Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 79433 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79433 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
“I’m not sure.”
We stood in the room, neither of us saying a word as we stared at each other. I took a step closer and reached for her hand. “I’ve missed you, Addie.”
“I’ve missed you too. I will say, though, that you haven’t showed me your bedroom yet.”
Laughing, I replied, “Right this way.”
I opened the door to my bedroom and watched Adelaide make her way in. The king-size bed was in the middle of the room between two large windows. There was a matching dresser off to the side. At the end of the bed was an old chest that I had found up in the attic where I stored all my sheets and blankets.
The wall color was a deep blue. My mother had picked out the white comforter and the light-blue towels that were in my bathroom. It definitely looked masculine, but the room didn’t scream bachelor.
Adelaide made her way around the room and into the bathroom.
“Wow, it’s beautiful in here.”
I followed her and glanced around the spa-like bathroom. “It was the first thing I had done when I moved in. I needed a more up-to-date bathroom.”
“The shower is…huge.”
When she turned back to look at me, I winked. “They said it would easily fit two.”
It was her turn to get back at me. “Are you offering?”
“As a matter of fact, I am.”
Her cheeks turned another beautiful shade of pink. “Tempting.”
“Do you want a beer or a drink?”
She smiled softly. “I’ll take a water or a Coke.”
“Let’s head on back down to the kitchen, then we can sit out back and catch up.”
After getting Adelaide a Coke, I grabbed a beer and we headed to the back porch. The next few minutes were filled with small talk until Adelaide turned in her seat, tucked her legs in, and sighed. “Have you seen the article in the paper?”
I tried not to smile. I’d suspected the gossip column was the reason Adelaide had showed up at my place. Or maybe it was an excuse and she’d wanted to stop by. I hoped it was the latter.
“I have. I’m really curious to find out what it was that supposedly ruined our relationship.”
Adelaide let out a soft laugh and shook her head. “Me too. Sutton was almost giddy that they left it on a cliffhanger.”
“Well, we’ve never graced the column before, so I guess it was our time.”
Her brows pulled down as she frowned. “I guess so.”
We sat in silence for a few moments before she asked, “How’s work?”
“Amazing. I love my job.”
She smiled. “I’m so glad.”
Lifting her chin up, she drew in a deep breath. “I’ve missed this. The peacefulness of Seaside. The sound of the ocean waves and the smell of the sea air.”
“You didn’t get the sea air in Boston?”
“Sometimes,” she replied on a chuckle as she stood and made her way over to where I was leaning against the porch rail. “But it’s not the same in a big city like Boston. I’m glad I moved there for a bit, though. I truly loved living in Boston, but I missed my family and friends. I missed you.”
I tried to ignore the way my heart started to pound in my chest. “I’ve missed you, too, Addie. A lot.”
Her teeth dug into her lower lip as her gaze moved down to my mouth.
I took a step forward and placed my hand on the side of her face. “God, I missed you.”
Adelaide reached up and softly kissed me. I moved my hand to the back of her neck and deepened the kiss. Her arms came up and around my neck. We kissed until we both needed to come up for air. All those old feelings came rushing back, and it was as if no time had passed at all. Addie was here, in my arms.
I leaned my head against hers and drew in a deep breath.
“Think any seagulls caught that?”
Adelaide laughed. “I was pretty upset when I first saw it, but now I’m over it. I don’t even care what they write.”
“Don’t let it get to you, Addie. You and I both know the real reason we went our separate ways and that’s all that matters.”
“So, what do we do next?”
I smiled. “I know what I’d like to do next.”
Hitting me on the chest, Adelaide shook her head. “You’re so bad.”
“I thought you liked that about me.”
“I do. I like that a lot.”
Before we could bridge the distance between us again, my phone went off. I pulled it out of my pocket and sighed.
“My dad needs me to help him hang something up for my mom.”
Adelaide took a step back and exhaled. “I should probably head on out.”
I followed her as she made her way back inside.
“I’ve got to head back to work tomorrow,” I said, “but I’ll text or call you. Maybe we can do dinner soon?”