Chapter 28

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

Laney

I don't know if Adam is the one who preprogrammed my puppy to wake up at six forty-five every single morning, even on weekends, but I could set my watch by this puppy's schedule. So far, we're twelve for twelve. Twelve mornings at my house. Twelve wake-ups at six forty-five from Ringo's tiny bark, at which time he wants to cuddle and eat breakfast and pee and chew on my underwear all at the same time.

"You're killing me here, Ringo," I say as I roll out of bed and crawl toward his crate. "Why so early, huh?"

He answers with a tiny yip and a tail wag, which, on Ringo, is more like a whole butt wag.

"Fine. You're adorable," I say. "I forgive you."

I unlatch his crate and scoop him up so we can race outside. I still don't trust him enough not to squat the second he's loose, but I do trust him not to pee in my arms.

As soon as we're out the back door, I plop him in the grass, then cheer like only a proud dog mom can when he immediately squats and pees. He runs back to me, little butt wiggling again, and I give him all the praises and hugs and cuddles for being the very best boy.

I feel a sudden impulse to text Adam and tell him how well Ringo is doing sleeping through the night, but I swallow it down. It's been almost a week since I dropped off my Midnight Rush scrapbooks at his house, and I haven't heard from him since.

Well, that's not entirely true. He texted me the morning after, thanking me again, and said he was going to take a few days to work through some things, and he didn't want me to worry if I didn't hear from him.

I haven't worried.

Not really.

But I have been anxious to know how he's doing.

I'm debating the merits of crawling back in bed and taking Ringo with me to grab another hour of sleep. I don't see patients until eleven today, so I technically could. But I do have a couple of post-op patients I could check on, and Dad has been hounding me to click through a QuickBooks tutorial for small business owners for weeks, claiming he can't fully retire until I know how to be both a vet and a business owner.

Things have been tenser than normal between my dad and me since the news of the engagement broke. We're mostly okay. Things died down after a few days, and I've successfully managed to field all wedding-related comments and inquiries before any more of them reach Dad.

But I could still use the brownie points. And I am already awake.

I breathe out a sigh, then pick Ringo up and look into his big brown eyes. "You're going to turn me into a workaholic," I say.

In the end, I only arrive at work a little bit early because Ringo chewed through my shoelaces while I was drying my hair, and I had to stop at CVS on my way in to buy some replacements.

When I carry Ringo through the employee entrance, I find Percy and Patty and two other vet techs all standing in a line outside Dad's office, staring at the closed door.

"Um, what's happening here?" I ask.

Percy spins around, eyes wide, and lifts his finger to his lips to shush me. He grabs my elbow and hauls me around the corner into a treatment room. "You aren't supposed to be here until eleven," he whisper-yells.

"I wanted to check on my post-op patients. Where's Dad? Is he okay? Why is everyone staring at his door?"

Percy frowns. "Because he's in there talking to Adam. Who came to the office right now on purpose because you aren't supposed to be here yet."

My heart climbs into my throat. Adam is here ?

Knowing he's so close cracks something open in my chest, and it's all I can do not to burst into Dad's office and throw myself into his arms. I hope he's done needing space because I really don't think I can give him anymore.

Except, wait. There's another important part to this equation.

"Why does he need to talk to Dad?" I ask. "What are they talking about?"

"No clue," Percy says. "But girl, wait until you see him. This is a version of Adam I have never seen before."

Dad's office door swings open, and I hear Adam's voice. "Yes, sir. I agree," he says .

I step around the corner, heart pounding, and Adam turns.

We make eye contact, and I know exactly what Percy meant.

Adam looks like he just stepped off a movie set. He's wearing black jeans, a black button-down with enough buttons undone to reveal a very pretty stretch of skin at his chest, and a gray leather jacket. The last time I saw him, his beard had mostly grown back—it's been almost three weeks since he shaved in Silver Creek—but he's clean shaven now. Combined with his very solid wardrobe choices, he looks like a Deke/Adam hybrid, the two sides of him melded into an improved grownup version of who he used to be.

Incredible. Good enough to eat. Sexy as all get out.

But it's more than that, too, and my brain finally lands on the description that fits best.

Adam looks like a star.

Dad steps out of the office behind Adam and claps him once on the back, then he walks over to me. He puts his hands on my shoulders and gives them a quick squeeze. "I like him, Elena," he says softly enough that only I can hear. Then he reaches for Ringo. "Now let me spend some time with my grand dog."

Adam walks toward me, pausing a few feet away. "Maybe we can talk outside?"

I swallow and nod, my brain still trying to come up with a reasonable explanation for Adam talking to my dad. I mean, there is one very obvious reason, but we've only been dating a month. It's way too soon for that. Plus, we're kind of going through something else right now.

When I don't move my feet, Percy, who is still standing beside me, nudges me forward until I'm close enough for Adam to take my hand. He leads me outside to a picnic table that's sitting in the grass behind the office. When the weather's nice, I usually take my lunch breaks out here. I sit down, but Adam stays on his feet, and I get the sense that he's nervous about something.

"Sorry to surprise you," he says. "I was actually going to leave here and come straight to your house."

"You were?"

He nods. "Percy told me you start later on Fridays."

"Yeah, I usually do. But Ringo's been waking me up early."

"Ah. Yeah. Puppies make good alarm clocks."

A chilly October wind lifts the leaves collecting at the edges of the lawn, and I tug down the sleeves of the thermal I'm wearing under my scrubs.

"Do you want to tell me why you were talking to my dad?" I ask.

He looks a little sheepish. "A couple of reasons."

"Okay."

"Patty mentioned he was kinda hard on you about the whole engagement thing."

"You talked to Patty?" I ask.

"Just about vet records for the rescue. But then she brought up the engagement and…yeah. It's hard not to talk to Patty once she gets started."

"Very true," I say.

"I thought it might help if I explained to your dad how I actually feel about you. If he knew that I'm not playing games. And that even if we aren't technically engaged yet, I think we both know that's where this relationship is headed."

I press my lips together. "You said all of that to him? "

He nods. "I also told him that I am really, really in love with you."

I suck in a breath.

"I maybe should have saved that part so I could tell you first."

I practically fly off the bench and throw myself into his arms. He chuckles as he catches me, stumbling a few steps backward as his arms come around me and I bury myself in his chest.

He smells so good. Manly and clean, like leather and soap and sandalwood and Adam and I don't want to ever let him go.

I lean back, keeping my arms around him as I look into his impossibly blue eyes. "I love you too," I say. "So much."

He presses his lips to mine, and all of the doubt and worry that's plagued me the past week fizzles away. There are so many things we still need to talk about. And I'm sure we eventually will. But right now, knowing that we love each other is enough.

I lift my hand to Adam's jaw--his very smooth jaw.

Okay, maybe there's one thing we need to talk about right now.

I tap my thumb against his cheek. "So…can we talk about this?" I slide my other hand over the shoulder of his very soft leather jacket. "And also your incredible wardrobe choices this morning?"

"Actually, that has to do with the other reason I came to see your dad."

"Yeah? How so?"

"I figured if I was taking you to New York with me, he'd need to know you weren't coming into work today."

I freeze. "New York? "

He nods. "Midnight Rush is doing an interview on The Tonight Show . First one with all four of us present."

It takes my brain a few extra seconds to process what he's telling me.

" The Tonight Show ," I repeat. "Are you…does that mean…?"

"Yes, and yes," he says, glancing at his watch. "I'm catching a plane in just a few hours." He lifts his lips into a sly half grin. "Want to come?"

"You want me to go to New York with you?"

He shrugs. "I want you to go everywhere with me."

If our last kiss was a warmup, this one is the main event. My emotions feel too big for my chest, too big for the entire freaking world. I'm so proud of him, so happy that he's happy.

Adam's hands slide up to my face as he breaks the kiss, but he doesn't pull back. He keeps his face close, his forehead pressed to mine.

"I know it's a lot to ask when you didn't sign up for this, for any of the weird fame stuff. To pull you into this world with fans and paparazzi and invasive questions. But I promise, Laney, I'll do whatever it takes to protect your privacy. To protect you. "

"I know. I know you will."

His thumb slides across my cheek, and his expression shifts, revealing a new vulnerability. "I still have no idea what I want to do after the concerts," he says. "If I'll want to keep singing or…I don't know. There's so much I don't know."

"Whatever you decide, I'll be right here," I say. "You don't have to know everything right now. "

He nods, hesitating for a beat before he says, "I probably need some grief counseling."

My heart squeezes. "I think we all need counseling in one way or another. That's a great idea."

"And I promise I'm going to work on talking instead of running. You helped me recognize how important that is. How much it can help."

"I want you to talk to me about everything, Adam."

"I want that, too."

My gaze catches on a silver pendant hanging around his neck and tucked inside his shirt. I reach for it, lifting it gently. It's a smooth matte silver, with the shape of a flower etched into the top. I've never cared much about whether a man wears jewelry, but this looks good on Adam. Masculine and intentional and sexy, but still subtle. It's not blingy at all. The fact that he's wearing it against his skin so it only peeks out when he moves certain ways makes it seem like he's wearing it for him, and not for his outfit.

Except, wait. This isn't just any flower. It's a dahlia.

"Adam," I say, the pendant still in my hand.

"Sarah got it for me this week," he says.

Tears spring to my eyes. "It's a perfect way to keep her with you."

"I think so too." He settles his arms at the small of my back, and I lean into him. "You know, I've thought more than once that my mom would love you. It was nice to learn that she actually did."

I sniff and smile. "I loved her too."

"So what do you say? Want to come to New York? I hate to pressure you, but…" He glances at his watch one more time. "If you're coming, we kind of need to hurry."

"I don't have to worry about work? "

He shakes his head. "Your dad said he's happy to cover for you. And we'll be back before Monday."

"What about Ringo?"

"Your dad's going to watch him."

"Did you think of everything?" I ask.

"I definitely tried."

The next twelve hours go by in a blur.

We race home long enough for me to pack, then head to the airport in Asheville to catch our direct flight to New York. As we drive, Adam fills me in on the many, many conversations he had over the past week.

With Sarah. Who loves him and had a lot to tell him about what life was really like while he was on tour with the band.

With Freddie. Who fired his agent, apologized profusely, and admitted that he always knew, and this part is a direct quote, Adam "couldn't actually live without him."

With Jace. Who learned, the day Adam walked out on the band, that his wife is filing for divorce even though she's currently pregnant with their second child.

Adam seems anxious to see them again, which makes me love him more. These men are a part of his heart. It will be good for all of them to be back together.

We're in Asheville, in line at airport security, the first time I feel someone figure out who Adam is. My skin prickles with a strange sense of awareness, then I look up and see a couple of women who look to be about my age staring directly at us.

I squeeze Adam's hand. "Hey. Um, pretty sure those women recognize you." I tilt my head in the direction of the two women, and Adam turns to look.

"It appears they do," he says.

"So what do we do?"

"Nothing."

"We just ignore them?"

"We do."

"What if they try to talk to you?"

"Then I'll say hello and pose for a picture and send them on their way."

He makes it sound so easy, but once we reach our gate, that's exactly what happens, and it isn't all that bad. Adam introduces me as his fiancée, we all shake hands, I take a picture of the three of them, they tell him how excited they are about the reunion tour and they're hoping to get tickets, then they leave us alone.

Easy.

We're on the plane and settling into our seats when I ask Adam, "Hey, did it bother you that they called you Deke?"

He shakes his head. "Nah. I'm happy to be Deke to them." He leans over and presses a quick kiss to my lips. "As long as I'm always Adam to you."

"I actually know a thing or two about being in love with Deke, " I say. "And it was pretty fun. But I don't need you to be Deke." The thought fills me with a sudden urgency to make sure he understands, so I turn in my seat and reach over, wrapping both hands around his forearm. "Actually, it's important to me that you know that. If you do these concerts, then decide you never want to leave Lawson Cove again, that would be okay with me. I fell in love with Adam. That's the only person I need you to be."

His expression softens, and he leans over and kisses me one more time. But then he grins. "I don't know, Laney. Those scrapbooks were pretty telling."

My eyes widen. "You are not allowed to make fun of those. It was an act of kindness to share them. You can't laugh!"

"The MASH games were my favorite," he says. "But I veto us living in an apartment when I already own a house. And six kids, Laney? That feels like a lot."

"Please stop," I say, lifting my hands to cover my face. "I can't handle this kind of embarrassment."

"I particularly loved the fanfiction at the back of Year Three," he says.

I drop my hands. "What? There was not fanfiction in there."

"Oh, there totally was," he says. "A beach vacation. The band playing a venue nearby. Deke, out for a walk on the beach…"

I reach over and press a hand to his mouth. "Please stop talking. Never ever talk about this again."

He wraps his hand around my wrist and pulls my hand away before pressing a kiss to the pad of my thumb. "The writing was actually pretty decent. I think you could do something with this talent of yours."

I drop my face onto my knees and wrap my arms around my head, letting out a low groan. "I can't believe you read that," I say. "I can't believe I gave it to you!"

He chuckles as he drops a hand to my back, rubbing slow circles across my shoulder blades. "I'm glad you did," he says, and I sit back up. "But I'm glad you like the Hope Acres side of me more."

I will always like the Hope Acres side of Adam best.

But it is fun to see him reunite with his band in the green room of The Tonight Show . It's fun to see them perform live for the first time in eight years. Fun to hear the fans cheering, screaming when the guys walk out and sit on the interview couch.

And I won't lie. It's also pretty fun to have everyone on set treat me like I'm someone special too, simply because I'm here with him.

I can't even begin to wrap my head around where life is going to take us. What it will look like if Midnight Rush becomes a more permanent part of Adam's life. But there's a strong, peaceful certainty deep in my heart that whatever happens, together, we'll be strong enough to handle it.

On stage, Jimmy Fallon congratulates Adam on his recent engagement and asks him to tell the story of how we met.

Adam smiles, thanks him, then jumps right into explaining how he locked himself out of his car and I came to his rescue. "She'll kill me for not leaving this part out of the story," he says, "but when she turned on her car, there was a Midnight Rush song blasting through her speakers."

Oh, I am going to kill him.

Except, maybe not. Because the next thing Adam says is, "That was the moment I knew I was going to fall in love with her. And that's exactly what I did."