CHAPTER 12

ADAM

Arriving outside Darcy’s house, I turn off the engine. I slept shit last night worrying about her.

Whoever would have thought that Adam Willows would be awake the best part of the night over a woman - not me that’s for sure. But Darcy, she’s different. I feel like I can be myself around her all the time, no pretence.

I was even too tired to take the piss out of Todd this morning and that’s always a must.

I knock on the door and wait. Darcy opens the door in some jean shorts and a tank top. My eyes drop down to her bare feet and slowly travel up her pale slender legs until I find her shining eyes looking back at me. Smiling at her, I bend down and kiss her lips softly.

“Hey, morning babe!” Straightening up to stand, she puts her arms around my waist and places her cheek against my chest. I kiss the top of her head and inhale the sweet coconut scent of her freshly washed hair as I wrap my arms around her. “Are you going to let me in or what?”

Darcy looks up at me, smiles and says, “Yeah, come on. Mum’s took the day off work after all that business last night, she was too upset.” Darcy takes my hand and leads me down a hallway to the kitchen where her Mum is making tea. It’s only ten thirty am so we’ve got the whole day ahead of us.

“Mum, this is Adam Willows. Adam this is my Mum, Christine.”

“Hey, pleased to meet you.” I rub my palm on my jeans before I put my sweaty hand out to shake Christine’s; I don’t think I’ve ever been this nervous. I look to Darcy as she smirks and gives me a sideways glance. She leans up on her tiptoes to speak quietly in my ear.

“I’ll get my shoes on and we can go.” I nod as her Mum speaks up

“Would you like a drink, Adam?” Darcy’s Mum asks me but before I can answer Darcy speaks up,

“No, we’re off out, Mum.” I look to Darcy before facing Christine again.

“No, but thanks for the offer.” I say smiling. I’m glad we’re not staying, there’s so much tension in the air you could cut it with a knife.

“So, Adam, what do you do for work sweetheart?”

“Um,” I say steadying my voice. I’ve never met the parents of any girl and my confidence has waned since I walked in. “I’m a writer.” I grin at her as I say it before she tells me it’s not a worthy job. “I also work for a magazine and I love photography too.”

Darcy walks back in the room, her converse on and her hair in a bun on top of her head, she looks mouth-watering, natural.

“I bet that’s fun. What kind of magazine is it?”

“It’s landscapes, flowers that sort of thing. It pays the bills, I’ve only been there a couple of weeks though.” Smiling at her, she smiles back and pours two cups of tea.

I look down and see Darcy looking back up at me smirking. “Come on let’s go.” Darcy says grabbing me by the hand. “See you later, Mum.”

Walking down the hallway towards the door, I see, who I presume is her Dad walking down the stairs. As he reaches the bottom he looks towards me, his eyes searching mine. I make the first move and break the ice.

“Hello.” Holding my hand out in front of me, I wait for him to take it. He leans against the stairway railing to hold his weight and loosens his hold on his stick as he takes my hand and shakes it firmly. Darcy watches her Dad cautiously before speaking.

“Dad, this is Adam. Adam, this is my Dad, James Ambrose.” Darcy looks between us,

“Pleased to meet you,” I say as he drops my hand. Darcy leans up and kisses her Dad on his cheek and we get out of there, there’s enough fraught tension without me being here.

I unlock the car as we reach the end of the drive and get in. Leaning across the middle, my hand cups her face as I pull her gently towards me. My lips press against hers as her breath shudders deep in her chest. She places her hands on my arms and presses back firmly against mine. Breaking away an inch so I can still feel her warm air in my face as she speaks.

“So now you have me, what are you going to do with me?” Her eyebrows raise and a smirk pulls at her mouth as she asks me with a little sass.

“Would you be disappointed if I said, I had no idea.?!” I ask as my hand smooths across her cheek.

“Not at all. I’m glad you came to pick me up though, I don’t think I could’ve stayed in the house today. Thank you, Adam.”

Darcy places her hand over mine and leans her head against our joined hands. Leaning in I kiss her again. This kiss a little more passionate than the last. I enjoy the sweet, soft texture of her lips a little bit longer.

Pulling away from her slightly, “Come on, let’s get going. We can go to mine for a while if you like, while we decide.”

Nodding her head, I kiss her forehead tenderly and turn the engine on. Putting her seatbelt on I pull away from the kerb as she places her hand on my thigh and leaves it there as I drive.

As I’m pulling up to my house, I see it’s a little packed on the drive. Aidan and Stacey are here, Chris and Taylor also. At least Darcy will have someone to speak too, I know her and Taylor get on well.

“Looks like it’s a full house.” I nod my head towards the drive as I speak, Darcy’s eyes go wide as I switch off the engine. “Come on let’s go in.”

I make my way to the passenger side and take Darcy’s hand as she jumps down. With the height she is, it does make it a challenge to get in and out. I keep her hand in mine and walk her towards the door.