The next morning I woke up alone. The anxiety started to set in. He left, he got what he wanted and he left. That's the only logical explanation. He saw how much of a child I was after we had sex and he was repulsed. Just then my bedroom door opened to Adam carrying in a tray of food. "I wasn't sure exactly what you liked for breakfast so I made it all." He put the tray on my lap and man could he cook. There was French toast, bacon, waffles, eggs and orange juice. Wow, I could cry. "Oh wow Adam. You didn't have to do all of this! Seriously, I could cry. Breakfast food is my weakness."
We both mostly sat in silence while we devoured the buffet of food. I was about to tell him how amazing it was but he beat me to the punch. "Man, I'm stuffed. I want to take you somewhere today. I know you need to get to the studio in a bit so we need to go now. Shower?" Was he asking me to take a shower with him? Butterflies flew around in my stomach at the proposition but I smiled and shook my head yes. "That food was amazing, thank you. I don't think I've ate that much in a hot minute." We both laughed and he started the shower for me, or us? Once it was hot enough he kissed me on the forehead and started to walk out. Call it thinking with my vagina but I grabbed his arm and spun him around to face me. "Join me?" That devilish grin I came to know and love peaked at the corners of his mouth.
Being naked in front of Adam made me super vulnerable. I had never been naked in front of a man before so this was a lot of pressure. Did he find things about my body he didn't like? That were odd to him? By the way he was studying my body and licking his lips, I'd say no. We made our way into the shower and he started kissing my neck. I lathered both of our bodies and of course things became hotter than the water temperature. Like I said, I'm a lady so I won't be sharing any more details. Let your imagination come up with what happened next. An hour later, we pulled up at this abandoned building in a part of town I didn't recognize. "Oh no, you brought me here to kill me didn't you? Make me your prisoner?"
He laughed while unlocking the door to the warehouse. Inside were sculptures made out of wood, benches, tables, etc. You name it and it was here. "Wow this is beautiful. Did you make all of this?" He walked over to what looked like his workshop and put on an apron. "Yep, it's sort of like a side thing. I make furniture and sculptures for private buyers. I don't ask what it's for and they don't tell me. I just make whatever they want and get paid. it's really helped me be able to live more financially free. This is my latest project, what do you think?" A beautiful, mahogany live wood bench took up most of the area. It was delicately crafted to perfection. "Wow, this is gorgeous. Who knew you were so good with your hands." I did, I knew that. I winked and moved over to some small wooden figurines.
I could feel his eyes following me which made sweat fall from my upper lip. Ok, that was actually from it being nine hundred degrees in there. "Who are these for?" I pointed to the cute little wooden guys and he hesitated. "I'm not sure actually. All the memo said was they were for a mom who had lost her children. I put a lot of detail into those for her, wanted them to be special." I smiled at his compassion. What a wonderful heart he had. Just then a knock at the door startled me. "Uh, sorry. I didn't think anyone would be by here." His entire body language changed and I could tell he was pissed. And maybe also scared? He moved quickly to the door, making sure to block my view. I could make out the shadow of a woman and her voice sounded sultry.
Of course there's another woman, look at Adam. A million thoughts ran through my head as he made his way back to me. His entire demeanor was off. His shoulders were tense and his brow furrowed. "Wh-Who was that?" Seriously Grace? A stutter at a time like this? "Nobody, had the wrong place. I helped her with some directions." He moved back to what he was doing but something was still off. In that moment, I didn't believe him. For the first time, I think he was hiding something. Something in his past maybe? Whatever it was, it was secretive and I didn't like that. I decided to be bold, or dumb and push the envelope a little more.
"Hmm, ok. Just seems like something is bothering you now. You were fine before the lady showed up and now you are tense." He slammed the hammer down he was working with and I jumped. Was this going to be our first argument? "I told you she was nobody, why can't you drop it? Seriously Grace I'm fine, just a little tired. Let's go." He took the apron off and grabbed his keys. I basically sprinted out of there to keep up with him. Ok, now I know something is going on. Nonetheless, I decided to stay quite on our ride back to my place. Even though the silence was killing me. I'm typically a girl who likes to talk things out right then and there, let you know how I'm really feeling. Although, in this moment I was kind of scared. Scared of what he'd say or do if I spoke up about it again. So I continued to stare out the window like a 90s music video.
He parked the car in front of my building but didn't shut the engine off. I looked at him for a moment searching for something, anything. Finally he faced me and his eyes looked a bit glossy. "Look, I'm not proud of this but I need to tell you before you find out some other way and it's worse." Oh boy. "That woman was my ex girlfriend. She's been working the street next to my workshop for the past three years. She comes over here when she sees my car and I give her money or food. She wasn't always that way. We broke up about four years ago and after that she started hanging out with the wrong crowd and doing drugs. Not long after that she started working for some pimp named Jorge. Anytime I'm over here, I make sure she has food or shelter for a bit. I've tried many times to get her in rehab or help her and she's too proud."
I heard what he was saying but I was in so much shock I couldn't process it. "Great, now you want to leave me don't you?" He laid his forehead against the steering wheel and I finally snapped out of my little daydream. "Oh my gosh Adam, no. Of course I don't want to leave you. I was just taking in all that you said. That's a lot, like so much. I'm so sorry. I can't imagine how it feels to see her that way. I know she appreciates all you do for her." I gave a half smile and rubbed his arm. He stared at me in disbelief is what it looked like. Which made me super nervous. "Are you, are you serious? You actually understand? Like you don't want to rip my head off for giving money to a prostitute or question my faithfulness?"
I have to admit, I was a bit taken back by his reaction. I don't understand why he thinks I would be mad about that. It almost seemed like he was looking for a fight or some way to make me look like the bad guy. "I don't understand what you're asking. Do I have a reason to be mad or worried? Because from you story, it doesn't seem like I do. I'm not sure if you're looking for a conflict in our relationship or what's going on but I'm going to exit this conversation now. I don't do drama and I'm not going to fight with you Adam. I think what you are doing for that woman is great. So what if she is your ex? You said yourself it has been four years since you've been together and up until now I felt pretty damn secure in our relationship." Oh snap, I used a cuss word. I could feel a fiery rage building up in my chest and I had to get out of there. I had never been this insulted in my life.
"Grace, wait!" He stormed out of the car after me and of course it was raining. I couldn't help but feeling like I was in a romance movie or something. Cue the dramatic music. "Look I'm sorry okay. Our relationship up until now has made me feel like I'm dreaming. We haven't had a single argument or disagreement since we started dating. it's been almost 6 months now and you haven't even looked at me like you're mad. I'm not complaining trust me, I love the way things are going and it makes me feel more secure in myself and us. I just can't help but feeling like you hide those things from me. Like you do get irritated with me sometimes but you hide it, change the subject. If there are things I do that bother you, I would rather you tell me. And of course vice versa. But I don't feel like I can tell you those things because we never have arguments. Don't you think at some point that's unhealthy?"
I stood there in the rain for what felt like an eternity, searching his face. Thinking about how right he was. There were definitely things he did that bothered me but not to the point of pitching a fit about. I guess my mother just always taught me to keep your comments to yourself. I guess here, that doesn't apply to the man you're falling madly in love with. "Yeah, well I guess you're right. Look, I'm sorry okay. I've never been in a relationship so I don't know what's ok to say and what's not. And sure, there are things you do that irk me but I don't say anything because they aren't that big of a deal." He cupped my face in his hands and looked into my soul. "Grace, we have to be open with each other, or this will never work. Let's go inside please, we're both going to end up sick and we have some talking to do."
I peeled my cold, wet clothes off and threw them in the hamper. I rang my hair out with the towel I found lying on my bathroom floor and wrapped it around my body. Shivering, I headed for the bedroom to change into some warm clothes. I saw Adam drying himself off as well, naked. Wow, that man had a figure that just wouldn't quit. "I'll make us some coffee, yeah?" He smiled and shook his head. After I put my clothes on I headed for the kitchen and made some coffee. He padded over to the couch and wrapped up in a blanket. "Hey, come cuddle." He gave me that sexy smile and patted the area next to him. "Hi." I giggled as he tucked a hair behind my ear. "So, let's talk. And I mean seriously talk. What are the things that bother you that I do so I can work on them? This only works if we have clear communication."
Something I had never had with anyone. The only clear communication I had with Jake is when he told me he screwed up after he left the country. "Well, I don't want to sit here and name a list of things that drive me crazy. But to name a few. When you leave your dirty clothes right next to the hamper it drives me nuts. There was one time we were sleeping and you called out your ex girlfriends name and I never said anything because it seemed silly. The way you slurp your coffee." He stopped mid slurp and chuckled. "My bad. So small annoying habits I can change, is that is? I mean is that really all that bothers you?" I rubbed my chin like I was deep in thought and knew there was another thing but didn't know if I wanted to piss him off. We did say to tell each other everything right?
"Well, sometimes when you are around your colleagues or friends you tend to flip a switch. Almost like you become douchey Adam.." I looked down at the word douche but that's seriously all I could come up with at the time. He looked down as well and rubbed his face. "Yeah, I totally do that. I'm so sorry, I just act a certain way with them so they think I'm superior. I know that sounds so ridiculous but it's true. And I never meant to hurt you in the process. I promise from now on I will work the balance on sweet Adam and douchey Adam." We both laughed and he pulled me in closer. "Now what about me? There has to be things about me that drive you crazy right?" He took a few minutes and I could tell he really had to think about it. Come on, I'm not perfect.
"Actually yeah, there is. The way you feel like you need to please everyone all the time. I admire your heart and willingness to help everyone but you have to draw the line somewhere. You can't be who everyone expects you to be babe. Other than that, there is nothing else I can think of. You are amazing." He kissed my forehead and I really thought about what he meant. He was right, I was a total people pleaser. Something I really needed to work on.