9. Chapter Nine

Chapter Nine

Susie

“Do you think Adam is hot, too?”

My pulse races as Josh’s words play on repeat. For a moment, I thought he was watching Adam and me talking at the stadium, but that wasn’t it at all. He’s jealous because he thought Brie was into Adam.

Another laugh racks my body, and I wrap my arm around my stomach, wiping tears from my eyes. I’ve been watching this back-and-forth between Josh and Brie for years. I don’t understand how they are entirely oblivious to their feelings for each other.

There isn’t one person in Pleasant Hollow who doesn’t see it…well technically that’s not true. There are two people.

I shake my head and chuckle, then skip up the front steps and shove my key in the lock.

As I turn the doorknob, I recall Adam strolling through the locker room exit. The glint in his eyes when his gaze met mine. Heat ran through me, and he took my breath away when he ran his hand through his hair.

Do I think Adam Daniels is hot? Yes, big brother. I do. I really, really do.

Adam Daniels is more than hot. He’s the main male character poster child for romance authors like me. I don’t mean just his looks, though him being easy on the eyes is a plus. But for all the other things I’ve learned. He likes to read—possibly romance novels, and he’s someone I can talk to for hours.

The romantic in me can’t help but swoon—while the author in me can’t help but want him as my next book boyfriend.

I’m an Adam Daniels fangirl. What can I say?

I could’ve talked to him all night if Josh had not interrupted our conversation at Thanks-A-Latte.

Today is the first time we’ve done more than just a wave hello or goodbye since that conversation; I can only guess the reason is Josh.

I push the door open more forcefully than usual and hang my purse and jacket on the coat rack. I stomp into the kitchen, throw open the fridge and grab a cold water hoping to extinguish the warmth that’s making its way through my body.

Gulping almost the entire bottle, I wonder if I should take this restless energy and use it as inspiration to try and write a few chapters.

A buzz comes from my pocket, and I slide out my phone to see a notification from Chase.

A smile creeps across my face—the other half of my ‘perfect’ dream man. I slam my palm to my forehead and let out a groan.

“What is happening to me? First, I can’t find a man who captures my interest. Now I’ve found two that I can’t have.” I throw myself down on the couch, grab a pillow, and cover my face, letting out a scream. “Maybe I need to have my head examined.”

I blow out a big breath and open his message.

PullTheLine: Hey Amelia.

“Hey, Amelia?” My brows draw together, and I can’t help but wonder what that’s about. Our conversations are pretty informal, and this greeting immediately puts me on guard.

NotJOsSis: Hey, Chase. What’s up?

My mouth feels like I swallowed cotton, and my heart is pounding so fast that I can feel the beat throughout my body.

Why am I so nervous?

PullTheLine: I have to admit something…

I gulp the last of my water and take a deep breath. My heart now lodged in my throat.

PullTheLine: I’m surprised by you.

NotJOsSis: Surprised?

PullTheLine: At how quiet you’ve been. PullTheLine: I was expecting you to be ribbing me about how the Mavericks’ offensive line played today. PullTheLine: Being that I was tight-lipped on the subject.

I take a deep, calming breath, and my heart returns to its normal pace.

“What did you think he was going to tell you, Susie?” I shake my head and laugh at myself. “That he wants to meet you? Yeah, it’s official. I’m losing it.”

I run a hand through my hair, then start to respond and notice my hand shaking. Apparently, I haven’t fully recovered from where I thought Chase was taking this conversation.

NotJOsSis : Ahhhh. Yes. That. NotJOsSis: I just got home from the game a little while ago and haven’t had time to settle in yet. NotJOsSis: Thus, no ribbing.

PullTheLine: You were at the game?

NotJOsSis: Of course! NotJOsSis: I try to get to as many home games as I can. NotJOsSis: There’s nothing like watching a game at the stadium.

PullTheLine: I was at the game too.

NotJOsSis: You were? NotJOsSis: What a small world…

My finger hovers over the send button, hesitating to send the message I typed.

Do I want to open this can of worms?

“Yes,” I say to no one. “I want to meet him, make sure he’s real, and see if this thing between us could be anything more than an online connection.”

NotJOsSis: If you go again…maybe we should meet?

My heart tries to jump out of my chest when I hit send. My stomach drops, and I hold my breath. Staring at my screen, waiting for him to respond.

After a few minutes of radio silence, I close the app and lean back on the couch.

I drop my head in my hands and sigh. My life is getting too much like one of my rom-coms, and right now, it kind of feels like the plot of You’ve Got Mail .

I take a deep breath and blow it out slowly, hoping that the tightness in my chest will loosen.

It’s not unusual for me to use events in my life to generate my tropes, but they rarely include my actual life.

My last book was inspired by Bill, Pleasant Hollows local mechanic, and his wife Maureen’s real-life romance. It was the sweetest story. They met in grade school and were each other’s first crushes. Maureen moved out of state, and twenty years later, they reconnected when Bill was called out to help service a broken-down car in the middle of town.

The rest is history—for them and my novel. Of course, I changed their careers and names to protect the innocent.

But this story is different. It has way too much of me in it, leaving me feeling exposed and uncertain. Shouldn’t writing my story be easy?

Maybe there’s something wrong with me? Like, really wrong with me?

I pick up the throw pillow and hug it close to my chest as I contemplate the two men who have consumed my thoughts. A tightness grips me, and I feel weighed down by the uncertainty flooding me.

My reaction to Adam is different from anything I’ve ever experienced before. I was drawn to him the first moment I saw him. It was like a magnetic pull. Talking to him for hours only made that attraction more intense.

Then there’s Chase. I feel drawn to him, too, even though I’m not sure he’s actually who he says he is.

I drop my head into the pillow and groan.

How can I feel a pull towards both individuals…at the same time?

My phone vibrates, and my heart leaps. It drops onto my stomach when I see Brie's name across the screen.

“Hey, Brie,” I sigh, and rest my head on the back of the couch.

“What’s wrong?” Brie asks, her concern wrapping around me. “Writer’s block again?”

“No, just my love life,” I groan. “Or lack thereof.”

“Did Brian call?”

“Who?” I’m drawing a complete blank on who Brian is.

“You know, Brian. The guy we went to the game with today?” I can hear the humor in her voice as she tries not to laugh at me.

“Oh, yeah. No.” I scoff and laugh at myself. “Definitely not Brian. I’m pretty sure I won’t be hearing from him again.”

“So who are we talking about?” I draw in a deep breath and hear Brie gasp. “Adam? Are we talking about Adam?”

“Yes.” I rub my hands over my eyes. “But not just Adam. Chase, too.”

“You haven’t even met Chase, have you?” Brie asks. “Why would you be confused about someone you haven’t met yet? Now Adam is real and something else. Nothing to be confused about there.”

“He was at the game today,” I mumble, my head covered with a pillow.

“Of course he was. He played.” Brie laughs.

“Not Adam, Chase. Chase was at the game today.”

“Oh,” Brie says surprised. “Well, that’s interesting, isn’t it?”

“I asked him if he wanted to meet up the next time he went,” I mutter.

“What?” Brie shrieks. “You asked him to meet up? Suse, that’s great!”

“I thought so,” I say dejectedly, not feeling as excited as her due to Chase’s lack of response.

“What did he say?” Brie’s excitement washes over me, causing me to lift my hand to my chest.

“Nothing.”

“Nothing?” Brie’s confused tone mirrors my feelings.

“Nope. Nada. Not one word yet.”

“Oh, well, that doesn’t mean anything. Maybe he got a call he needed to take or something.” My best friend is always looking on the bright side of things. Usually, I am too, but not today. Let’s give it some time.”

“Right…time.” Every reason Brie gives for Chase’s silence is totally plausible. I’m just done thinking about him and Adam for the moment. It all feels hopeless. I do the only logical thing available to me. I change the topic. “What did Josh whisper to you today?”

“Smooth, Suse.” Brie chuckles. “But I’ll go with the topic change. He was being his usual annoying self about my choice of jersey. I don’t understand what the big deal is.”

“Of course you don’t.” I roll my eyes so hard, I’m surprised I don’t hurt myself. I tune Brie out as she tells me how annoying Josh is and how what she does is none of his business…blah, blah, blah.

I’m not sure how much longer I will be able to take the two of them in this state. My brother and my best friend are living in denial, and it’s driving me crazy.

They need an intervention.