A Wild Ride (Jessica Brodie Diaries #3)(23)

William had tried to put a stop to it once, but he got a high-heel thrown at his head, which he narrowly dodged. Being that my punches didn’t hurt Adam all that much, and I usually got a nuggie for my efforts, which really sucked when my hair was looking good, everyone stopped complaining.

Another Saturday without William. He’d been gone for two weeks now. Missing him had moved from a dull ache to a sharp pain. When you are with a guy every day, nonstop, for months and months, then suddenly his warmth disappeared—well, the return to the single life was a lonely one.

It didn’t help that everyone I knew had boyfriends, and liked to spend all their time with said boyfriend. Except Candace, who now had a fiancé, thanks to stupid Valentine’s Day.

My response when William told me: Valentine’s? He ruined a proposal with that loser holiday? But Candace was thrilled, so who was I to judge?

I made my way through the beautiful crisp morning to Gladis’s house. Per Lump’s request, I had been spending all my time at the cottage—except for a day now and again so I could check on William’s house and also sniff his smell off his sheets like a creep.

I let myself in the back door, as I had a million times before, and closed the door on Fred so he’d stay outside. The freaking dog was feeding off my listlessness and moaning constantly; it was driving me crazy. I really hoped I wasn’t that irritating.

I found an empty parlor, but a happy Adam stuffing his face at the small kitchen table. The table wasn’t actually in the kitchen, since the kitchen was giant and mostly industrial, but it was in a small dining room off the kitchen where people could get a quick bite on their way to do whatever. Or for Adam to setup shop and get seconds and thirds on everything the cooks could dish out.

“What’s up, Butternut?” I asked, sitting across from him at the round table.

He looked up with troubled, brown eyes.

“What’s the matter?” I asked.

“I’ll let Betsy tell ya. Probably nothin’.”

“Note to you: I hate when people do that.”

Adam shrugged and bent over his plate full of greasy breakfast items.

“When will she be down?”

“She went out for a run.”

“How long ago?”

“She drank some OJ and headed out. I was just sittin’ down to grub.”

“You measure time by how much you’ve eaten?”

Adam looked up again, with a smirk this time. “When I get fed this well, yup.”

The light was coming through the window next to Adam and hitting him just right. His brown eyes, once brooding, were now soft and deep. He had just enough twinkle to invite conversation, whereas before he’d be the statue against the wall, relying on William’s conservational skills. His dark brown hair was tussled, and the light emphasized his perfect features.

“You’re looking good, cowboy. Hotter than before, I think,” I said, sitting back to analyze.

And he was. Something about him had softened, or deepened, maybe. Or maybe he’d just cleared away all the rubble, and was now enjoying his life. Whatever it was, he looked better for it. It made my insides squishy—I was really happy for the guy. He was an important friend to me; loyal and honest and good. I was glad whatever had plagued him before was easier to deal with now.

Or maybe he was just getting laid. Funny things happen to a guy that isn’t getting laid properly.

Adam straightened up and looked at me cock-eyed, his bacon halfway to his mouth. “You hittin’ on me?”

“Um…yes? Wanna roll in the hay?”

“Can’t. I only date ladies, and ladies don’t say ‘um’.” He laughed and finished putting the bacon in his mouth.

“You, too? Hm. Well, I’d be offended if Lump hadn’t tricked you so thoroughly into thinking her a lady.”

Adam smiled and nodded, mouth now full of egg. The guy shoveled food into his face like it was his last meal.

“She’s a good woman, Jess. I thank God every day for her. And you and Willie, too, because without you hangin’ around, she wudda taken off runnin’ after Gladis’s party. We took a long road to get where we’re at, but I’m glad for it. I found a good thing in her.”

“Wow, sentimental morning.”

“It’s true. I love that woman somethin’ fierce. Do anything for her. Got me a rude awakenin’, knowing I ended up just as whipped as Willie, and caring jus’ as little by it.”

I paused as Joanna walked in with coffee. “You want eggs Miss Jessica?”

“Um—“ Wince. Damn it! “Yes please. And some toast if you don’t mind?”

“Of course. Why I mind? I get paid to cook. You here to eat. So, there you go.” Joanna walked out, shaking her head.

I watched her go with a smirk. “I like that all Gladis’s employees have attitudes.”

“That Joanna is from Cuba. Gladis got her legalized when she found out Joanna didn’t have good paperwork. She’s got three kids.”

“Doesn’t surprise me. When Gladis has to follow the rules, she does it ethically. I bet all these people make a fortune.”

“Yeah. Still. I’ve known Gladis a long time. She knew my father. Never approved, but she knew him. Guess I never really got to know her. Not like I do now. She’s a good lady. Better’n most. Never knew the half of it, I guess.”