tutoring, she was in serious trouble. If she didn’t get some sleep soon, she was going to start having hallucinations.
She had a couple days off. Her plan was to sleep as much as she could, turning off her phone so Cassidy couldn’t reach her. Then she would regroup and figure out what to do about her sister.
As she got out of her car, Adam came up the driveway.
Despite how their last encounter had left her feeling battered, she acknowledged that he looked good. He had an ease about him, as if he was just confident enough to know he could handle anything. She’d been confident once and missed it. These days, she felt like she was constantly finding her way.
She locked her car and watched him. When he was a few feet from her, he stopped and shoved his hands into his jeans pockets. His dark blue gaze met hers.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “Despite how things have gone between us, I’m usually pretty good with women. But when I’m around you, I’m that damned awkward seventeen-year-old again. All arms and legs with no self-control and the conversational skills of plant fiber. I can’t figure out why. Is it the fact that you’re so beautiful? Or am I in the early stages of dementia? Which is not meant as an excuse. I’m sorry I hurt your feelings.”
“Plant fiber?” she asked, because asking him to expand on the beautiful part would make her seem shallow.
“It was the best I could do in the moment. See? You leave me inarticulate.” His mouth twisted. “Don’t be mad, Sage. Please. I shouldn’t have said you were mean.”
She knew she was at a crossroads. She could punish him for what he’d said or she could be an adult and accept his apology.
“You’re right,” she said slowly. “I’m not proud of some of my past behavior. I wasn’t careful with other people’s feelings.” Her voice turned wry. “I’ve learned my lesson. I accept your apology and offer one of my own. I’m sorry for whatever I did in high school to hurt or offend you. I’m sorry we couldn’t stay friends.”
“That was on me. You never actually did anything to me, but I was afraid you would and that I wouldn’t be able to handle it. Getting space was about self-preservation.”
Because if she’d known she had power over him, she would have used it and turned him into dust.
He lightly touched her arm. “Have dinner with me? I owe you a burger.”
She was surprised to feel a faint tingle where his fingers had brushed against her skin. Was she attracted to Adam? He wasn’t her type at all—she preferred men who were all flash and no substance. Adam was a genuine person. Would she know what to do with one of those?
More crossroads, she thought. All the men she’d been involved with before had been so easy for her. Easy to seduce, easy to manipulate, easy to leave. She had no idea what being with Adam would be like. Not that he was asking. Dinner as an apology was a far cry from declaring his desperate need for her.
“It wasn’t supposed to be a hard question,” he said lightly, his voice trying to conceal the disappointment she saw in his eyes. “Have a good evening.”
“Adam, wait.”
He paused and glanced at her.
“Dinner would be great,” she told him. “But I’ve been dealing with my sister every night for the past week and working long hours. I need to sleep. Can I have a rain check?”
“Sure. Let me know when you have time.”
She had the feeling he didn’t believe her about being tired, but there was nothing she could do about that.
“I’ll be in touch,” she promised.
“Sure. Looking forward to it.”
She watched him walk back into his house. Part of her wanted to go after him and explain she really did want to have dinner with him, but she knew there weren’t words to convince him.
Later, she promised herself. She would show him she meant what she said.
* * *
Daisy tried to breathe evenly to quiet the nerves making her stomach writhe. She was being ridiculous. Jordan was her husband—there was no reason the thought of seeing him should have her on edge. Only she hadn’t seen him for more than a few minutes at a time for weeks now. Not that they were having quiet one-on-one time. Instead they were meeting with Ben’s school counselor to discuss an ongoing bullying problem. Not exactly a romantic rendezvous.
She resisted the