If Walls Could Talk (Adamtina)

Chapter 17

The hangover that was born in hell inhabited Adam's body as he lay there and battled through the dark flashbacks, feeling yet more shame pile on top of itself as he realized that he still hadn't contacted Christina, and that she'd probably be freaking out by now.

But as much as he wanted to talk to her... to see her... when he pictured Claire's despairing face, it just made him feel so fucking guilty all over again. Like he'd punched her in the gut to only turn around and stab her in the back if he was to go and be with Christina so soon. No matter how much he wanted to.

The sound of a heavy door suddenly closing in the other room gave Adam the motivation he needed to drag his ass out of bed as he stepped into the same jeans he'd been wearing since yesterday and threw his t-shirt over his head. After using the bathroom he braved a look in the mirror and picked at his messy hair, registering the unshaven scruff and dark circles under his eyes.

He looked like shit. Like a man who had just left his almost-wife for a woman he'd never truly got over.

Your life is awesome, Adam. No, seriously. Keep making these fucking awesome decisions. You're a natural at this.

When he stumbled out into the living area, his eyes stung by the bright sun streaming through the sliding glass door, he found Jake sitting at the breakfast bar over a newspaper and a coffee.

"Hey man," Jake said as he quickly stood up and walked over to the coffee pot, clearly making an effort to sound chirpy. "I didn't know if we were gonna see you at all today... Taylor's just left to meet the kids down at the pool. Coffee?"

"Thanks," Adam mumbled as he retrieved a bottle of water from the fridge, downing half of it in one go.

"Thank God," Jake replied. "Someone else needs to drink this stuff up, I'm on like my twelfth cup after waiting for you to get up all day and my head's still not right... I can't imagine how you must feel."

"What time is it?" Adam asked as he slid into a kitchen stool and held his throbbing head in his hands, his lips crying for more water.

"Past one," Jake replied as he handed Adam a steaming hot cup.

Adam spotted his phone that was now sitting out on the bench and considered turning it on, but he didn't think he could handle what might be waiting for him on it as he sipped his coffee.

I really need to call Christina.

"Yeah, sorry about your phone, hey..." Jake mumbled sheepishly as he caught Adam eyeing off the handset. He slid back into his seat, the two of them now facing the interior of the suite's kitchenette. "I hid it in Taylor's underwear... I figured if you found it there I'd have to knock you out before you got to call anyone, so that kinda worked."

Adam just chuckled softly, his voice scratchy. "It's cool, man." He was way too tired to argue about anything further and he knew that Jake had actually done the right thing by taking his phone off him and was glad for it. If he'd called Christina last night after that many drinks he'd probably have either fallen into a mess of tears telling her over and over again how much he loved her like a pathetic idiot, or much worse, tried to get in his car while he was drunk to go see her.

"I slept like the dead," Adam muttered as he blew on his hot coffee.

"Well, Mr. Daniels will do that to you, buddy," Jake replied as he picked his newspaper back up and gave it a little shake. "So how are you feeling?"

"Like shit." Adam could hear how depressed he sounded and it scared even himself. That traumatic scene with Claire kept starting over and re-playing in his mind, and as much as he knew it had been the right move, a part of himself already missed her terribly. He was on a seriously whacked-out emotional rollercoaster and he couldn't get off.