Blind: An Arrow Fanfic

Chapter 26

Dear Readers,

This is the penultimate Olicity chapter.

LadyG

Felicity decided that sooner rather than later was better when breaking up with someone, hard and unpleasant as it may be. Perhaps more important than that was the fact that she respected Adam tremendously and as a result, she didn't want to drag her feet. Since he'd invited her over for dinner the following evening, she resolved to do the right thing and tell him. The timing couldn't have been worse considering his recent professional let down, but if she waited for a better opportunity, it may never arrive.

Nervous because she dreaded what lay ahead, she smoothed her hands over her dress and took a deep breath before knocking on the door. Adam was there instantly, looking handsome dressed down in jeans and a sweater, and she wondered, not for the first time, why she couldn't have just fallen head over heels for him instead. "There you are," he said, reaching for her hand and propelling her across the threshold. Immediately her senses were invaded by a plethora of delicious aromas.

"You seem better," she observed as he helped her out of her coat.

Giving her a grin, he hung it on the hook beside the door. "I knew I was seeing you and that makes everything better."

Guilt assailed her at his words. Why did he have to be so darned wonderful? "Something smells good," she remarked, trying for the moment to sidestep the inevitable conclusion to the evening.

Walking deeper into the room, she saw the table he'd set up close to the fire and her conscious prickled once more. He'd obviously gone to so much trouble in order to please her. She couldn't stand there and pretend that everything was okay when she knew it wasn't. How could she go through an entire dinner observing all the pains he'd gone through, all the while knowing that she was going to be hurting him before the night was over? "Adam, we need to talk."

He must have picked up on the seriousness of her tone because he immediately stopped what he was doing and looked at her. "Are you okay?" Switching off the stove, he placed an arm around her shoulders and steered her towards the sofa they'd spent a considerable amount of time getting to know one another on. The memories were now bittersweet.

"There's something I have to tell you." He sat down opposite her, his face all concern.

Touching her forehead with one hand, he ran the fingers of the other across her cheeks and neck. "You're worrying me. Are you ill?"

She grabbed his hands gently, stilling them. "No," she said softly. "I'm not ill. But there is something important I need for you to know."

Frowning slightly, he warily replied, "Okay."

Where did she start? Mustering all her courage, she decided to be as forthright as she could. "We've been seeing each other for a while now and I want you to know that it's been one of the best times of my life. You're so wonderful and-"

He shifted, sitting forward. "It sounds like you're breaking up with me," he teased, his grin wide and infectious. When she didn't refute him, the smile slowly faded. "Wait a minute. You're breaking up with me?" It was a whisper of disbelief.

His incredulity and confusion made her want to cry. This was even harder than she'd imagined it would be. "Adam, I'm sorry. There's just so much you don't know, don't understand." She reached for his hand, but he pulled it away. The gesture hurt her, even though she understood it.

"Then explain it to me," he replied, earnestly. "We were happy a few days ago, or at least I was. What's changed?"

She tried to speak, but the words were hard in coming. "I wish I could explain properly."