Entangled ✔️

Chapter 31

Adam had been in New York for two months. It had been the most miserable two months of his existence. He was in the most exciting metropolis in the world, working at his dream job, receiving accolades from his colleagues, and there was even talk of a Pulitzer nomination, but all he could do was sulk.

His thoughts drifted to Ahana at all hours. He started several texts and e-mails to Jason asking after Ahana, but he couldn’t bring himself to finish them. He’d had a good-bye drink with Jason before he left and told him they’d broken up.

He never betrayed their secret. Jason seemed relieved by the news, which only irked Adam further. He wondered what Ahana was doing or, more specifically, who she was doing it with.

He kept up with the Politician's case in India, even making daily phone calls to the journalist who’d taken over for him so he could take all the details. He cheered for Ahana when they negotiated a landmark settlement.

He toasted her again a few days later when the district attorney’s office released a fresh batch of warrants for the responsible parties, resulting in several high-profile arrests. Ahana and her team had gotten justice for her clients. That’s my girl, Adam thought, and then he stifled the melancholy in that statement because she wasn’t his. She never had been.

He received numerous advances from women, but he no longer desired anonymous sex. He tried to act interested but found himself looking for Ahana’s soft, classic beauty in their characteristics. When that didn’t work, he’d look for her dry sense of humor, which forever made him laugh, or the passionate way she spoke about helping others. He failed miserably every time.

He wanted her to be happy, but the thought of her with another man made his jaw automatically clench along with his fists. Would she find another man to fulfill her sexual needs? Then he thought of how absurd that was. Ahana wasn’t the kind of woman who would reap any enjoyment from nameless sex.

She loved with her body as she did with her heart… purely and unselfishly. That’s why she would find someone easily. That man would be one lucky bastard, Adam thought grimly.

Adam went to the bar with several colleagues, determined to break his spell of misery with sex. He reasoned that even if he didn’t feel an attraction to the girl, the act would cure his heartache. That’s when he saw the cute blonde staring at him. He sent her a drink. She had long, shapely legs and large breasts that threatened to fall out of her too-tight top at any moment. She was the perfect distraction. She smiled appreciatively at Adam every time  he sent her a drink, and he replied in kind. It didn’t take long for her to approach him.

"Thanks for the drinks. I’m Lizzie,” she said, sidling so close to him their shoulders touched.
“Thanks for the smiles, Lizzie. I’m Adam,” Adam replied, hardly looking at her.

Then she said the four words that were clear and concise in meaning. The words Adam usually said first. The phrase wasn’t full of confusion and heart ache like those other three words: I love you. They were simple and straightforward. “Your place or mine?”
“Yours,” Adam replied, finishing his drink.

Lizzie rubbed herself all over Adam during the cab ride, but he kept shaking his head, telling her to be patient. He’d never been shy about public displays, but then again, he’d changed. Adam sat on her couch while she straddled him, running her lips across his neck. He couldn’t reciprocate.

He felt sick. This girl smelled like cheap perfume and cheaper wine. She didn’t smell sweet and delicious like Ahana did. She wasn’t sweet or delicious in any way. Adam pulled her off his lap.

“What’s wrong?”
“Sorry, I’m just not feeling it.”
She glared at him. “Are you crazy? You know I’m a model, right?” she said, as if trying to convince him.
“I can see that. I’m sorry, Kizzie, but I can’t do this.”
“It’s Lizzie, asshole!”
“Yeah, you got that one right. I am an asshole. See you.”