Sophia
“So,”Adrian leans against the counter. “What are we doing tonight?”
“I don’t know what you’re doing, but I’ll be going to Asheville.” Grinning, I take the blank forms from the counter and put them in the basket underneath. Closing time is probably my favorite since Adrian and I started dating. We don’t have a ton of free nights with the shop being open late, but we make the most of it. Usually, we hang out at each other’s apartments and watch movies. By the time we are done working for the night, we don’t really want to be around other people.
“Why are you going to Asheville?” He scrunches his nose. “There’s literally nothing in that tiny town.”
Rolling my eyes, I shake my head and sigh, “I already told you this.”
“No, you didn’t,” he argues. “I would have remembered.”
“Then you would know that tonight is the book club Charleigh and Bianca invited me to,” I sing song. It annoys him when I do that, but deep down he most likely thinks it’s cute.
“Wait,” he sputters. “Charleigh reads?”
“Why is that so hard to believe?” Charleigh walks into the lobby. “I do occasionally pick up a book.”
Adrian shrugs and comes around the counter, both of his arms wrap around my waist. “I’ve just never seen you with a book. This one,” he squeezes me, “however, constantly has her Kindle in her hands. I have to pry it away just to watch a movie with her.”
“What can I say?” I spin around and throw my arms around his neck. “The scenes I imagine from the books I read are better than the ones on the TV screen.”
“If you say so,” he mutters. “I’ve hardly seen you since you stopped letting me stay over all the time.”
It’s true. I’ve been trying to force some sort of space between us, even if I want to be with him all the time. I don’t want to lose myself to another relationship. Besides, I don’t think Dawson is following me. Those creepy being watched vibes haven’t resurfaced in quite a while. “You’ll survive,” my lips graze his with a quick peck. “We have all day Monday to do whatever we want.”
“Does that mean we don’t have to leave the bed?”
“If that’s how you choose to spend it.” My grin is mischievous and he lifts me up on the counter.
“Ugh, gross.” Charleigh groans. “Get a room. Or go somewhere I don’t have to witness it.”
“Dude,” Adrian says over my shoulder. “You and Jake are the exact same way. You shouldn’t throw stones.”
“Whatever,” she throws her purse over her shoulder. “I’ll see you at the coffee shop, Soph.” She eyes Adrian, not trusting that I’ll show up. “Do you need the address?”
“Nope,” I say. “I already have it programmed in my phone. I’ll be behind you in just a few.”
Waving, she walks out of the shop, and Adrian pulls me to the edge of the counter. “Finally, the grouchy one is gone. I can have my way with you before you have to go.”
“We don’t have time for that, Adrian,” I giggle as he presses warm, wet kisses to my neck. “If I don’t show up, Charleigh is likely to come back here and kick your ass.”
“I’m not scared of her,” he laughs. “For real, though. I miss waking up to you in the mornings. Are you sure he’s not following you? I have no problem waiting for you at your apartment to make sure everything goes okay.”
“I’m sure,” I place my hand against his chest. His heart beat is steady and strong. The constant I didn’t know I needed in my life. “But if I feel that way again, you’ll be the first to know.” Leaning my head on his shoulder, I let out a breath. “Honestly, I’m beginning to think I imagined it all and my brain was playing tricks on me. It’s been almost two months and I haven’t felt watched. There’s nothing to worry about.”
“If you say so,” he relents, knowing he’s fighting a losing battle. “I suppose I’ll let you leave now, as much as it pains me to watch you go.”
“You act like you won’t see me for days,” I snort. “You have clearly been hanging out with my mom way too much.”
“What can I say? She loves me,” he presses a kiss to my forehead and helps me off the counter.
“Not as much as I do,” I mumble.
“What?” He puts his hands on the counter, caging me in. “Did you say what I think you did?”
Shit, he heard that? I need to get better at keeping my thoughts inside my brain. “Maybe,” I hedge, ducking under his arm. I run around to the front of the counter, putting it between us.
“Oh no,” he follows me around. “You don’t get to say something like that and then leave. Do you? Love me, that is.”