Aching for Adam

Chapter 7

"Hi," I replied, smiling nervously. My palms instantly grew damp.

"How are you?" He smiled back, and it took me a few seconds to answer.

"Good, and you?" My heart beat faster.

"I'm fine, thanks." A silence fell between us.

"How's your work?" he asked. His face stayed neutral, but I saw 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 said.

"Well, I'm glad." His shoulders seemed to relax a little.

"What about you? Work going well?" I asked, forcing myself through the small talk I hated so much. He already knew that about me.

He smirked. "Yep, work's going well."

God, I had missed that smile.

Another pause. I tried not to think about his lips, or how badly I wanted to run my hands through his hair, tug at his shirt— Focus.

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

My heart stopped.

"Adam, I—"

Before I could finish, the band announced the bride and groom's first dance. I glanced around. Everyone else had already drifted to the gardens for the reception—and for the food, of course.

I smiled faintly. "We should go."

"Wait, Elle."

I turned back. He was suddenly so close I could have reached out and touched his face. But I didn't.

I caught a whiff of his scent—clean, warm, intoxicating—and my head spun. So many memories came flooding back all at once; my knees were weak. 

"Elle..."

Panic rose in my chest. I didn't know what he was about to say, but I knew I wasn't ready for it. Whatever it was, it couldn't be good.

Would he tell me he was happy for me? That he was glad we had parted, that it was for the best? That he wanted me to leave?

Before my mind could spiral any further, I cut him off. "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 forced a grin.

"Yeah, I do." His crooked smile undid me. He knew exactly how much I loved weddings.

I had been planning ours since the day we met. I used to make him watch wedding shows, ask his opinion on dresses and flowers. He always humored me, even suggested I switch careers and become a wedding planner. But all of that had stopped the day I left him.

I'd always dreamed of the perfect wedding. For as long as I could remember. But now? Now I knew I'd never get married. I didn't even want to. What was the point?

I shut my eyes for a moment, drew a deep breath, and walked toward the back door. I didn't hear his footsteps behind me, but I kept going until I reached the gardens.

Suzie and Nathan glided across the dance floor, and tears stung my eyes. They were beautiful. They embodied the love I had always pictured for myself.

I glanced around. Every face radiated awe at the sight of them. Everyone could see how purely they loved each other.