Page 90 of Forest Proximity
After a short trip to the bathroom and a quick check of the hair situation—which is hopeless, unfortunately—I follow the noise down the hall. I feel like a new woman. Getting enough sleep is underrated. When I reach the kitchen, the air is dingy with smoke and the vent fan is running.
“Steee!” Sammie stumbles out of nowhere, flinging her arms around my legs.
“There you are.” Adam waves an oven mitt overhead, grinning when he takes in my spectacular bedhead. “Did the smoke alarm wake you?”
“The smoke alarm went off?” My voice is still rough with sleep.
“My brother is trying to cook for you.” Ruth’s smile is wide. “Unaided.”
Adam swats at his sister with the oven mitt, but she dodges him neatly.
I can’t believe I slept through a smoke alarm, but from what I remember of last night, I shouldn’t be surprised. I was tired down to my bones after that disaster of a tour-slash-date. Speaking of the man who showed his true colors last night, I scan the small kitchen and living area for Crispin.
“He’s on the porch,” Ruth whispers, reading my mind and peeling her daughter off my legs. “The smoke was too much for him.”
“Hmm.” I frown in Crispin’s general direction. I wonder what it would take to get him to walk off the front porch and keep walking? Am I a terrible person? At least I’m keeping the thoughts inside. I’m ready to be free of the man, though. “How’s the road? Has anyone looked?”
“It’s clearing up.” Adam moves his spatula around in a pan full of some eggy thing I don’t recognize. “By late morning we should be able to get my truck out and get you both back to civilization.” He lowers his voice. “Not that I’m in a hurry foryouto leave.” He shoots a flat look toward his front porch.
Ruth snags my arm, dragging me over to the small dining nook by the back window. “You can’t leave until I—”
“You’re not holding her hostage, Ruth,” Adam calls over the vent fan.
“She’s the whole reason I’m here.” Holding her palms up, she turns back to me and lowers her voice. “I came here mostly to meet you. You can’t leave until I ask youallthe questions.” She pulls Sammie onto her lap, but she flops out of her grasp like a freshly caught trout and toddles back to Adam.
He scoops her up and holds her on his hip. “Want to take over?” he asks, offering her his spatula.
Sammie shakes her head, tipping her head onto Adam’s shoulder while he cooks.
When I turn back to Ruth, there’s a knowing look in her eyes. “Isn’t he adorable?” she asks under her breath.
I sigh. “He is.” It’s a little weird for his sister to point it out, though. She’s a good wingman, I guess.
Ruth grins, settling in across from me. “Is the bet over?”
I crinkle my forehead in confusion. “No. How could—”
“I mean because you and Adam are a thing now.” She pumps her eyebrows. “Pretty sure I’m coming into some money.”
“Ruth,” Adam groans from the kitchen.
She purses her lips, fighting a smile. “Fine. But I know what I know, and I know my brother is in love with you.” Her eyes follow Adam while she says, “What about you, though? Where do you stand on the whole—”
“Ruth,” Adam barks.
My face floods with heat.
He lowers his niece to the floor. “Go play, kid,” he murmurs. Sammie scampers to the back of the cabin, and Adam drops a cast-iron frying pan onto a kitchen towel with a thunk. “Breakfast is ready. Are you done butting in?”
Ruth shakes her head. “No. Not even close.”
Chapter 34
Adam
Ruth is going to be the death of me. I gather a stack of plates and forks, hurrying to put food in my sister’s mouth before she digs my hole deeper.
I love Stevie, but it doesn’t mean she loves me. When I remember our conversation in the hammock, my stomach sours. I want to give myself to her fully, but is she ready for that? I want her to be with me because she loves me, not because I validate her.
