Adam's List (21 page)

We’ve entered dangerous territory. You can’t kiss someone with so much emotion if you’re preparing to walk away. Alarms ring through my head, too loud and too obvious to be ignored. There are
way
too many complex emotions being passed between us.

I already know he’s going to shatter my heart.

ELEVEN

Touring the beautiful old cemetery in Toledo doesn’t do much for either one of us.

Though we hold hands, and have fallen back into our playful banter, there’s an emotional wall that I strategically placed between us, setting us both to teeter on edge.

When I woke in Adam’s arms, I sprung free to clear my head with an early morning walk before he was awake. I’ve purposely avoided letting him get too close ever since.

Last night was far too comfortable. The only way to survive this is if I keep it casual and light.

After we grab a light breakfast, an unsure quiet settles between us in the parking lot.

This slow-paced action the Midwest offers leaves us too much time to reflect on what we’re doing and what will happen next. His thoughts and paranoia have rubbed off on me, making me question every little action between us. We need to get the hell out of Ohio. I need non-stop activities that will get Adam back in the mood to try crazy, reckless things.

“Here’s an idea.” I turn to him, my eyes bright. “Let’s blow off the other stops and drive straight through to New York!”

His lips curve with an amused smirk. “What about Cleveland and Buffalo?”

“We’ll spend the extra two days in New York. I seriously doubt we can ever get enough of the city anyway. We’ll crash in a cheap hotel near Times Square until the brownstone in Murray Hill is ready. Maybe the owner would even let us in early. I know it will be a little more expensive, but YOLO, am I right?”

Adam shakes his head, laughing in a deep tone. “You’re the last person I’d ever expect to use YOLO. That’s something one of my brother’s dimwitted flings would say.”

He steps in close to run his fingers up my forearm until my skin pricks with goosebumps. “Hey. Are you okay? Do you want to talk about last night?”

“Are you kidding?” I hook my finger through his belt loop and drag him closer. “I can’t stop thinking about last night and what I’m going to do to you the minute we hit the big city.”

Standing on my tip-toes, I press my lips to his mouth, cupping his backside in my hands and squeezing. I suck on his bottom lip for a minute before releasing it. His tongue tries to barge its way in, but I back away, giggling. “Consider that a preview of what’s to come when we see the city lights, big boy. Now let’s hit the road.”

The freeways all seem to be wide open under the clear blue skies, encouraging us to reach our destination in record time. To keep things from getting too serious, I focus on upbeat songs and initiate the dumbest games I can think of. We spend close to an hour with Kelly on my phone, talking about anything and everything that doesn’t have to do with our complicated relationship and how we’ve let things progress. She’s too busy telling us horror stories of campers wetting their beds and getting their first periods to realize I’m avoiding specific subjects.

Somewhere between Cleveland and New York, the next shift of the drive is turned over to me. As Adam snoozes against the side of the truck, I have to bite down on my lip to keep from pulling over to wake him, because
damn it
he looks crazy hot with his eyelashes brushing against his cheeks, and the way his fingers rest against my thigh and occasionally twitch...forget about it.

Curiosity won’t let me allow his unknown secret to rest. I haven’t heard him call
anyone
since we hit the road. Even I’ve talked to my parents every day, though not really by choice. Does he get along with his parents? What could he be hiding? Am I ready to deal with whatever it is, or do I just ride this affair out until the trip is over? What lies has he told in order to protect the truth? How do I know where the lies stop and the truth begins?

When the end of my three hour shift ends, Adam’s still sound asleep, but I don’t wake him. I’m too caught up in my growing fears that something big is going to tear our happy road trip apart.

“Adam!” I yell, nudging him in the ribs. “C’mon, I need a copilot right about now!”

“Turn left
,” my phone commands. I jerk the car into the only open slot available. The Mercedes behind me lays on his horn.

Adam perks to life in the passenger’s seat. As he scrambles to sit tall, his eyes grow wide. “Shit! Is this New York already? Why’d you let me sleep so long?”

“Apparently it’s because I have a death wish. Will you please help me navigate through this nightmare? You already missed the Holland Tunnel. Statistically speaking, we’re
not
in the worst city to drive in, but if we make it through this in one piece, you’ll understand why I’m close to hyperventilation over here.”

Adam rubs his eyes before grabbing my phone. “Where do you need to go next?”

“Technically, it’s a straight shot up Sixth Avenue to Times Square, but I need you to help me watch for Kamikaze taxi drivers.”

“Pull over so I can drive.”

“And miss the rights to brag that I may or may not have survived driving through downtown Manhattan? Just please, tell me whenever you see your life flash before your eyes.”

What could easily be nothing more than five miles takes us almost an hour, three middle fingers, and two near-crashes. I’m so eager to get off the main roads that I duck into the first parking garage we come across without caring if there’s an available hotel nearby.

Once parked, I rest my head against the steering wheel. “So
that
was fun. Tomorrow we should sign up for skydiving lessons.”

Adam pulls on my hand. “Hey, come here.” He plants a drawn-out kiss on my lips before pulling back and resting his forehead to mine. “You were amazing. I doubt I could’ve gotten us through there in one piece.”

“You are kind of a pansy,” I agree, giggling. I break away from him and hop down from the pickup, stretching among the smells of gasoline and urine. The rather small parking ramp feels damp with humidity. “Welcome to New York.”

Adam grabs our bags from the backseat before coming to my side, his nose wrinkled. “Hmmm. Smells wonderful.”

“Some parts of the city aren’t so bad. Although I did see my first rat a few blocks off Broadway in the subway station. It was trying to pull a half full latte down the tracks.

Killed my taste for the stuff. Lattes, I mean, not rats. I haven’t formed an opinion on the vermin yet.”

Chuckling, he gathers our bags over one shoulder and drops his free arm around my back. “Let’s go find a place to unwind.” He leans in to kiss me, letting his lips linger.

“Maybe take a shower before we go out.”

“Ooo, I like the sound of that,” I tease, wiggling my eyebrows and nipping my teeth over his bottom lip.

Two hotels later, we’re still homeless and Adam has yet to see the jumbo-tron or the main walk into the bright lights and giant billboards of Times Square. By the time we walk into the fourth hotel, bustling with patrons, I nudge him and whisper, “Follow my lead.”

Hands held, we weave our way through the crowd and toward the elevators like we’re headed to our room. We’re able to snag the second elevator headed up. And we’re alone.

Adam watches me press the button for the top floor. “Where are we going?”

The minute the doors close I slam him into the metal wall. He lets out a pleasurable groan as I push my pelvis up against him, pinning him with my arms and trailing my lips up his neck. When our mouths meet, his fingers press to my bare back and he draws me tight against him. I part my lips and inhale deeply, literally stealing his breath before breaking away, grinning.

“That’s all you’re going to give me?” he asks, clearly turned on. He tugs at my belt loop, trying to bring me back. It’s great to see him as the horny guy rather than the emotional mess who just wanted to lovingly nuzzle me the night before. I can do horny.

The sweet spot between my legs throbs happily with thoughts of having my way with him. I can do horny just fine.

I turn back to the elevator doors, smirking. “For now.”

“You’re killing me.”

Adam watches me as the elevator climbs. We reach the top floor and I slip out without waiting for him. I hear him fumbling to catch up with my fast pace. “What are we doing, exactly?”

“I stayed here with my parents when I was fourteen. One of the only pools in all of Manhattan is on this roof. We can take a quick dip to...ah...
cool down
and shower in the bathrooms before grabbing something to eat. Let’s worry about finding a place later. If nothing else, there was a flat overnight rate in the parking ramp. We could always crash there.”

“I’m not really up for swimming. You go, I’ll nap.”

“You’re gonna miss out, buddy.” Before stepping out onto the roof, I whip my shirt off and throw it at him, revealing the small bikini top I slipped into at the last rest stop.

Adam’s eyes bulge. “How am I supposed to sleep with you dressed like that?”

I lean in to catch his lower lip with my teeth, sucking on it hard before releasing it.

“That’s the point. You’re not.”

The late afternoon crowd is so big that we’re able to slip in without anyone stopping us to see if we’re guests of the hotel. As much as I beg and plead, Adam refuses to join me for a swim. I stand at his side for a while as he gapes down at the city before I jump into the water and tread water for a spell.

After a quick shower in the lavish bathroom, I use their blow-dryer to scrunch my hair into sexy waves before putting on a sultry little pink dress that doesn’t go past my fingertips. Kelly picked out the matching pink polka dotted thong. A few dabs of mascara over fake eyelashes, a trick with white eyeliner Kelly taught me that makes my eyes pop, just the right amount of bronzer, and I’m ready to rock and roll.

Adam’s leaning against a wall across from the bathrooms in a white button down and tan cargo shorts. I lose my breath for a minute at the sight of his sharply cut jaw, steel blue eyes, and toned forearms that look darker in contrast to his shirt.

The most gorgeous guy in all of New York is waiting just for me.

The way his face transforms when he spots me and smiles, the way the light in his eyes turns into a living thing all on its own, I know he’s falling for me. And it terrifies me.

He meets me in the middle to wrap his arm around my waist. “
You
look amazing.

Edible, even.”

A coy smile crosses my lips. I play with the top button of his shirt. “It’s necessary if I’m going to be seen on your arm all night. I’m not up for any competition with these big city girls.”

He leans in, brushing his bottom lip up my jaw line. “There’s no competition.” His warm breath huffs inside my ear, curling my toes.

We return our bags to the pickup and stuff ourselves with giant burgers just a few blocks down. Afterward, we wander beyond the restaurant, enjoying the warm night air.

The city’s just as alive with traffic and people as I remember it from all my other trips.

There’s never a dull moment in New York, never a time long enough for you to possibly ever grow bored. It’s a city that’s constantly in motion, constantly making way for change.

Adam remains light and playful. He holds my hand, laughing and pointing out everything unusual we come across, sometimes whispering into my ear to tease me about the way I get excited by little things, or the way I hide behind my hair when he makes me laugh.

Near the edge of Midtown, we come upon a large crowd spilling into the street from an Irish pub. Over fifty people form a line to a large coach bus parked on the curb. They laugh and talk in loud voices like they’ve been at this all night.

I tilt my head at the bus. “Let’s go.”

He resists me with a chuckle. “On
that
? We don’t even know where it’s going. And it’s probably something you have to pre-pay for.”

“Do we
care
where it’s going?” I throw my hands up in the air. “This is
New fucking
York
! Wherever it ends up is guaranteed to be somewhere amazing! Seriously, it’ll be fun!” I shuffle closer to run my finger across his beautiful bottom lip. “Buddy. If you’re on this trip for an adventure, you’re going to have to start taking risks.”

His eyes flicker from me to the people in line. Most of them seem to be just a little older than us, and incredibly intoxicated. Blending in shouldn’t be a problem.

Adam gives in with a low moan. “At least by morning we should have free accommodations. In
jail
.”

“Three hots and a cot? How could you turn a deal that good down?”

I yank on his arm and break into a jog. Like a couple of professional con artists, we slide between two couples talking in animation near the back. After a few minutes I swipe the bright pink sticker from a man’s shirt at our side when he isn’t looking, and slap it onto Adam’s chest before making a show of tangling my arms around his waist and reaching for his mouth, slipping my tongue inside. Adam responds right away, pushing his tongue past my teeth and running his hands across my back. The couples behind us hoot and applaud their approval.

“Alright, you two,” a woman says from inside the bus. “Let’s get this show on the road.”

Giggling, I lead Adam up the steps of the bus. A blue glowing light illuminates the long aisle up the middle. Everyone has claimed their spots near the front of the fairly new bus, probably for first dibs at the next stop. I lead Adam to the last row of chairs in the back and let him sit first, then slip onto his lap.

“Exciting enough for ya...” I look at the pink sticker and giggle, “
Roger
?”

Adam slips his hand underneath my hair, cupping my neck as if it’s made of precious gemstones. “I’m starting to think you’re kind of crazy, once I really get to know you.”

I grin wickedly. “If you think I’m crazy now, check this out.”

Among the boisterous noise of the other passengers and the radio blasting some kind of dance mix, I part my lips and press them to Adam’s mouth, sticking out only the tip of my tongue, gentle, teasing against his lips. My right hand runs down the center of his chest, slipping underneath his shorts and dipping into his underwear.