Alive (15 page)

“Wow.”

That was all he said.

“Yeah, wow.”

I guess we are both finding it hard to make complete sentences. He pulls me into his arms and slowly starts kissing me again.

“Shit, now I’m addicted. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to get my fill of you.”

I look up at Adam and the sadness that used to be in his eyes is completely gone. My heart swells knowing I might have something to do with his happiness.  He kisses my forehead one last time, then pulls my back against his front and wraps me in his arms. I have never felt so content in my entire life.

Before I close my eyes, I glance out of the window and I can see the soft glow from the sun slowly rising up into the dull morning sky. I believe that sunrises symbolize a new beginning, the light at the end of the tunnel. The darkness can seem endless at times, but the sun will rise every morning to shoo it away, offering us a new day and a new beginning. I’ve been given a new day, a chance to have a new beginning. And there isn’t anyone in the world I’d rather have a new beginning with than with the boy holding me in his arms.

Chapter 11

I awake the next morning to soft kisses on my back and the fresh smell of coffee drifting through the air.

“Hmmm, a girl could get used to waking up like this every morning.”

I stretch and roll over and look up at Adam. God, he’s sexy. A small blush creeps up on my face as I remember our time together last night.

“A penny for your thoughts? Five bucks says that I bet they’re dirty.”

He gives me a devilish grin and leans down and kisses the soft spot behind my ear. Chills break out on my arms and I am finding it hard to concentrate on anything other than the feel of his lips against my skin. All too soon he pulls away.

“Since we both can’t cook, I figured we could go get breakfast together this morning. Then I want to take you somewhere. I wanted to take you here yesterday, but you ran away from me.” A painful expression crosses his face. “Don’t ever run away from me again, I don’t think I could take it.”

I lean up on my arms to give him a kiss and to tell him I’m sorry for causing him pain, but when I do the sheets fall down and pool at my hips, leaving me naked before him. His eyes darken, causing me to gasp, and I reach down for the sheet to pull it back up around me.

He grabs my wrist to stop me and slowly shakes his head. “Breakfast and our plans will have to wait. Or you could just be my breakfast.” Before I can register another thought Adam pounces on me and gives me the greatest wake-up call of my life.

***

After amazing sex and then another round in the shower, we are finally on our way to breakfast. What a delicious way to start my morning.

We climb into his ridiculously beautiful car, which I can’t stop drooling over by the way, and set off to enjoy our day. Adam puts the keys in the ignition and the car purrs to life. I don’t think I’ll ever get over hearing that sound. I start bouncing up and down in my seat like a little schoolgirl and clapping my hands. I look over at Adam and he immediately starts laughing.

“Do I need to stick to driving my motorcycle when you’re around, Peaches? I have the feeling you like my car way more than me right now, and I should warn you, I get overly jealous,” he says in a teasing tone.

“It would help me enjoy this moment better if you would just stop talking. I’m trying to bond with the new man in my life.”

I lovingly rub my hand over the dashboard of the car. He holds his hand over his heart like I’ve wounded him.

“You mean to tell me you don’t want to hear this amazingly sexy voice anymore? Would you prefer I sing to you instead?” He quirks one eyebrow up before starting to sing a song from his concert the other night. It’s a song about second chances and starting over. His voice is beautiful. I don’t think I will ever grow tired of hearing him sing. He has completely captivated me. His mouth starts to turn up at the corners and I can tell he’s having a hard time controlling his laughter.

“I knew I could get you to like me more than you like my car. All I have to do is start singing. You can’t resist this voice.” I reach over and playfully slap his arm. He’s such a cocky bastard.

“All right Casanova, take me to get some food. I’m starving.”

He takes me to Famous Amos for breakfast. I haven’t eaten here in years. It looks exactly like I remember it, nothing has changed a bit.

“My dad used to take me here every Sunday morning. We would order the biggest stack of pancakes you could imagine and see who could finish all of their food first. He would always beat me, every single time. He used to say that once I got older and bigger than him, I would finally be able to win.”  He smiles sadly up at the restaurant, like he’s lost in thought. I want to take the sadness away so I say the first thing that pops into my head.

“I bet I can eat more pancakes than you.” I smile coyly at him. Jessie tells me all the time that I eat like a man.

He turns his attention to me and his smile stretches a mile wide.
There it is.
“A tiny thing like you, I bet you can’t even eat four pancakes. I would dominate you,” he scoffs.

I narrow my eyes at him.
“What, are you scared of losing to a girl, Mr. Alexander?”

He looks at me for a long mome
nt, like he’s lost in thought. “Ok, game on, pretty girl.”

We walk inside the restaurant and all the ladies working wave at Adam and tell him hello like they are old friends. “I still come here every Sunday morning for breakfast; I’ve been coming alone since my dad passed away. I’ve never brought anyone with me before though.” He leans over and kissed my forehead, then gently grabs my hand and pulls me over to a booth towards the back. It’s already set up with water, juice, and coffee. Fresh flowers are in a vase in the center of the table.

We aren’t even sitting down for thirty seconds before an older woman in her mid-sixty’s comes over and gives Adam a huge hug.

“Hi, Mrs. Annabelle. How’s my favorite girl doing today?”

“I’m as busy as a stumped-tied cow at fly time.” Mrs. Annabelle looks over at me and raises her eyebrows in surprise. “Well I do declare, Adam who’s this pretty little thang you have with you today? In all these years you’ve been coming in here to see me, I ain’t never seen you with a girl.”

Huh, a stumped-tied cow at fly time? What the hell does that even mean? She winks at me before turning her attention back to Adam.

“Do you want your usual, honey?”

Adam softly laughs before answering her. I’m sure the confused look on my face is comical to him. “I do want my usual, but Abigail and I have a little competition going on. We are going to see who can eat the most pancakes, so keep em coming until one of us pukes.” He looks over at me and smirks, “You’re so going down.”

“Not in a million years honey.” I say in a thick southern accent and bat my eye lashes at him. 

Annabelle brings out our pancakes and sets them before us. They smell instantly makes my mouth water and I can’t wait to dig in. “You two let me know when you’re ready for the next batch.” Annabelle leans over and whispers in my ear, “For the record, I think you can beat him.” She winks at me and heads over to check on another table.

“Bring it on, baby,” he smugly says. We start to devour our pancakes, and by the time my third plate arrives I am starting to feel full.

I lay my head down on the table and groan loudly. “I don’t think I can eat another bite.”

Adam is mirroring my actions. “Ugh, me either. We ate 13 pancakes. I physically can’t eat another bite.” He pulls his head up and looks at me. “Damn, you ate just as much as I did. Where do you put all that food?”

“Jessie has always said that I can eat like a man.” I pick up my fork and eat two more bites of pancakes, just so I can win the bet. “Looks like I beat you.” I raise my eyebrows and look down at my now empty plate.  “But that’s the most pancakes I have ever eaten at one time. I think I need a nap,” I grumble out.

“No nap for you. I have plans for you later.” His eyes grow dark and it causes me to squirm in my seat. Oh fucking my. “I can’t believe you out-ate me. I want a rematch next week.”

“Hey, anytime you want to lose, you just let me know.”

We pay the bill and say our goodbyes to Annabelle and the other waitresses. They all seem genuinely happy to see me and Adam together, and I promise them that I will be back next week.

“Thank you for breakfast and for letting me kick your ass,” I sweetly say.

I lean up on my tiptoes and kiss his check. He suddenly pulls me in close to his body and he keeps his eyes locked on mine. His stare is intense and it causes my heartbeat to pick up in my chest. Standing here staring up into Adam’s face, I notice he has a tiny scar on his chin. For a fleeting moment, I wonder how he got it. I find myself wanting to know everything about this beautiful boy. His childhood, stories about his mother and father, his favorites food, anything I can. I lean forward and plant a soft kiss on his chin. I move my lips to his neck, causing him to take a sharp intake of breath, then up to his left cheek. I pull back and look into his eyes, those powder blue eyes that first captivated me when we crashed together in the hallway, and I see nothing but adoration. I reach my hand up and caress his cheek with my hand, and he leans his head into my hand and closes his eyes. As his eyes are closed, I slowly lean forward and cover his mouth with mine. His lips are so soft and warm, and they mold together with mine perfectly.

He slowly pulls away from me and rest his head on my forehead. “How is it possible to feel so strongly about someone you just met not that long ago?”
             

“I don’t know, but I find myself asking this same question all the time. What I feel for you scares me. Good things never happen to me, Adam. I’m scared that you are going to somehow be taken away from me. Just like my father was taken away from my mother. ”

I rest my head on his shoulder and cling to him tightly. I have never believed in soul mates, but standing here in this moment while Adam holds me, I feel like I have found the missing puzzle piece to my heart. Until you meet that other half of your soul, you just can’t understand why nothing else has ever worked out in your past. It’s like he has taken this lifeless girl and breathed life into her.

“Abigail, look at me.” I slowly lift my head up and look at him. “Nothing, will ever take me away from you. You are stuck with me, whether you want to be or not. I’m not going anywhere. Please believe that.” He leans down and kisses my forehead. Grabbing my hand, he walks us towards the car. “Come on, let’s go for a drive.”

“Can you tell me where we are going?” I am curious where he so badly wants to take me.

“Nope. You will just have to wait and see; it’s a surprise.” He is grinning broadly at me and I’m sure my face mirrors his. I love surprises and can’t wait to see where we are going.

After about an hour of driving, Adam turns down a deserted dirt road. I glance out of my window and I see nothing but trees and dirt. “This isn’t the part where you kill me and dump me in the woods where no one can ever find my body, is it?” I teasingly say.

He gives me an ‘are you serious’ face and rolls his eyes. “You’re too much fun. I think I’ll keep you around for a while.” He winks at me and grabs my hand, kissing my knuckle.

We go around the corner and I inhale a sharp intake of breath. In the distance I see a small pond surrounded by what looks to be hundreds of oak trees. A large weeping willow sits off in the distance and a small wooden swing hangs from her branches. Wildflowers of all colors are softly swaying in the light breeze. A small dock leading up to a tiny cottage sits off to the far left of the pond. It’s absolutely beautiful here.

“Is this your house?” I turn to look at him waiting for his reply.

“It’s my mom’s. My dad had it built for her, and we used to come here almost every weekend. I come here sometimes to think, but mostly to write music. It’s very peaceful. My mom won’t come here anymore though; she says it’s too painful for her. But one day I plan to live here.”

I can see why he would want to live here. It’s like its own little safe haven, tucked back far away from the world.

“The sun sets over there behind that weeping willow, it’s pretty amazing.”

“I can imagine it is. I’d like to see it.”

“I planned on hanging out here today, so we will get to see it later.”

He walks around to the trunk of his car and pulls out his guitar and two blankets. He nods his head towards the willow and I follow in his footsteps. Once we get to the tree, he lays out the blanket and sits down, stretching his legs out in front of him. He holds out his hand to me, inviting me to sit down.

“Come here, you.”

I sit down beside him and rest my head on his chest. I can hear the steady beat of his heart, beating softly against my cheek. I deeply inhale his scent; it smells of Adam and the outdoors, my new favorite smell. 

We snuggle up on the blanket, and stare up at the sky. We lay on the blanket for hours naming out what we think each cloud is shaped like, talking about our childhood memories, and getting to know one another. I tell him all about Jessie, and why she is so important to me. We talk about my mom and the good times she and I used to have when I was younger. He tells me stories about his father, his favorite bands, and funny stories about him and Max from when they were younger. The conversation flows smoothly and effortlessly, we never have a moment of awkward silence.