I braced myself and knocked on Adam’s apartment door. For the second time in a week, I was showing up somewhere unannounced. Something told me that this time, it wouldn’t end quite as well. I shifted from foot to foot as I waited for him to answer the door. Just my luck, his schedule had probably changed, or he was at the hospital because one of his patients had gone into labor. As I was about to turn and walk to the elevator, the door opened. Adam stood in front of me with only a towel slung low around his waist. Water drops fell from his hair and made rivulets down his tanned chiseled chest.

“Emmy, where in the hell have you been? I’ve been trying to get ahold of you for days.”

He stepped to the side and motioned for me to come into his apartment. I took a deep breath and followed him inside. The door clicked behind us and it sounded loud in the quiet apartment.

“I’m sorry I disappeared. I didn’t mean to scare you.” I fiddled with the hem of my skirt while I avoided his eyes. He wiped at the water drops on his chest.

“It’s fine, I was just worried about you. It’s not like you to go MIA.” His gaze traveled up and down my body, taking in my new clothes. Well, not new, just not my New York usual. “You look different. It’s good, but different.”

“Thanks.” I closed my eyes. “Adam, can you get on some clothes? We need to talk.”

He took a deep breath and understanding crossed his face. “Yeah, give me a second.”

I waited on the couch for him to throw on jeans and a shirt. The white tee he’d put on clung to him in places where there was still water. Why were all of the guys in my life good looking? It wasn’t fair, and it sure as hell didn’t make this any easier.

He sat on the couch and took my hands in his. We were both quiet for a few minutes, before he finally spoke. “This is where you tell me it’s over, isn’t it?”

I nodded slowly. “I’m so sorry. You’ve been so great, and I can’t tell you how much I appreciate it, but I can’t do this.” My voice was thick as I continued, but I held back the tears. “My life has been a series of highs and lows for two years now. You’ve been there for everything and you deserved better than me dragging you into my mess.”

“You didn’t drag me into your mess, I went willingly.”

He wasn’t making this any easier. “This past weekend, I went to talk to Mason. There were things we needed to talk about that we’d been avoiding for too long.” I took a deep breath. “Things always felt unfinished with him.”

“It’s okay, Emmy.”

I wrapped my arms around my middle and choked back another sob. “No it’s not. I’m a horrible person. You’ve been nothing but amazing from the beginning and I took advantage of it. Of you. God, I never deserved a friend like you, let alone someone willing to be in a relationship with me.”

Adam tilted my head to make me look him in the eye. “Emerald, don’t you think I realized this could be one of the outcomes between us from the beginning? I knew when we started dating that you weren’t really ready. I pushed you.”

I shook my head adamantly. “You never pushed.”

He took my hand in his again.  

“If you’re happy with Mason and you can really make it work between you two, then you need to be with him. I overheard Stephen and Mason talking one day while we were in Vegas. Mason said that if you were truly happy, then he would step back and let you live your life because that was all he wanted for you. He loves you.” Tears streamed down my cheeks. “It’s really okay, Em. Yes, I like you, and yes, I’ve had fun with you, but I’m not who you need. Mason is who you should be with.”

I hugged him tightly. “You really are the perfect man. I wish things were different, Adam. You’re the one I should want to be with. Mason has a million bad qualities. He’s selfish, and entitled, and passive-aggressive at times, but he’s also dependable, and kind, and generous.”

“I get it, Emmy. He’s your first love.” He smiled sadly. “I can’t compete with that. And I don’t want to. Give me a little bit to mourn what I had with you because you are pretty damn perfect yourself.”

His fingers brushed away the new onslaught of tears threatening to fall.

“I know the perfect girl is out there for you somewhere. I’m sorry it’s not me.” He cupped my face and kissed my forehead.

“I’ll find her one day. I’m sorry she’s not you, but I’ll find her.”

I tried to smile through my tears. “I should go.”

He nodded. “Let me know if you need anything.”

He led me to the door and placed a hand on my lower back.

“I will.” I reached for the doorknob. “I want you to hear this from me, I’m moving back to Savannah as soon as they find my replacement.”

“You’re quitting your job?” he asked surprised.

“I think we both know I’ve been miserable for a while, no matter how much I tried to hide it. These jerks are more than I want to handle. I’m going to open my own recording company.”

He smiled. “Sounds perfect for you.”

I turned to look at him one last time. “I know I don’t have any right asking you for anything, but will you look out for Lexi? I think something is going on with her and she’s not ready to talk to anyone yet. She tends to keep everything bottled up. I just want to make sure she’s okay while I’m gone.”

Adam gave me a hard look. “Lexi is strong. She’ll figure out whatever is going on, but I’ll keep an eye on her.”

“She’s stubborn as hell. Thank you.” I opened the door and stepped into the hallway. “I’ll see you around, Adam.”

He nodded and followed me out, leaning on the door.

“Hey, Em?” I turned back. “No regrets.”

“No regrets.”

 

***

 

“You’re doing what!?” Lexi screeched.

I took a sip of my wine. “I’m quitting my job and moving back to Savannah. Oh, and Mason and I are back together.”

She fell back onto the couch and I handed her the glass of wine I had already poured for her. Hopefully it would soften the blow.

“Wow.” She huffed out a breath.

“I know it’s a lot to take in, but I think I’m going to be happier,” I said softly.

“Wow.”

I groaned. “Lexi, say something other than wow. Even when Vi told you she was pregnant with some guy, she’d known for a nanosecond you had more to say than that. Not to mention you had plenty to say when Stephen and Taylor told you they were moving in together.”

She took a huge gulp of wine. “Are you sure?”

I nodded. “I am.”

“Is that where you disappeared to last weekend?”

“Yeah. I’m sorry. I probably should have told you I was going, but I didn’t really think it through. Before I knew what was going on I was on a plane back home. ”

“You don’t owe me an explanation, Em. I’m just trying to put the pieces together. How is it going to work with you and Mase? Aren’t things weird between you two still?”

“Actually no, they aren’t. We talked a lot while I was there. It’s like we needed this time apart to figure out who we were separately. I’m twenty-eight and I’m just now finding out who I am. It’s taken me this long to realize that my whole life doesn’t have to revolve around Mason.”

She tucked her feet under her and sank in for a nice long conversation. “How did he feel about the whole Adam thing?”

“Well, he wasn’t thrilled, but it made things better that Adam and I never actually slept together.”

Her jaw dropped. “Wait, what? You guys dated for a whole year.”

I blushed. “It just never happened. For the first six months, I was a mess. Then everything with Stephen happened. And I guess our timing was off after that. Honestly, I’m happy that I didn’t sleep with him. He’s a great guy, but he’s just not who I should be with.”

She leaned in closer and looked at me impishly. “Did you see his cock?”

“Lexi!”

“Was it big? Tell me it was big.”

I laughed and shook my head. “I should not tell you this, but yes, it’s huge. I only saw it once, but at the time I was definitely interested. I always thought you and Adam would make a good couple.”

She made a face. “No, we wouldn’t. We’re too much alike, not to mention our schedules would make it impossible.”

I watched as she drank the second half of her glass of wine in one gulp. Okay. She’s off the clock and not on call, but damn. I cocked my head to the side as I watched her.

“Is everything okay with you, Lexi? You’ve been quiet lately.”

“I’m fine,” she said, waving me off. “I’ve been busy with work. There’s this really tough case I’m working on, but it’s nothing. Tell me more about your plans after you move back home.”

I gave her a look, warning her that I didn’t buy her story one bit. “Luke is coming back to Savannah with me.”

“That’s good. I know he misses it. Is James going with him?”

“He is. They are both really excited to start looking for a place.”

“I’m happy for them.”

I took Lexi’s hand in mine and squeezed it. “I want to say thank you.”

“For what?”

“You gave me a place to live when I moved up here and you’ve been an amazing friend. You’ve listened to me bitch and moan without complaining and you pushed me into moving on when I needed it. I can’t thank you enough for everything you’ve done.”

Lexi set her glass down and turned towards me. “Emmy, you’re fearless. I’ve watched you go through so much. Everything with Mase, trying to navigate a new relationship with Adam when you thought it was over. I watched you move across the country because you wanted a new start. Em, you followed your dream, and I’m so proud of you.”

“Lexi, I’m proud of you too. You’re a doctor, an amazing doctor. And you’re the best friend I could ever hope for.” I leaned over and pulled her into a hug. “I’m going to miss you so much. I can’t believe that we aren’t going to be ten minutes from each other anymore. It’s crazy that we’ve all finally found out what we want to do with the rest of our lives. Vi and Jax are happy, Stephen and Taylor are happy. I’m back with Mason and despite my idiocy I’m happy. Now we just need to find you someone.”

Lexi squeezed my hand.

“I don’t think that’s going to happen,” she said. Her voice was melancholy and I wondered what was going on in her head. “But I love my job, and for now, that’s enough.”

“Lexi, are you sure—”

“So how much longer do I get you before you leave?”

Whatever was bugging her was off limits. If she wanted to talk about it, she would, otherwise nothing would get her to budge. Lexi pushed people out of their comfort zone all the time, but she was more private than the rest of us put together. I just wanted to help my friend.

“I told work this morning that they needed to find my replacement. I’m going to make a formal announcement by the end of the week. Mase and I are trying to decide if we want to sell the apartment or if we want to use it as a rental property.”

“You guys love to jump in with both feet don’t you?”

I grinned. “That’s me. I never half ass anything.”

Lexi laughed and leaned back against the couch again. Something was off with her and I wanted to find out before I left. If I didn’t, at least I had the reassurance that Adam would be here for her if she needed him.

 

***

 

I bounced excitedly from foot to foot as I waited for Mason to walk down from the gate. We’d agreed that he would meet me at the apartment, but I was too excited that he was actually coming to New York to wait for him at my place. He came out the security doors and a huge smile covered his face when he saw me standing there waiting. I ran towards him, launching myself into his arms and plastering my mouth to his as soon as I could. We were making a huge scene, but I didn’t care. As we pulled back, he cupped my face in his hands and stared at me for a second.  

“You weren’t supposed to meet me here.”

I grinned. “This was a good surprise though, wasn’t it?”

“Hell yes,” he said, before kissing me again.

I sighed as he wrapped his arm around my waist. We slowly walked outside to get into my town car. One thing I would miss when I visited the city would be the convenience of having a driver. Mason let me crawl into the car first, following closely behind me. He barely let me sit down before his arm was back around me.

“If I didn’t know better, I’d say you missed me,” I teased.

He nuzzled my neck. “I missed you so much. The bed was really lonely without you.” He leaned in closer. “And my hand has had more of a workout in the past month than it has since I was a teenager. Your texts are killing me, Em.”

I tried to look innocent. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“You know exactly what I’m talking about you little tease.”

The twinkle in his eye and the dimple showing in his cheek said he didn’t care in the least. “What are we walking into when we get to your apartment? Is it mass chaos?”

I winced. “It’s not too bad.”

“Uh huh, I’m sure. How many boxes do you have packed?”

I looked out the window.

“A few.”

“Emmy,” he drawled in warning.

I sighed. “Fine. It looks like a war zone and I have like two boxes packed.”

Mason laughed. “Your subletter is supposed to be there in a week.”

“I know,” I whined. “I just hate packing. As happy as I am to be moving back home, I hate that I’m leaving too.”

He kissed the side of my head. “It’s a good thing tomorrow is your last full day. We can spend the rest of the time packing.”

I ran my hand up his leg in search of a very specific part. When I brushed over his cock he muffled his groan in my hair.

“I think we can find a better use of our time.” I grinned at him smugly.

“Tease. Don’t think I won’t spank you if you keep acting up, baby.”

My smile widened. “That’s what I’m hoping for.”

Mason shook his head and laughed. “You’re impossible, but I love you so much.”

I snuggled into his shoulder. He was here with me, and half packed apartment or not, I was thrilled that he was.