as I can remember, and now... it's like I know I'll never get married, and I don't even want to. What's the point?

I turn away and shut my eyes for a second. I take a deep breath and start walking towards the back door. I don't hear his steps following me, but I keep walking anyway, until I reach the gardens.

As I watch Suzie and Nathan dance, I can't help but get teary eyed. They perfectly capture what I had always envisioned I would have. They were beautiful to watch.

I glance around and see everyone looking at them in awe. Surely they all see the pure love they have for each other.

As I scan the room, I see Adam leaning in the doorway, watching me. I blush and look down. When I lift my gaze, he's looking at Suzie and Nathan, with a sad look on his face. What was he thinking about? How long had he been looking at me? I wish that I could read his mind. Or maybe not.