While I Was Away(57)

“Realized what?”

“Your eyes ... they're not quite blue. They're almost ... almost a violet color.”

Adele smiled at him.

“Yours are like emeralds,” she replied. “Such a dark green, I've never seen eyes like yours before.”

He was quiet for a long time, almost studying her while they danced. She didn't mind. As long as he kept looking at her, kept holding her, she didn't mind at all.

She felt like he was really seeing her, for the first time since she'd fainted in his arms at the hospital. Like he was finally recognizing her. Just a little, but still. She'd take it. She'd take anything she could get with Jones.

His eyes were wide as he stared down at her, his pupils large. She could see the wheels turning in his head, like he was having some sort of internal debate. This real life Jones was a practical man, a man of science as it were – she'd learned that much about him. He didn't believe in dreams and magic and fate.

But maybe inside of him was her dream Jones, her soulmate. And he recognized her soul, was demanding to be heard, and was fighting to find his way back to her.

“Adele,” his voice was low when he eventually spoke. “I wonder if we -”

“Alright, who's ready to rock!?”

They both winced as a voice screeched over the amp system. The band was taking their place on stage again, completely ruining the moment. Jones took a step back from her. More a like a step back into himself. He looked confused, so she dropped her arms to her sides and gave him a big smile. He'd made life easy for her when things had been dark – she could return the favor a little.

“Rock music isn't really my thing,” she laughed. “I'm gonna go to the bathroom.”

“Yeah. Yeah, sounds good. I'll get the check,” he mumbled, then walked back to the table, rubbing at his neck the whole way.

Adele made her way to the bathroom, holding her head high. She refused to feel defeated – the feeling had crept up on her in the cabin, and she'd almost succumbed to it. Thank god he'd suggested dinner. She felt like she'd gotten to know the real him a lot better, and had maybe even gotten a glimpse of Dream Jones, as well.

I just need more time with him.

When she got back to their table, Jones was standing next to it, his jacket on and his phone to his ear. He glanced at her, frowning, then wrapped up his conversation.

“You're sure? ... Positive ... I figured ... okay, thanks ... call me if you hear of anything ... yeah, thanks. You, too. Thanks. Bye.”

“That sounded promising,” Adele grimaced when he put the phone in his pocket.

“Yeah,” he said. “Like I said, there's nowhere available tonight. Every hotel, every lodge, every room – shit, even every Airbnb – is booked.”

“That's okay. I can just head home, I'm sure I'll find some motel along the way. It'll be fine.”

It would not be fine, and she wasn't sure at all, and she really, really didn't want to go.

“No,” he said, like she'd hoped he would. “I don't want you doing that. You can sleep in the bed, I'll sleep on the floor.”

“That's ridiculous!” she tried to argue. “It's your place, your bed. I can sleep on the floor, or in the back seat of my car, I can -”

“Adele.” He held up his hand, silencing her instantly and giving her a déjà vu so strong, it felt like whiplash. She'd responded the same way to him in her dreams; it felt eerie to do it in real life. “I'm not about to make you sleep in your car. And you're right, it is my place, and I choose to sleep on the floor. I like the floor. It's a really ... comfy ... floor.”

She held it together for a moment, then burst out laughing at how ridiculous he sounded.

“Okay, Jones. But just for tonight.”

“Sounds good. Let me go take care of the check and we'll get out of here,” he said, waving the bill between them before heading up to the bar.

Adele went about putting on her jacket and collecting her purse. She stole one last fry from his plate, then stood up straight. She was surprised, though, when she turned around to find a burly looking man skulking nearby.

“Hello there,” he greeted her as he sidled up to the table.

“Uh, hello,” she smiled politely at him.

“You here for the fishing?” he asked. She shook her head.

“No, I'm just visiting a friend who has a place here.”

“That's nice. Great lake, huh?”

“I didn't get to see much of it today, but what I did seemed gorgeous,” she offered.

“It is. I do charters, I could take you for a spin out there.”

“Oh,” she was surprised. “Oh, that's really nice of you, but I'm leaving tomorrow, I think.”

“You think? Well, then, that means you're not sure. How about we have a dance while you think it over some more?” he leaned in close and held out his hand.

“Wow, that sounds like a lot of fun, but we were just about to head out,” she explained, trying to look over his shoulder for Jones. The man was too big, though, she couldn't see around him.

“We? I don't see no 'we' around here, so how about that dance. C'mon, sugar, I don't bite,” he teased, then he grabbed her hand.