Chapter 53: chapter fifty three

Tammy's POV

We've watched two more movies - romance and action - and I'm already starting to feel sleepy.

Like she read my mind, Ophelia stands up with a yawn. "I think I'm gonna sleep now." She comes over and gives me a brief hug. "Good night, Tammy. It was so nice that you could join us."

I wonder if I even had a choice.

Eric, who had fallen asleep in the middle of the second movie, stirs awake. "Has the movie ended already?" He asks, and we both laugh.

"Yeah," Ophelia answers. "I was just about to head back to my room."

"I'll come with you," Eric says, rubbing his eyes as he stands. "Good night Tammy. Adam," he nods at his brother before they both leave the room.

This movie night was more relaxing than I expected - well, if I ignore the uncomfortable moments with Adam. At some point during the movie, I'd unintentionally leaned into him, and the brief eye contact we shared felt like it lasted too long.

He didn't seem to mind. But I, on the other hand, was freaking out inside. I couldn't stop my heart from racing. I wish my body would get the memo.

'Not that I feel anything, of course.'

Since I saw him today, it feels like my initial attraction to him has grown. I've barely been able to think straight around him. I'm glad I set boundaries when I did.

"Are you okay?" Adam's voice breaks through my thoughts, his touch lingering on my arm for just a second before I instinctively pull away, trying to put more distance between us. I can't trust myself right now.

"You were staring."

'Oh.'

I feel my cheeks warm up. I can't believe I was thinking about him while staring like that. How embarrassing.

I clear my throat. "I wasn't staring." He cocks a brow. "I was just... observing," I add quickly, trying to sound nonchalant.

Amusement flickers in his eyes, but he hides it by turning away. I guess I'm not the only one doing the avoiding then.

"If you say so. I'll come get everything tomorrow. Good night, Tammy," he says in one breath, heading for the door.

'I wish he could spend the night with me.'

Hold on. No. Why would I want him to stay here? He has his own room, and it's literally next door. His staying here would only complicate everything, especially these stupid feelings I'm trying to ignore. I can't afford to think this way.

He twists the knob and pauses, turning to me. A confused expression crosses his face. "It's locked."

I cross the room to the door, twisting the knob myself, but it doesn't open. "It's locked," I confirm, feeling a strange sense of frustration bubble up. He gives me a look that I imagine means 'no kidding.'

"I think Ophelia or Eric must have jammed it by mistake."

"Yeah, maybe." Adam scratches the back of his neck, a gesture I noticed he does often. Being so close to him, I catch the stress lines on his face that weren't there yesterday.

'I must be tiring him out.'

I think it's a good thing for both of us. Hopefully, he'll get tired of trying to convince me, and let me leave when I want - that'll be when I finish my mission with the handbook, of course.

"What do we do?" I ask him.

"I'll call Ophelia, her room is closer." He pulls out his phone and dials what I assume is her number.

To our surprise, it rings immediately, and on the other side of the door. We share a confused glance, then lean closer to the door.

Yup. Definitely not our ears. Ophelia is giggling on the other side of the door.

Adam sighs, clearly unimpressed. "Ophelia. Open this door right now," he commands.

Her laughter only grows louder. She must be trying to play some awful prank, but it's really not funny. It would have been, if the situation between me and her brother was different.

"Ophelia," he growls.

"No, brother," she finally responds, her giggles subsiding. "You have to sleep with Tammy tonight."

His face hardens, and he bangs on the door, an action that makes me jump back in surprise. "Open this door. Now."

The idea of spending the night with me might as well be the worst punishment in the world to him. I instantly regret the fleeting thought I had, that maybe it wouldn't be so bad.

"No. Did you and Tammy think I didn't notice the way you were avoiding each other during the movie?" she asks, her voice a mix of amusement and knowing.

I blink. She noticed?

I didn't expect her to be so observant, with the way she was engrossed in the movie.

"You two need to talk things out."

Adam looks in my direction, and when he catches my gaze already on him, he looks away quickly, a faint flush creeping up his neck.

'Is he blushing?'

Oh my goodness. Adam's blushing. I resist the urge to laugh. It's too cute.

"Ophelia," he says again, but there's no anger in his voice. He's probably accepted that Ophelia wouldn't budge.

"I'm not listening to you right now. Talk things out with your mate, Adam."

I don't hear the rest of what she has to say, my mind focused on how she called us "mates." My heart does a little flip. I know I hate the word, but hearing someone call us that so casually feels so... good. Comforting, in a way.

It almost makes me imagine packing up and leaving the city to live here with him, as husband and wife.

Okay, maybe I'm getting ahead of myself. But the thought still lingers.

Adam slides down the door and buries his face in his palms, clearly frustrated. "She left. The nerve of that girl."

I'm going to regret this, but I slide down beside him, resting my back against the door. "I'm not that bad, am I?"

He lifts his hand slightly, to look at me. "She asked us to talk things out, so let's get talking," I suggest with a shrug.

Adam fully uncovers his face and mirrors my position, releasing an exaggerated sigh - well, at least I hope it's exaggerated.

"You aren't bad, Tammy."

"Insufferable?" I tease.

He shakes his head. "Annoying?"

"Nope."

"Tiring?"

"God. No, Tammy."

"You sound pretty tired of me right now," I state, the words slipping out before I can stop them.

"I'm not tired of you," he says quickly, but there's a tiredness in his voice that's hard to ignore. "I'm just generally tired at the moment."

"Stubborn, then?"

That causes him to laugh. "Maybe."

I raise my eyebrows. "Maybe?"

"Yeah. You're pretty stubborn, and I know it's because you stand for what you believe in. It might be annoying sometimes," he adds, his smile softening when I make a face. "But I respect you for it. Your stubbornness might not be in my favor sometimes - most times, actually - but I know that you aren't a pushover. And that's admirable."

'Oh my.'

I feel my cheeks heat up. I wasn't expecting him to say that, and certainly not in such a thoughtful way.

I swear I don't even view my stubbornness that way. I just thought it was a flaw I never learned to grow out of.

Not knowing whether to appreciate him or not, I clear my throat and look away. "You're quite stubborn, yourself," I mutter.

"I am?"

Of course, he hears me. "You are. You wouldn't let go of something, or someone, just because of your belief."

His eyes darken for a split second, but the moment passes. The atmosphere grows heavier, and I sense the shift. I quickly extend my hand, trying to ease the tension. "It's a good thing, like you said about mine. I mean, if I weren't also stubborn, we'd have been married by now - with your consistency and all," I joke, trying to lighten things up.

Thankfully, he chuckles. "I guess you're right. However, if you're down to getting married, I'll have you know that I'm single."

I gasp, pretending to be shocked. "Are you?" He nods. "I wouldn't have guessed that."

He grins. "Not a lot of ladies can stand my charm."

I laugh, the sound free and easy. It's the first time I've seen Adam this relaxed. Usually, he's so guarded, even when he's trying to appear casual. Maybe, if we keep having these light conversations, we might even become friends.

A loud yawn escapes me, signaling the end of the night. "I guess that's nature's call to bed."

Adam chuckles, "Go sleep, Tammy."

I don't need to be told twice. I climb into bed, pulling the covers over me. "Will you join me in bed?"

I wonder what Ophelia put in the popcorn - my audacity has been higher than usual tonight.

"Do you want me to join you?"

I nod, patting the space beside me. "There's enough space for two."

"If that's what you want, then I'll join you."

"Isn't it what you want too?"

I don't get the chance to ask, my body giving in to the exhaustion and I drift off to sleep before I can form the words in my mouth.

I vaguely remember the bed dipping, and the warm feeling of his lips on my forehead before I'm completely passed out.