Page 75

He glanced over and noticed her looking out the window, deep in thought. Things were too serious, so he turned on the radio, hoping to lighten the mood. They were met with Carrie Underwood’s smooth country voice, singing a sassy little tale about slashing the tires of her cheating boyfriend’s truck and smashing the headlights with a bat.
He turned the volume up and tapped the steering wheel with his palm, and Adelia looked over at him curiously.
“Nothing like Carrie Underwood getting revenge on a cheater, am I right?”
Adelia raised an eyebrow. “But did she break the guy’s nose?”
Oliver laughed loudly. “Good thing you didn’t have a bat with you that day.”
“It would’ve hurt me less.”
They laughed together, and he was relieved to move past the heaviness.
They chatted about this and that—Oliver’s work, her Thanksgiving, and the visit with her dad’s family. He could've kept driving all night just to listen to her voice. But before it got too late, they stopped to pick up snacks for the girls and headed back to the Schultz’s.
When he pulled into the driveway, he turned off the Jeep and got out to open the door for her. His stomach was tied in knots, knowing he needed to have an honest conversation with her.
She climbed out and immediately stepped up close to him.
He wound his arms around her upper back and pulled her in.
“I really did miss you, Olly,” Adelia spoke softly, her breath tickling his ear, sending pleasant shivers up his spine.
He leaned back enough to look at her. “I missed you too.”
Before he had a chance to say what he needed to, Adelia tightened her arms around his waist and brought herself closer, gazing up at him in anticipation. He leaned in with the intention of planting one soft kiss on her lips, but it didn’t happen that way. She gripped the back of his coat and kept him close as she kissed him again, more intense this time, and he was lost. His hands drifted to her neck, fingertips tangling in her silky tresses, and his heart picked up pace with their perfect give-and-take. It was like they were back in his guest room again, kissing like their lives depended on it.
A loud truck passed by on the street, and it was enough to draw them out of the fog.
“I could kiss you all night,” he whispered.
She grinned up at him. “Maybe someday.”
A pleasurable warmth settled over him at her innuendo, and he had to fight to keep his mind from going there.
“So, I probably should’ve asked you this sooner,” she said, “but I need a date for the wedding. And I’m thinking since you just kissed me, you’ll probably say yes if I ask you.”
“I guess you’ll have to ask and find out.”
She tilted her head and angled into him flirtatiously. “Oliver, will you be my date to Gus and Merritt’s wedding on Saturday?”
He gave her a sly smile. “I’ll have to check my calendar.”
She smacked his chest and stepped away, but his arms swooped around her and pulled her close again, and she sighed as she smiled up at him.
“I would love to be your date.” He kissed the tip of her nose.
“I knew it.” She leaned in and touched her lips to his for one soft sweet kiss before they parted ways for the night.
Oliver watched her walk to the house, and she glanced over her shoulder and smiled at him before disappearing inside.
The entire drive home, he had a nagging in the pit of his stomach. It had started when they talked about his marriage and ramped up after their kisses. He was so weak when it came to Adelia, and he was being selfish with her. Being close to her felt amazing, but every time he surrendered to his longing for her, he confused the situation and gave her false hope.
He didn’t want to hurt her, but at this point, that couldn’t be avoided. The roadblocks between them were impossible to get past, especially knowing she wanted kids. He had to end things before they got in deeper and the damage was too great.
His heart ached at the thought of not having her in his life, but he’d already let this go too far. And the only way to get rid of this feeling in his gut was to tell her the truth.
He decided to wait until after the wedding to talk to her so he wouldn’t ruin the festivities. He’d never dreaded a conversation more.
Oh, how he wished things could be different. But they weren’t meant to be.