“What happened to your mom?” she asks, replacing her hand with her lips. And when she wraps her arms around me, I nearly lose it. She’s offering me comfort—something no woman, other than Chloe, has ever done.
“One day she walked out. We never saw her again.”
I don’t tell her the details of that day, or the horrible insults she threw at me and Chloe. Her parting words—though they’re always with me—don’t matter.
“Dad got worse after she left. Something inside of him snapped. The beatings became more frequent, the drinking got worse, and then one day when I was about sixteen, I fought back. He was angry after that, but he never raised a hand to us again. I think he knew I’d fucking kill him.”
Lifting my head from my hands, I turn and look at Adley. Tears are rolling down her cheeks, and I brush them away.
“Please don’t cry.”
“I just hate that you went through that.” Her voice cracks on the last word, and I pull her into my lap. “I wish I could take some of the pain away for you.”
“You make the pain better,” I say, cradling her face in my hands.
Adley presses her cheek to my palm and closes her eyes.
If I hadn’t already been falling for her, I would be now.
I was keeping parts of my life from Adley in an attempt to protect her. I see now that was a mistake. I want to be involved in every part of her life, and if she feels even a fraction for me of what I feel for her, then I’m sure she wants the same.
“You can come here any time,” I tell her. “Just promise me two things.”
Adley lifts her head, her face blotchy from crying. “Anything.”
“Never come alone after dark.”
“Done.”
I laugh at how easily she complies. “And make sure I know you’re coming.”
“So I don’t catch you alone with Rose?”
She shouldn’t even be thinking about Rose. Rose doesn’t hold a candle to Adley. Never has, never will. But it does feel damn good to have the woman I care for get all jealous.
I pinch her side, and Adley laughs.
“No, so I can be waiting for you. If any of these fuckers even look at you the wrong way, I’ll kill them.”
“That’s how I feel about Rose.”
“She’s not a bad person.”
“I’m sure she’s not, but I don’t want her touching you. Next time she falls, call Roy.”
“Deal,” I say, fighting a smile. “I like this jealous side of you.”
“I’m serious, Lincoln. I don’t want you alone with her.”
“Okay.” Leaning forward, I kiss her. “So now’s the time I should probably tell you she’s throwing a graduation party for Chloe next Saturday.”
“Damn.” She frowns.
“What?”
“She sounds like a good friend to Chloe.”
“She is. And she’s not a threat to you, I promise. Come with me.”