Aching for Adam

Chapter 14

ADAM

I was getting ready to leave, ring in hand and a whole speech rehearsed. I looked down and asked myself for the hundredth time if I really wanted to show up at her place—where she lived with her boyfriend—and ask her to marry me after four years apart. It was ten levels past crazy.

But I had to do it. If I didn't, I'd regret it for the rest of my life. If I had to suffer a beating from her boyfriend just so she'd hear me out, so be it. I'd take it.

I finally sighed and left my condo. As I jumped into my car, my phone buzzed in my pocket.

"Hey, sis," I said after seeing Suzie's name on the screen. "What's up?" I wanted so badly to tell her what I was about to do, to get some encouragement, but on the off chance she would talk me down, I bit my tongue.

"Um... so this is uncomfortable. I don't know what happened between you two the night of my wedding, but... I just saw Elle at the drugstore. And, well, I don't know how to say this. Actually, I'm really not supposed to say anything. I promised her I wouldn't, but..."

"Suz, just spit it out already." My heart clenched the second I heard Elle's name in that tone—the tone that meant bad news was coming.

"I think she's pregnant..." she mumbled.

I froze. My heart, my mind, my breath, my movements—literally everything—stopped.

And then everything started spinning.

"Adam, are you there?" Suzie asked.

A strangled "mhm" was all I managed.

"I figured it was better you heard it from me than found out on social media," she continued.

I didn't follow Elle on social media anymore; she had deleted me a long time ago. Maybe it was for the best. But I didn't mention it to my sister. Mostly because I couldn't speak. 

"I'm sorry, sis. I have to go," I barely whispered before hanging up.

I looked down at the small box in my hand. I didn't know how long I stayed in my car, in complete darkness, just staring at the ring.

I rubbed my chest to try to ease the pain, but it didn't help.

In desperate need of a glass—or ten—of scotch, I made my way back up to my condo. I shoved the ring in my jacket pocket, knowing it would never be worn by anyone if it wasn't going to be her.

ELLE

After cleaning up the mess and washing the pee off my hands—seriously, those tests could have been a little more user-friendly—I sat on my bathroom floor and waited, trying to steady my breathing.

When the timer was up, I braced myself and looked at the test.

I double-checked to be sure.

Positive.

Okay.

Don't panic.

Don't panic.

Don't... actually, panic wasn't sinking in at all.

I checked in with myself again, but instead of freaking out, I smiled.

I smiled, and my heart warmed. 

Because all my life there had only been one person with whom I ever wanted to have a child, and there was only one person who could be the father. I hadn't slept with Rick in over six months before my night with Adam.

Weirdly, I had never felt ready to be a mother until that very moment. Granted, it was far from ideal, but if I couldn't be with Adam, at least I could raise a child knowing he or she was conceived with the man I loved—conceived in a night of pure passion and, if only for that night, all-consuming love.

And I was okay with that.

I already knew I would be okay if Adam didn't want to be involved in the baby's life. I was making my choice, and he could make his.

I even found myself giggling at the thought of a little mini-Adam running around my legs.

I placed a hand on my stomach, warmth radiating across my whole body. A tear slipped free.

"It's just you and me, baby. I love you already," I whispered.

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Hey guys!

Are you rooting for Elle and Adam as much as I am?! Especially now that they're expecting!

How will Adam react? Keep reading to find out!

While you're here, I would SO appreciate it if you could vote and leave me a comment letting me know what you think!

Thank you so much!

M

XO