The Girl Before Eve (17 page)

She was laughing so hard she had to stagger up from the table and make a dash for the restroom. Tears rolling down her face.

That evening they sat across from one another in the beautiful restaurant at the Waldorf Astoria sharing a bottle of wine. A pianist played
As Time Goes By
.

Lily glanced over at Adam who was clearly taken, watching a young couple. They were evidently in love. “Hey, Adders, are you okay?” She reached across the table and covered his hand with hers.

Turning his attention to her, he smiled. “Yeah…I’m fine…just thinking, that’s all.”

“About Eve?”
Stupid question
.

He nodded and took a drink of his wine. She could see that his eyes were a little glassy. He set his glass down and cleared his throat. “Thanks for coming, Lil. I know I’m not being the best company.”

She shook her head. “Nonsense. We’re having a great time. And I know I’m not who you’d like to be here with, but I hope I’m not spoiling it too much.”

“Don’t say that…that makes it sound like you’re second choice, Lil.”

She leaned and squeezed his hand again. “Come on, Adders, I know you’d rather be here with Eve. That’s understandable. You don’t need to feel bad.”

He sighed and closed his eyes for a few moments. “I just… I still can’t get my head around the fact that I’m alone…you know?”

“You’re not alone. You have me…and your family.”

“Yes, and I’m grateful. I just wish I still had Eve, too. I keep reading that note. The part where she said I should go kiss her… That ripped my heart to shreds.” His voice cracked as he spoke.

“I know… But how wonderful that you have it, eh? I’d forgotten she’d written that and put it with the tickets or I would’ve given it to you sooner.”

“No…no, I think it was good to get it when I did.” He twirled the wine in his glass. “It was like…it was like she was still here.”

The waiter brought their food and placed their plates down in front of them. “There you go Mr. and Mrs. Langton…enjoy.”

She gaped open mouthed and lifted her hand as if she was going to correct him but Adam stopped her. “Don’t, Lil, it’s fine. Goodness knows what people would think if we told them the truth. And the room is in that name. It’s fine.”

Later that night, Adam climbed into bed in his T-shirt and boxers, and Lily made her way over to the bed in her shorts and tank top. They’d both got a little tipsy at dinner, and she suddenly felt very nervous about sharing a bed with the man she adored. He was on his back, eyes closed, with one hand on his stomach and one behind his head. He looked so incredibly sexy. She wanted to snuggle up to him, kiss him…make love to him. But instead she gingerly climbed into the empty side of the bed and lay as far away from him as possible.

After a while, she heard him sniff. She rolled over toward him and realised his hands were covering his face as he shuddered. Sliding across the bed to him, she pulled him into her arms and let him cry until he fell asleep.

♥♥♥

Adam awoke to find himself wrapped around Lily’s body.
Shit!
His arm was laid across her bare stomach where her tank top had ridden up in the night, his nose nuzzled into her neck, and his legs were entwined with hers. He remembered her holding him as he let his anguish pour out all over her.
Again
. She would be so pissed off if she woke up and found they were laid together, rather like lovers, in the middle of the large, luxurious bed. Carefully he untangled his limbs from hers and re-arranged his boxers. He stood and watched her sleep for a moment.

She really was beautiful. With her darks unruly curls spread across the pillow and her olive skinned abdomen exposed to his gaze. His eyes followed the deep curve of her waist to her hip. He swallowed. How strange things had worked out this way for them. How strange she thought of him as a brother. He fondly remembered the poem she had written for him as part of her
best man-woman
speech.
My best friend, my protector, my confidante
. How different things could have been if either one of them had crossed that arbitrary line in the sand.
Too late to think like this now, idiot,
and how completely inappropriate.

She shifted in her sleep, pulling him out of his reverie. Her tank top shifted to expose the bottom curve of her breast. He realised he had been staring at her. Quickly turning, he made his way to the bathroom and switched on the shower.

He turned the dial to cold.

♥♥♥

Lily awoke to the sound of running water coming from the en-suite bathroom. She stretched and glanced down when she felt a cool breeze across her middle. Realising her breasts were almost out there for the world to see…well for Adam to see anyway…she pulled her top down. Hopefully that happened
after
he’d gone to get a shower. Her inner voices reigned once again.
Otherwise he’s had a really good view of my goods... Hmmm, I wonder what he thought if he saw them… Stop it, Lily, for goodness sake.

Adam returned from the shower, towel drying his hair, in a pair of joggers slung low around his narrow hips. Ever since she teased him about the weights he bought when they were teens, he had always denied the fact he worked out, but looking at him, half naked before her, she knew he did. He had defined abs and that delicious V that disappeared into his joggers. She drew her eyes back up his body, feeling her skin heat.
Good grief, Lily, seriously get a bloody grip. He’s a half-naked man. You’ve seen them before. Lots! But this one is Adam and we love him. Oh God I sound like bloody Gollum now!

♥♥♥

Adam cleared his throat. “Erm, morning, Lil… Listen, I wanted to apologise.”

Lily scrunched her brow. “Apologise? For what?”

“Erm…for crying on you like a big girl.”

“Oh that. Don’t worry. I’m used to it now.”

He huffed. “Thanks.” He slung the towel over his shoulder. “And for waking up after pretty much sleeping
on
you all night.” He cringed at the memory and at the fact that he had been quite turned on at the time. He noticed her cheeks flush at his words, and he pulled his lips in to stifle the smile trying to make its way across his face. It took a lot to embarrass Lily, but it looked like he had succeeded without intending to.

She fiddled with the sheet she had pulled over her legs. “Oh, don’t worry. I suppose you’re used to having the whole bed to yourself nowadays, eh?” His half smile disappeared. Her eyes widened. “Sorry…was that really insensitive?”

“No…it’s true… I just don’t like to think about it, I suppose.”

“No wonder, Adders. I’m so sorry,” she whispered.

He took a deep breath. “Look, we can’t go on feeling this awkward all the time we’re here. This is clearly a lot different to sharing a bed as kids, eh? I’ll sleep on the sofa tonight. I think it’ll be easier.”

“No! That’s not fair, Adders. This is your holiday. I should sleep on the sofa.”

“Absolutely not. I won’t argue about this. That sofa is comfy and twice as big as mine at home. It’s practically a double bed anyway. I’ll be fine. It’s decided. Let’s get ready and go sightseeing.”

Her demeanour changed as if she had acquiesced about the sofa. She climbed out of bed and made her way toward the en-suite.

She glanced over her shoulder. “Where do you fancy going today?”

“The Empire State Building,” he said with glee in his voice.

“Oooh, you can be Tom Hanks, and I’ll be Meg Ryan.” She smiled.

“Nah…I think, after my behaviour last night, it should be the other way around.”

She stopped and turned so that she was fully facing him with her hands on her hips and her lips pursed. She narrowed her eyes. “Are you saying I look like a man?”

He bit his lip. “It’s the dark curls…very Tom Hanks.” He smirked and ducked as she pulled a cushion from the sofa and threw it at his head.

Chapter Twenty-One

I Will Remember You
(Sarah McLachlan)

The following day Adam awoke on the sofa. He’d had a fitful night’s sleep filled with dreams of Eve. He pulled himself to a sitting position and rubbed his hands over his face. Today would be hard. Today he would tell Lily he needed to be alone for a while. Today he would say goodbye properly. He had no clue why he felt it had to be today, but it just had to be. There were places he wanted to walk. He wanted to be alone here with his memories of Eve.

“Morning, Adders. Coffee?” Lily yawned as she slumped onto the sofa beside him.

He turned toward her. “Lil…I need…I need some time alone today. Is that okay?”

She scrunched her brow. “Sure…of course. Is everything okay?”

“Yeah…I just feel like…I don’t know…like I need to be with my memories today. Does that sound mad?”

She smiled warmly. “No, it sounds like you.” She stood and walked to the bureau to make coffee. Adam walked into the en-suite and turned on the shower.

♥♥♥

Whilst Adam was in the shower Lily ordered room service. Adam needed a good meal before he went out. She knew how difficult today would be. He had a list of the places he wanted to visit. He had decided to do a harbour tour first to take in the views of the spectacular Statue of Liberty and then make his way back to take a walk in Central Park. These two places were the ones he and Eve had been most excited about. Later in the evening, he was going to visit Times Square when the billboards were lit brightly, dazzling pedestrians and drivers alike with their vibrant coloured images and advertisements.

He came out of the en-suite with a towel wrapped around his waist. He dried his hair. His eyes had the red-rimmed, telltale signs of tears cried once again.
Poor Adders.

“I ordered pancakes and maple syrup. They came with bacon. How dodgy is that?” She giggled as she lifted the silver bell shaped lids from the warm plates.

“Dodgy? I think it sounds amazing. Oooh, and the bacon’s all crispy too.”

“Yeah…crozzled more like.” Lily scrunched her nose up at the crispy pinkish coloured strips.

“Nah, this is perfect. Nice and crunchy. You’ve got no bloody taste.”

The two friends ate their breakfast in silence. He still sat in his damp towel while she tried not to imagine him naked.

Eventually, she pushed her chair back from the table. “Well, I’m stuffed. I don’t think I’ll need lunch now!”

“Awww, you’re a lightweight! You used to be able to eat a tattie more than a pig, Lil. What’s happened to you?” he asked with a mouth full of bacon and pancake.

She pretended to gag. “Adders, I can see everything smushing around in your mouth! That’s disgusting!”

A wide grin spread over his face as he opened his mouth and stuck his tongue out. “Blaaaaargh!” He shook his head from side to side.

“You really are a pig!” She threw her scrunched up napkin at him, and he laughed as she made her way to the en-suite. “Get some clothes on, too. I can see your arse!”

“You know you love me, really!” he shouted after her.

♥♥♥

An hour later Adam walked onto the busy sidewalk of Park Avenue. He hailed a cab and one pulled up beside him immediately. After giving the driver his destination, he pulled out a photo from his wallet. It showed him and Eve cuddled together beside a model of the Statue of Liberty they had seen on a weekend trip to Amsterdam. It was built from tiny building blocks, the type that children play with. Done this way, however, it looked more like a sculpture. He smiled and stroked his thumb over the image of his wife and got lost in his thoughts.

I’ll see the real thing today, Evie. You’ll be there with me in spirit…I know you will. I wish you were beside me now...for me to tell you how much I love that you did this for me. This amazing trip. Being here just…makes me miss you more. But I think I need to let you go now. Although I really don’t know how to start that process. I know how much you loved me and I hope you always knew how much I loved you…still love you. I dreamed about you last night. It was so real. You were snuggled up on the sofa next to me. The curves of your body molded to mine just like they always did. I held onto you so damn tight, but…when I awoke you were still gone.

The cab pulled up to the curb where Adam could wait for the water taxi and he climbed out handing bills to the driver. He made his way over to the booth and bought his ticket. Standing in line with the other eager tourists his thoughts drifted back to Eve.

Well, here I am, Evie. I’m waiting in line to do one of the things you and I were supposed to do together. I’m glad it’s a nice bright day. It feels like you’re smiling down on me. I can see the statue off in the distance. I don’t know what I expected, but…well…it’s huge, Evie. It’s beautiful. I wish you could see it. I hope that you can. The sun is shining down on it, and it looks like it’s lit up with a gigantic spotlight just for me…for us.

People began to move and eventually he boarded the boat that would take him closer to the statue. There were people of all nationalities surrounding him. Funnily enough, he ended up sitting right next to a Scottish couple. From what little conversation he overheard between them, he could tell they were on their honeymoon. He secretly envied them.

It’s typical, Evie. Everywhere I turn there are couples. Everyone here is with someone. Except for me. I’m here with my memories. Memories of you and how beautiful you were. How happy you made me. How amazing it felt to be with you. We could be anywhere and it didn’t matter.

He felt the familiar sting of tears as the boat travelled nearer to the imposing lady, looming forty-six metres tall over New York Harbour. He gulped back the tears and bit the inside of his cheek. He pulled his jacket around his body to guard against the sea breeze that bit at him through his clothing.

Wow…there she is, Evie. She’s even more beautiful close up. I can’t quite believe I’m here. And…I can’t quite believe you’re not.

People frantically snapped photographs as the tour guide reeled off fact after fact about the icon which was a gift from the French and symbolised freedom and the dedication to liberty as an ongoing concept for the American people. Adam couldn’t help the overwhelming emotion that surged from deep within. A stray tear spilled over and he quickly wiped it away.