Page 61 of Adoring Fletcher
He shook his head, but softened, his fingers stroking my cheek. “Everything’s gonna be okay, Fletcher. Alright, baby?Things are gonna get better. We’ll buy a house in another city and start fresh, just you and me, someplace no one knows of our pasts. We can start our new beginning, our new lives.”
I wasn’t sure how much of this Adam was saying for my benefit, or for his own, but I found myself nodding along. “Okay,” I agreed, soft. “I love you, and I trust you.”
Adam’s smile was sunlight. “I love you too…and I love the sight of you wearing my shirt.”
I couldn’t help the giggle that burst free, unbidden. I leaned forward and kissed him, short and sweet, then hopped up and grabbed the bag of Chinese food. “Better not let this go to waste. I hope they packed forks. I am shit with chopsticks.”
“Same.”
We turned on the TV for background noise and ate our lukewarm noodles and chicken out of cardboard cartons while Adam browsed available houses on the market on the Zi-Yo app, and I couldn’t help but think… Maybe this was it. Our brand new beginning.
And a flicker of hope began to bloom in my heart.
39
ADAM
Not quite a week later,and I had my assets secured. Our offer on a nice little two-story brick home was accepted—sure, it was far from the manor I lived in now, but Fletcher was right; we didn’t need all of this stuff to be happy.
Things were moving along. Aria and I had been texting pretty much nonstop, and had spoken in detail over the phone twice since the day she’d ferreted out the truth.
Today, I was planning on breaking the news to my father that the wedding was off, and that my life plans had changed.
To say I was terrified was an understatement.
“Please be careful, Adam,” Aria pressed, her voice tinged with concern despite the slight crackle on the phone line. “I don’t know your father very well. In fact, I’ve only met him twice, but he gave me the vibe that he could be very dangerous, if provoked.”
Didn’t I know it… My stomach was in knots.
“Don’t worry, Aria. I’ll be careful,” I promised her. “Honestly, I’m a nervous wreck about the whole situation, but it needs to be done. Like ripping off a Band-Aid. I can’t just up and leave town without a word, even if I really want to.”
“You’re a good man, Adam,” she told me. “Text me later and tell me how it went. I won’t say anything to my father until you give the word.”
“You’re the best.”
“I know,” she said with a giggle, and we ended our call.
“Ready?” Fletcher asked me.
“Not really,” I admitted softly. “But I need to do this. For me. For us. I want to live a happy life with you, Fletcher Rose, and that won’t happen if my family keeps controlling my life.” I leaned down and kissed him chastely on the lips. “I’ll be back soon, I promise.”
“Good luck,” Fletcher called after me, but I was already making tracks for the door. I grabbed my coat off the rack on my way out, shrugging into it without bothering to zip it up. I wouldn’t be outside in the cold long.
I drove to my parents’ mansion, mentally preparing myself for Father’s temper-tantrum. He wasn’t going to take it well, I already knew. I pulled up the drive and parked, but let the car idle for a few moments, my hands hovering over the vents pouring out heat.
Once I’d gathered my bearings, I took a deep breath and went inside. I said hello to Mother, who was washing dishes like a good Omega wife. I waved to my little sister, Jillian, doing homework at the dining room table. She bobbed her head, earbuds in her ears. She didn’t even realize I was here, but then again, I’d never been that close with my siblings.
If Fletcher and I ever had kids, I wanted to make sure they grew up loving each other and sharing that sibling bond that I never got to experience.
I strode down the hall, towards the study, and knocked on the door.
“Come in, Adam,” Father called out.
I hesitated, then went in. “Father.”
“Have a seat,” he murmured, gesturing to the overstuffed brown leather chair.
“I’m not staying long—” I began, but he cut me off with a sharp look and a wave of Alpha power that hit me like an uppercut.
