CHAPTER NINE
ADAIR

“Welcome to Cherry Street Plaza, sir.” A man who looks like he’s about the same age my father would be now holds the door open and ushers me inside. “Who may I announce your arrival to?” He asks following me into the lobby. It’s an old building that’s been redone and made into the premier luxury apartment complex in the city. Places like this make me wonder what stories the walls have hidden away inside of them. He rocks back on his heels behind the courtesy desk, reminding me that I have not yet answered his question.

“Oh, uh…” I clear my throat suddenly feeling like it’s closing up on me like I’ve just eaten shellfish. “Carly… Carly Thompson,” I stammer.

“Ah, Miss Carly.” The warm smile he’s worn since greeting me outside suddenly shifts to a stern locked-jaw glare. “I’ll let her know you are here,” he deadpans.

Great.

He turns his back to me as he picks up the phone from the desk. An annoyingly loud buzz comes through the receiver as I wait for him to make an announcement of my arrival.

“I do not like him Miss Carly,” he whispers with one hand cupping around his mouth and the receiver. I guess he thought that would keep me from hearing him.

“Excuse me,” I interrupt. “I’m not usually anyone’s favorite person, but could you please just push the button and let me go on up?” He’s staring at me like I’ve got something stuck to my face. Do I? I lean just slightly to the right to catch a glimpse of myself in the ornate golden trimmed mirror that’s been embedded into the wall. Nothing. I knew it. He’s just trying to make me paranoid.

He flicks the phone out toward me. “Miss Carly would like to speak with you.”

“She what?” Gulp. I fumble with the phone as I try to regain my composure. “Carly, it’s me. Can you tell this dude to let me up?”

Silence.

Waiting for her to answer feels like an eternity. “I’m sorry. Who is it?” her voice comes through the speaker with a hint of humor lacing through her words.

Finally. “Could you pick another time to try and get even with me?” I probably should have thought this out a little more.

“What do you want?” She’s certainly not thrilled to hear my voice, but she hasn’t 

hung up yet either. That’s something.

“Right now? I would like you to end this stare-down with Captain Cold Fish here by telling him I’m okay and to let me come up so I can talk to you without an audience.”

The world’s longest pause gives me enough time to completely reconsider life and just as I start to hand back the phone there’s a ding at the elevator. The doors open revealing Carly in her pink and black pajama pants with her hair thrown on top of her head. No makeup and still the most gorgeous woman I’ve ever laid eyes on. “What do you want, Adair? I’m pretty sure Griffin didn’t have overnighters in mind when he put us both on the P.R. recovery mission.”

“Sorry. Am I interrupting something?” Tension mounts, causing my shoulders to cocoon around my ears. I try to force them back down and fail miserably. “You have Ridge upstairs or something?” My teeth sink into my tongue as I punish myself for ruining yet another chance to prove I’m not a complete waste of oxygen.

“Sir, I’m going to have to ask you to leave,” the doorman steps around the desk inserting himself between me and Carly. “We will not tolerate any rudeness to our guests here.”

Carly pats him on the shoulder and whispers something in his ear while his eyes turn into daggers and focus their attack squarely on me. “If he gets out of hand, I’ll buzz you,” she says as she pulls back and motions for me to follow her. “Get inside, before I change my mind and tell Alexei to toss you back outside.”

Alexei clasps his hands behind his back in what looks like a military at-ease pose. “I really can’t stand this guy,” I grumble as Carly leans her head against the copper-colored wall of the elevator.

“Don’t talk about Alexei. I like him way better than you.”

Seriously? I offer an over-exaggerated wave to Alexei as the doors slide to a close in front of us. “I bet that really chapped his—”

“Why are you even here?” she demands as soon as the elevator lifts off the ground.

I—I don’t even know. “I wanted to see you?”

“Right.” She rolls her eyes. “This one’s me,” she says stepping out and onto the top floor of the complex. A smile tugs at my lips as soon as she swings her door open. I scan the open floorplan of her apartment. It’s much larger than I expected, but it’s also covered in artwork and colorful décor, which is exactly what I expected from her. “Looks like LA Ink threw up in here,” I tease.

“You can wipe that smirk off your face and leave anytime, you know?” She grabs a glass from the cabinet, filling it with water passing it through the cutout at the breakfast bar. “Why are you here?” She asks me again.

I shrug and go back to scanning the artwork she has plastered all over her walls, making my way from the main living space to the office area she has tucked away in the corner. Her workspace is a stark contrast to the rest of the place. Her chair looks like it’s been covered in pink sherpa and the desktop is completely tidy with a bright white laptop perched in the center. The images decorating her walls around the desk are what make my breath catch in my throat. “Carly… why are our promo images all over your walls?”

She throws her head back in exasperation, shoving me out of the workspace corner and back into the main living area. “They’re not all over my walls. They’re in my office.”

“And?”

“I’ve always been proud of Amaryllis’s accomplishments. I always will be.”

My eyebrows pinch together as I try to read her expression. “Even if you can’t stand one of the band members?”

“Even if.” She flops down on the sofa and tucks her legs underneath herself. “Your brothers have been more family to me than my own.”

And that’s all it takes to make me feel like a complete piece of crap for making her think about her deadbeat brother, Stone. The fact I wasn’t mentioned as being one who made her feel like she belonged stung more than a little bit. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to—”

“It’s fine.” She shrugs. “He’s back in the news, you know?”

I nod. “And in the courts from what I hear.”

“Same old story.” She reaches for the remote and her hand brushes against mine. I’ve missed the feeling of her hand in mine. My trip down memory lane doesn’t last long enough though. She immediately pulls back sitting straight up against the plush sofa cushion. “Why are you here, Adair?”

“I guess I just wanted to make sure you were okay.”

Her eyebrow shoots straight up. “You just saw me at Griffin and London’s.”

So, my façade is weak. I never claimed it wasn’t. “And you seemed on edge when Griffin offered you the job. I wanted to make sure you were okay and not just doing that thing you do,” I mumble, waving my hand dismissively.

“What thing?” She looks like she’s trying to decide whether to punch me or be amused that I actually picked up on it.

“Where you pretend to be fine because you think you always have to be the strong one.”

“When have I not had to be the strong one?”

Fair point. “I just wanted to let you know it’s okay if you need to vent. I’m here.”

“I think I’ll pass. The last thing I need is for you to think you’ve got something to hold over my head.”

“I would never,” I say, leaning just enough to nudge her with my shoulder.

“You absolutely positively would,” she says matter-of-factly.

She’s probably right. I can either ask her the question I came here to ask, or I can walk away now and count my blessings she didn’t throw me out when I showed up unannounced. I’ve never been accused of being the smart Miller brother, so… “Why isn’t Ridge here?”

“I think it’s time for you to go.” Her hands slap against her thighs as she goes to stand up.

“Wait.” I grab her hand, pulling her back down beside me on the sofa. “I didn’t mean that quite as brash as it came out. I just wanted to know if you two are together.”

“That’s really none of your business anymore, and I still think it’s time for you to go.”

She’s right, but what I wouldn’t give to make it my business. “Okay. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked that.”

“It doesn’t matter, Adair. Everything isn’t always about you, you know?” She bites her lip and just shakes her head slowly. “I need to get some sleep, so I can be at my best in the morning.”

“Why are you so worried about taking this gig? It’ll be our reputation on the line if we can’t fire back against The Machine, not yours.” It feels weird separating us from Carly. For as long as I can remember she’s been a part of the Amaryllis family.

She nods toward the office area where our posters line the walls surrounding her desk. “For as long as I can remember, I’ve made my career choices—my life choices—everything for you.”

Gulp. A reflection of my deer-in-headlights look stares back at me from the irises of her eyes.

“Not you, specifically,” she waves her hand trying to erase what she just said, “Amaryllis. You, your brothers, the band.”

“Right. I knew that’s what you meant.” Of course, that’s what she meant… 

“This is my chance to make a name for myself, while still helping you all out in the process, which is why I decided to take Griffin up on the offer.”

“I’m glad you are finally putting yourself ahead of everyone else, but for what it’s worth we couldn’t do this without you.” And that is the truth.

Her blank expression is difficult to read, but I don’t think I’m winning any brownie points tonight. “We have a lot to do starting tomorrow morning. I need to get some sleep,” she says.

“I guess that’s my cue,” I say as I start to show myself out. “For what it’s worth, he’s an idiot for not camping outside your door.”

A faint hint of a smile crosses her pink lips as she rolls her eyes at me. “There seems to be a pandemic of idiot males in my life,” she laughs louder and louder before finally taking pity on me. “I’m just kidding. I’ll send you the campaign notes in the morning, but for now… go home.” She puts her hand against my chest and pushes me out the door.

“Goodnight, Carly.” I take in every second of her smile that I can until the door finally closes in my face.

---

The sun peeks through the shades and a warm glow slowly stretches across Carly’s face. I’ve been awake all night, unable to sleep from the fears raging inside of me. I finally have the woman who I can’t breathe without lying next to me and instead of enjoying every second of this moment I’ve spent the entire night wondering how I’m going to screw it up. She’s the only thing in my life I can’t afford to screw up… any more than I already have anyway.

My phone vibrates on my nightstand jolting me awake. Groan. I reach stretching my fingers as far as they’ll go. It’s not enough. I drop my arm to the side of the guest bed in Travis’s house. My phone vibrates again. Ugh. My fingers brush the side of my phone this time, using the very edge of my fingernail, I snag the lip of the phone case and slide it closer until I can finally grasp it in my hand.

21 unread messages from Travis.

Travis: I need help

 Seriously. Wake the eff up!

 I’m going to kill you when you finally drag out.

 I’m sorry. My bad. But I need help.

Adair: What is wrong with you?

Travis: Oh, my lanta! You’re finally awake.

Adair: I knew it was a mistake to answer you. I haven’t had coffee yet. I can’t be blamed for making stupid decisions.

Travis: Don’t be a dick.

Adair: I’m sorry. Did you say you wanted my help?

Travis: Yes!!!

Adair: What?

Travis: Don’t tell Nash and Griffin. Okay?

Adair: I’m not going to promise that.

Travis: Seriously?

Adair: Do you want my help or not?

Travis: Okay. I met up with Crystal last night after I left Griffin’s.

Adair: Who is Crystal?

Travis: The extra from our video shoot. The one I talked Nigel into putting with me for the day.

Adair: Oh, right. Soulmate, right?

Travis: Nope.

Adair: Huh?

Travis: Dude, she’s freaking me out.

Adair: As in you’re still with her?

Travis: Yes. Yes, I am.

Adair: Explain.

Travis: I met up with her last night. We had coffee. Then we decided to go out. Before the night was over, I had met her entire family over Zoom, and she told them we were going to get married.

Adair: You proposed? That’s moving kind of fast.

Travis: I did not.

Adair: Hey, I’m not judging. Congratulations.

Travis: I tried to drop her off at her house, but then she started crying and I couldn’t just leave her like that.

Adair: Sucker.

Travis: I caved. I’m a little afraid for my life here, dude.
It’s like that show where the fan takes out the guys legs so he can’t leave.

Adair: Are you currently tied down to a bed with chopping blocks on either side of your knees?

Travis: No.

Adair: You’re fine.

Travis: Bro! You said you’d help me.

Adair: That was before you called me a dick.
Figure it out yourself.

Travis: You’re right.
You’re not a dick.
You’re an ass.

Adair: *shrug emoji*