“The girl code applies to exes. This doesn’t fit into the girl code,” Skylar reasoned.
“Well, that hurts. So just because Adam and I never went out, you can’t have my back?” I sounded immature, I realized that as soon as the words left my mouth. I was a twenty-eight-year-old woman for Christ’s sake, but I was acting like we were still in high school.
“I had your back when we were seventeen, Meg. I know he hurt you. But it’s been ten damn years. And I was friends with Adam too. We were all best friends, Adam, you, Kyle, and me. We were the four amigos. Sure, we weren’t as close as the two of you were, but we were tight. Adam was the first one who called after my parents split the first time. He would come over and hang out in my room watching movies with me while my mom sobbed in her bedroom and my dad stormed around the house packing his shit.”
“I had no idea.” I felt awful. How could I not know these things? I had thought Skylar and I were best friends. There was Adam, and there was Skylar. Sure, we all hung out together, but I had never thought of them having a friendship separate from me. How egocentric was that? I felt incredibly ashamed.
“You were there for me too, Meg. I wouldn’t have been able to get through all that if it weren’t for our late-night phone calls and sleepovers at your house. But there was Adam—and Kyle—too.”
I swallowed around the thick lump in my throat. It made sense that Adam would support Skylar. He had always been that kind of guy. Until he wasn’t anymore.
It hurt that he could still be that guy for Sky.
“Did you hang out with Chelsea too?” I couldn’t stop myself from asking, inwardly cringing at how babyish I sounded.
Skylar let out a noisy breath. “Yes, sometimes. But mostly Adam was by himself. We talk periodically. Not like we used to, but like old friends, which is what we are. And if you could see things clearly where Adam Ducateis concerned, you’d realize it’s incredibly selfish of you to expect me to cut him out of my life simply because you chose to cut him out of yours.”
I blinked rapidly so I wouldn’t tear up. Skylar’s words hit me hard because she was right. My wounded pride and hurt feelings were hard to let go of, but I needed to at least try. It wasn’t right to make Skylar feel as though she were in the middle. She had been put in that position most of her life by her parents. I had to get a grip.
That didn’t mean I had to forgive the jackass, though.
“I get it now. I’m sorry I jumped all over you,” I apologized.
Skylar shrugged. “It’s cool. I get it. You and Adam have bad blood between you. But you have to understand that’s why I never said anything. Because I knew you’d react just like that.” She pointed at my face.
“Still, Sky, you should have mentioned it.”
She shrugged again. It was one of her more infuriating traits. “Maybe, but you’ve been mad at him for so long it never felt like I could casually mention that ‘Hey, Adam and I still hang out.’”
“Okay, okay, point made.” I held up my hands in surrender. I was done talking about Adam. The topic was giving me a headache.
“So if you’re done grilling me, what’s this about the mural?” Skylar asked.
“It’s the town’s bicentennial this year, I guess. There’s a bunch of stuff planned over the summer to commemorate it. Mr. Ducate mentioned that the town was commissioning a massive mural to be painted downtown along the side of several local businesses. It appears Adam is heading up that committee, and he offered me the job. Which is crazy. I’ve never painted a mural in my life.”
Skylar sipped her coffee, making a face. “Yuck, the girl made me a cappuccino. I ordered a soymilk latte.” She pushed the cup away from her in disgust. “You should do it. It’ll be good for you. It’ll be outside in the fresh air, and you can get back into painting again.”
“I still paint,” I started to argue, but then stopped myself. I could lie to myself, but not to Skylar. “Yeah, okay, it does sound like a great opportunity. And I could use the money. Mom’s having some financial trouble.”
Skylar’s face clouded. “Is June okay? What’s going on?”
I knew Mom wouldn’t appreciate me telling anyone else about her debts, even if it was only Skylar. I smiled at my friend. “Nothing for you to worry about. I’ve got it covered.”
“Okay, but let me know if there’s ever anything I can do. June is the mom I wished mine could be.” Skylar loved my mom. All my friends did. She was the sort that embraced everyone and made them welcome.
“She loves you too, Sky,” I told her.
Skylar gave me a hard look. “Take the mural job. Don’t cut off your nose to spite your face, my friend. Don’t let your Adam rage get in the way of you doing something for you.”
She was right. Of course, she was.
But the idea of having to see Adam day in and day out made every part of my body tense. Was it anger?
Yes.
But it was also something else. Something I didn’t want to think too much about.
I finished my second coffee and grabbed my purse. “I’ll think about it.” Skylar scowled, and I laughed. “I will, I promise!” I slid out of the booth, grabbing my purse. “Now come on. Mom is dying to see you. How about you spend the day with the Galloway ladies?”
Skylar followed me to the door, allowing me to loop my arm with hers. She gave me a look of grateful relief. “Sounds great.”
Chapter 9
Adam
“Touch me,” she breathed, and I thought I would explode.
Meg uncrossed her legs, her dress parting at the slit to reveal the creamy, pale length of her thighs. I could see the dark apex at the top of her legs, inviting me in. She reclined back on the bed, an image of sexual seduction.
I went up on my knees in front of her, pushing her legs apart so that I could fit between them. I threaded my fingers through the heavy strands of her hair. I had always loved her hair, how it tangled wildly in her face. I gripped her tightly so she couldn’t move.
“Are you sure? Once we do this, there’s no going back,” I warned her, though the words came out as a growl. I leaned down to kiss the hollow of her throat, sucking her skin hard enough to brand her.
“What I want to do to you shouldn’t be legal, Meg. You have to be 100% sure before this happens.”I kissed her neck again, licking away the salt of her sweat. I could feel the tempo of her pulse against my mouth.
I cupped her breasts, thumbing the hard nubs. They filled my hands perfectly, just as I knew they would. There wasn’t a part of her that wasn’t made specifically for me.
For my pleasure.
And I was ready to take it.
She nodded, pulling her plump bottom lip between her teeth. “I’m sure, Adam. I want you to fuck me.”
That was all the encouragement I needed. I pushed her onto her back, her green dress pooling up around her waist. She wasn’t wearing any underwear, and I could see every heavenly inch of her.
“You came ready for me, it seems,” I chuckled.
“Touch me, Adam. Now. I’m begging you,” she pleaded, her voice husky.
With my eyes on hers, never looking away, I reached between us, dragging my fingers through her folds, coating them in her wetness. I watched her as I pushed a finger inside her. It glided in smoothly, encasing me completely. She moaned, arching into my hand, pushing herself against my palm. I rubbed her clit, gently at first, and then harder, the more she writhed beneath me.