Eleven
I came home to an empty apartment. That was expected though. Adam had a game and he’d already been at the ballpark for a couple of hours by the time I’d walked in the door after my first day. I was tired and I was hungry, but I was smiling. It’d been a good day and I hoped it was just the first of many.
I dropped my purse on the table the moment I walked through the door. I wondered how long Adam would think my penchant for dumping my stuff after a long day was cute. We’d only been living together for a few days. We were bound to start annoying each other eventually.
I was still smiling as I walked into the kitchen to scrounge up something for dinner, but I’d stopped in my tracks the moment I saw the flowers sitting on the counter. The bouquet was impossible to miss. All I could see was the mass of tulips staring at me. There had to have been at least two dozen in the crystal vase. I stared at them for a few more seconds before I made my way to the counter, leaning over and taking in a long breath. When I pulled away, I saw an envelope lying at the base of the vase, my name written in handwriting I’d know anywhere. I felt the smile on my face grow bigger when I opened the card and saw what he’d written.
Caroline-
I hope your day was as amazing as you are. Wish I could be there when you got home to tell me all about it. Hopefully we can talk tonight. I love you.
-Adam
P.S. There’s spaghetti and breadsticks in the fridge if you’re hungry and a bottle of wine in case you need a drink!
I felt a lump form in my throat as I looked between his message and the flowers. Adam DeLain never ceased to amaze me. I shouldn’t have been surprised at what he’d done because that’s the kind of boyfriend he was. Almost too good to be true sometimes. Part of me kept wondering how long he could keep it up and how long until the rug was pulled out from under us. Our life couldn’t continue on like this. Challenges would come eventually. I knew they would, but for now, I’d enjoy the moment, which was practically perfection.
I put the card back in the envelope and brushed my fingers over the silky petal of one of the flowers before walking over to the fridge. Sure enough, just like he’d said, a plate waited for me. The tulips were sweet, but the spaghetti was probably the most thoughtful thing he could have done for me after a long day. I gratefully took it out and put it in the microwave.
While it heated up, I went upstairs and changed into a pair of sweats and a comfy t-shirt. I freed my hair from the ponytail it’d been confined in all day and scratched my scalp until I was certain it looked like a wild mess. I didn’t care though. It felt good and that was all that mattered as I went back to the kitchen. I took the plate out of the microwave and then grabbed a wine glass. Even though my day had gone well, a glass of my favorite wine would be a perfect way to unwind.
I settled on the couch, my wine beside me and my spaghetti on my lap. I flicked on the TV, turning on the baseball game. He might not be beside me, but I could still spend the night with him, even if it meant only sporadic glimpses of him in the dugout. After what he’d done for me, I’d take any bit of him I could get.
I watched the entire game. The Red Sox won and I was anxious for him to get home. It always took him a while. I thought tonight might be better though. He hadn’t played, so that would cut down on the time. He didn’t have to shower and he didn’t have to deal with any press after the game. I was tired, but I didn’t want to go to bed without seeing him; without sharing my day with him and thanking him for his thoughtfulness. I stayed on the couch watching a marathon of a home renovation show and shortly before midnight, I heard him open the door.
It struck me how different our life was than most. Most people welcomed their loved ones home at dinnertime where you talked about your day. As long as Adam was a baseball player, that would never be our life and while the evening had been lonely without him, I wouldn’t trade anything. Not at this moment anyway. It was our life and I would get used to it.
I got up from the couch and went to meet him. He was locking the door, but then turned around and saw me waiting for him. He smiled when he saw me and I couldn’t help but reciprocate. His usual game day duffle bag was flung over his shoulder. His hair was tucked under his old UVM hat and one would be hard pressed to think he’d just spent the evening at Fenway Park. To me, he simply looked like Adam and I was very happy to see him.
“Hey,” he said and I realized how much I’d missed the sound of his voice all day.
“Hey,” I said back as he started closing the gap between us. He stopped when he got to me, leaning down and brushing his lips softly over mine. They lingered there for a few seconds and I was sad to feel him pull away.
“I’ve missed you,” he said softly, our lips still close.
“Same here,” I said, stretching up and kissing him once more.
He looked at me with those blue eyes of his that always caused my stomach to flutter. I felt like a teenager with a mad crush on the hot, unattainable guy at school, but then I remembered, he had been attainable and he was right here with me.
“Have I told you lately what an incredible guy you are?” I asked when our lips separated. He grinned and I felt his fingers thread with mine.
“You haven’t, but I already know that.”
I laughed and then slugged him playfully before looking at him seriously.
“I mean it, Adam DeLain. The flowers. The card. Dinner. Everything,” I said softly, meeting his eyes, hoping he understood my feelings. “You don’t know what that meant to me to come home to the flowers and then dinner…well, that was over the top…but in such a good way.”
He smiled down at me. It was one of confidence, but also humility.
“I wanted to be here when you got home, but since I couldn’t, I wanted you to know I was thinking about you.”
I reached up, resting my hand on his cheek. It was starting to get a little rough since he’d shaved in the morning. I kind of liked it though.
“Are you always going to be this perfect?” I asked with a grin. He looked away with a shy smile on his face, but then he looked me right back in the eye.
“That’s my intention. I can’t lose you again,” he said, reaching for the hand I’d had resting on his cheek, linking our fingers together as he pulled me closer. The time apart had been the most painful of my life. Not having Adam in my life was not something I ever wanted again. Apparently, he felt the same way.
“Really though, thank you for what you did,” I said softly.
“It was my pleasure,” he said, giving me a sweet kiss before pulling away. “You look tired.”
“So do you.”
“We should get to bed then,” he suggested and I wasn’t going to argue with that.
“We should,” I agreed, following him upstairs after we’d turned off everything downstairs.
I was already in my pajamas and I brushed my teeth while Adam stripped out of his clothes, remaining in just his boxer shorts. I would never complain that that was what he chose to sleep in.
He joined me in the bathroom a moment later, standing beside me as I applied some moisturizer.
“I like this, Care,” he said as we both looked up at our reflections in the mirror.
“Me too,” I said, smiling at him and then walking behind him where I put my hands on his arms and kissed him on the shoulder. My lips left a trail of goosebumps behind and I smiled to myself at the affect I had on him.
I crawled to my side of the bed and it wasn’t long before Adam turned out the light and joined me on his side. I snuggled in beside him, resting my head on his chest while he played with my hair.
“It was a good game tonight. You guys are doing great,” I said in the darkness.
“Yeah, hopefully it’ll continue,” he said, but I could hear the hesitation in his voice. “Let’s not talk about the game though. How was your first day?”
“Really good,” I answered.
“Seriously?”
“Yes,” I told him. “I’m not sure what I expected, but it was good, Adam. Really.”
“I’m glad,” he said softly. “I worried about you all day.”
“Thank you for your worry, but it really was good. I even started in the lab working on the new prototype my team has been assigned to,” I began and before I knew it, I was blabbering on and on about everything we were working on. I only stopped when he started laughing and I turned my head so I could meet his eyes. There was just enough light in the room to see the shadows on his face.
“What’s so funny?”
“Nothing,” he said, shaking his head. “Except you’re too damn smart for me.”
“Does an intelligent woman intimidate you?”
“Not at all. In fact,” he said, his lips turning up into a wry grin, “I find it sexy as hell, which is why I adore you, Caroline Hale.”
I felt my cheeks flush and I looked away for a moment before turning back to him.
“And it’s no secret I adore you, Adam.” I pressed my lips gently to his for a few moments, before pulling back and resting my head back on his chest. “My co-workers recognized you from the picture I put up of us at my desk,” I said and then laughed quietly. “They didn’t believe me at first.” Adam laughed too.
“What? Did they think you’d photoshopped me into the picture or something?”
“I don’t know what they thought, but they finally realized I wasn’t making it up. They seemed a bit tongue-tied when they found out. I guess they’re fans.”
“Should I come by the office some time? Put in a good word for you at the company?” Even though I wasn’t looking at his face, I could imagine the cocky grin I knew he was sporting.
“I think they might pass out if you did,” I said and he laughed again. “I guess one was thinking about asking me out until he saw I was taken.”
I could feel Adam tense up and I knew my last sentence had gotten his attention.
“Maybe I should come by after all,” he said and I couldn’t tell if he was being lighthearted or not. I sat up and looked at him again. He wasn’t being playful. I could tell by the stern line on his mouth.
“You’re not jealous, are you?” I teased him.
“Of course, I’m jealous. I’m leaving in two days for a road trip and you tell me one of your new workmates is into you.”
“I love it when you’re jealous.” I continued teasing him and he rolled his eyes.
“And how would you like it if I told you someone I was about to start working with on a daily basis had the hots for me? Would you be so amused?”
“There is a big difference,” I said and he raised an eyebrow curiously. “You are Adam DeLain. Women throw themselves at you all the time. I’m Caroline Hale, ordinary girl. It’s nice to be the one being wanted for a change.” I raised a suggestive eyebrow and I saw his jaw clench. He wasn’t amused with my teasing.
“You’re wrong,” he said, staring into my eyes as he reached for me, tangling his fingers into my hair. “You’re not ordinary. You’re the furthest thing from ordinary and that is why men want you,” he said, coming closer to me. So close I could feel his warm breath on my lips. “Even when you don’t think they do.” I could feel the intensity of his words and the weight of his stare on me. “So, if you think men wanting you is a new thing, you’re wrong, Caroline. So wrong.” He looked at me again, his stare even heavier this time as my heart began to pound in my chest and my body started to ache for him. “I want you and I’ve wanted you almost my whole life. I can’t remember a time when I didn’t want you.” His voice was deep and strong and my heart beat even faster now.
“Do you want me now?” I whispered and he barely let me finish my sentence before answering me.
“I always want you.”
His mouth was on mine then, his lips pushing against mine until I opened my mouth and let him in. He was on a mission and I would do everything I could to help him succeed.
I felt myself falling back then as he crawled over my body, his hands pushing under my t-shirt.
“Say it again,” I whispered as his hands continued to explore my body, stripping us both of our clothes so there was nothing separating us. “Tell me you want me.” I would never get tired of hearing it and I wanted to hear it again at this moment.
“I want you, Caroline. More than I want to breathe I want you.” His words were hot in my ear and I found his lips with mine again, kissing him as deeply as I could as I moved my hips beneath him. He knew what I wanted. I heard a soft moan escape me as we became one and soon I was lost in him. It was the perfect ending to a practically perfect day. I knew coming to Boston would change my life and I’d been right. This was my new life and so far, I was loving it.