Coming Home (4 page)

“Why not? We both need to eat anyway, right?”

Wade grinned and stepped aside to let me out first. “After you.”

“I was wondering where you went.” Mandy had just started down the
hall when Wade and I stepped out of my office. Mandy Carson was the
receptionist for Matt. She was petite and energetic. I often thought her small
stature was what allowed her to zip everywhere like a bee. She got nervous when
she saw us together and tucked her brown hair behind her ear. “I can leave
whenever you’re ready.”

“I’m sorry. Rebecca and I are going to dinner.” Wade patted a
frowning Mandy on the shoulder as he ushered me by. “Have a great weekend.”

I waited until we were out of earshot. “She could have come with us.”
I could tell by the look on Mandy’s face she had fully believed she had plans
with Wade. I felt bad that he was ditching her.

Wade didn’t appear to feel too badly. “Maybe next time. I really
think you’re going to love this place.” He stopped and snapped his fingers. “I
really need to get something from my office first. Do you mind?”

“Not at all.” I followed him to his office.

“I forgot my EpiPen.” He pointed to his bracelet. “I almost have
the world record in allergies.”

I looked at the bracelet he pointed to. I’d wanted to ask what it
was for, but didn’t know him well enough for personal questions. Now that he
pointed to it, I took the opportunity to look. It was a medical ID bracelet. It
listed two allergies: peanuts and shellfish. I looked at Wade. “Wow. Almost
held the title with two, huh?”

Wade laughed. “I didn’t say what the record would be held in.” He
went in his drawer and pulled out one the pens. “I’m really surprised I’m not
dead yet with how many times I forget this stupid thing.” He walked me out of
his office. “It’s not really convenient to keep in my pants pocket, and I don’t
like to draw attention to it by putting it in my shirt pocket.”

I stopped walking and held out my hand. Wade just looked at me. I
waved my fingers. “Hand it over.” He looked puzzled but put it in my hand. I
placed it in my purse and started walking. “There. Problem solved.”

He smiled and started walking with me. “Thanks, Rebecca.”

Dinner was fascinating. I learned everything I ever wanted to
know about Wade and more. He’s not gay and did grow up with money, but he didn’t
seem to be stuck up as he said the rest of his family is. Wade didn’t wear a
watch because he felt it was unnecessary. His smart phone held all of his
appointments and gave him reminders more than a watch ever could.

Wade didn’t pressure me to tell him anything about my life other
than where home was, what my parents were like, and that I was an only child.
He asked where I went to school and what started me in graphic design, but never
anything too personal. I couldn’t believe we had talked until eleven.

I tried to pay for my own dinner and wine, but Wade refused. He
told me I could get the next one. I liked how he insinuated we would be going
out again but didn’t really make it feel like a date since I would be picking
up the tab. I really liked Wade, and I was glad I agreed to come instead of
going home and spending the evening alone. I just still felt really bad about
Mandy.

We walked back to the office since the place really was just
around the corner, and he waited until I unlocked my car. “Are you sure you’re
good to drive?”

“Yes, Wade. I just had two glasses and that was hours ago.
Someone kept talking.” I gave him a teasing smile.

He shrugged. “I know the waiter wasn’t very happy we didn’t leave
so another customer could sit there, but I left him a good tip, so he has
nothing to complain about.”

I smiled and shook my head. “Thank you for tonight. It was good
to laugh.”

“I could tell the first week was a little tense for you. Not used
to this at your old job?”

“No.” I opened my car door and tossed my purse in the passenger
seat. I kept the open door between us. “They just gave me stuff to work on and
would kick it back with changes or tell me it was good to go. I never really gave
any input or was part of any meetings on it.”

“That’s a shame. You’ve got some really good ideas.”

“Thanks. I should get going. Thanks again for dinner.”

Wade leaned in a little, and I thought he was going to try to
kiss me, but he just said, “Goodnight, Rebecca.”

“Goodnight, Wade.”

Chapter 3

“What are you waiting for?” My mother was a nervous
wreck on the other end of the phone.

“Mom, please understand. I don’t want anyone to know about this.
I can’t just leave work without any explanation as to why I need a day off, and
I won’t lie.” I was starting to get frustrated explaining to my mother weekly
why I hadn’t looked for my birth parents yet.

I’d been here for two months, and every week there was a new
reason to stay late and come in early. On the off days that we were allowed to
leave at a decent time, I was just too tired to do anything but go home and
crash. I knew the ad business was cutthroat and you had to strike while you
could, but I didn’t think my job would be so demanding. I could only search
things that were open on the weekends, and I didn’t even have every weekend to
do it. I was just too busy at work.

I knew my mother wasn’t buying that excuse, and if I were honest
with myself, I wouldn’t buy it, either. I was completely scared about the
outcome. I wasn’t sure if I was afraid of what I might find or if I was afraid
of why they didn’t want me. And what if they still didn’t want me? Could I live
with that?

“Are you ashamed that you are adopted?”

I stopped folding laundry and put the shirt down to grip the
phone as if it were going to drive my point home. “Mom, I talk about you and
dad every day. I’ve told all of them how supportive you are and how much you
love me. No one suspects that I’m adopted because it’s obvious how much we love
each other—blood or not.” I sighed. “I’m not ever going to be ashamed of you
guys, but who I might find . . .”

“Oh, I guess I never thought of that. I’m sorry, Becca. Do you
want me to come help you?”

I’d never thought of having them help me, and I wasn’t sure if I
should say yes or no. On one hand, I would have loved the help, and I didn’t
want to go through this alone. On the other, I knew it would tear my mother in
two when I did find them. I knew she’d convinced herself that I would leave her
and she would no longer have a daughter if my birth parents were wonderful
people who just made a bad decision.

I tried to assure her she’d always be my mom. She’s always made
me feel wanted and has supported any decision I made—including finding my birth
parents. My father was just as supportive, but he was a little less emotional
about everything.

“What are you thinking? You’re never silent.” I could hear the
fear of rejection in her voice.

“I just don’t want you to get hurt. I would love the help. . .”

“Good, I’ll make arrangements and be there in a couple weeks.
I’ll take care of everything, sweetie. We’ll get the answers you need.”

“Thanks. Mom?” I wanted to make sure she hadn’t hung up yet.

“Yes?”

“I love you.”

I could almost hear her smile. “I love you, too, baby.”

~*~

The unexpected pressure from my mother to find my birth
parents was keeping me up all night. Normally I ran on the treadmill, but it was
in my parent’s basement since I couldn’t bring it with me. Rent was a lot
higher in Dallas than back home, and I just couldn’t afford to live in a place
big enough to bring it. Mom had offered to pay the difference, but I was too
proud to accept, stating I was a grown woman and could make sacrifices like
every other adult. I was regretting that moment of independence.

It was four-thirty and normally I got up at six, but I got out of
bed to use the gym at work. No one was normally there this early, and I needed the
run to clear my head. I swiped my card to unlock the door and prayed that it
worked. Sometimes it was a little tricky and I had to go to security to get a
new one.

“I’m glad it worked this time.” Charlie stepped around the corner
and chuckled as I jumped. “Sorry. I saw you drive in on the monitors and didn’t
want you to be left outside if the card decided to take the day off.”

I completely understood why Charlie Flagg was head of security.
He had a constant scowl that told you he was watching you. I was pretty sure
his bicep was bigger than my thigh. I wondered if he had a military background.
He always wore his hair short—too short to tell the exact color of it. His
uniform was always perfectly pressed, and his shoes were polished more than my
car. I was really intimidated at first, but eventually we struck up
conversations that eased the tension a little. He was really a funny guy when
you got to know him, and he looked just like a big teddy bear when he smiled.

“It’s okay. I just wasn’t expecting anyone. Thanks for checking.”
I started to walk towards my office to put my stuff away before my workout.

“Is there another big project going on?”

I turned around, not realizing he wanted to talk. I hope he
didn’t think I was being rude. “Oh, there’s always a big project. I just
thought I would check out the gym this morning. I haven’t been running since I
moved here.”

“I could tell you did some type of exercise. I should have known
it was running.” He pointed to my legs. “You look great in skirts.” He winked
and walked away.

I heard someone before I completely walked through the door to
the gym, and I almost turned to leave. Maybe he wanted time to himself, too. It
didn’t sound as if he were using the treadmill, so I decided to go in anyway.
We didn’t have to talk. The gym is like the movies, no conversation required.

I walked in and saw Ryan lifting weights. He looked up and smiled.
“Hi there.”

“Hi, Ryan, I couldn’t sleep so I thought I’d come in for a run.
Did you have trouble sleeping, too?”

“No.” He set the weights down and walked over to me. You could
tell he’d been there for a while already since he was completely covered in
sweat. “The only time I really have is early morning. Why can’t you sleep?”

I shrugged. I didn’t want to tell him the truth. “It happens sometimes,
so I like to run to clear my head.”

Ryan nodded. “I can understand that. Do you think you could spot
me on the bench really quick before you start your run?”

“Excuse me?” I wasn’t sure why that sounded inappropriate, but I
couldn’t believe he just asked me that.

He pointed to the bench with weights. “I need to get my reps in,
but I can’t do it unless someone is here to help with the weights. I know the
one time I try to do it on my own will be the time the weights fall on me and I
suffocate. If you don’t want to, though, I can skip it.”

“No, I can help you.” Maybe it was just wishful thinking that it
was inappropriate. “Sorry, I really only know about running. I don’t do
anything else. What do you need me to do?”

He walked over to the bench and pointed behind it. “I really just
need you to stand there and watch me lift the barbell.”

I raised an eyebrow. “You want me to watch you flex your
muscles?” I couldn’t hide the smirk. “Is this to boost your male ego, or are
you really afraid you’re going to suffocate?”

Ryan was red from his workout already, but it looked as if he
blushed a little more. “It really is for my safety. If the weights slip and the
bar crushes my windpipe or chest, I could die if someone isn’t here to lift it
off of me.”

“If you can’t lift it, how am I going to lift it?” Suddenly the
thought that his life was in my hands terrified me.

“Don’t worry.” He got into position and put his hands on the bar.
Lifting his head a little, he looked at me. “Are you going to help or not?”

“Oh, sorry.” I stood behind him and looked down. Whether it’s
dealing with heights or standing above a sweaty, shirtless guy, the advice is
the same—you should never look down. I tried to concentrate on the bar itself
and stop looking at the muscles rippling as he moved, but I couldn’t. I just
kept staring at his chest and, occasionally, his arms. I wanted to draw more
than his face. I wondered if he’d agree to modeling for me shirtless one day.

The way he jerked the last motion made me look at him and stop
looking at his body. It looked as if he were struggling a bit. I didn’t have
any idea what to do, but instinctively I grabbed the bar and helped him lift it
up enough to put it back in place. Once it was in place, he quickly sat up and
started breathing hard. I started to freak out and went around to the front.

“Are you okay?”

Ryan started to look at me, but his eyes didn’t go all the way up
to my face before he looked back at the floor again. I sensed his male ego was
a little bruised since he did actually need help. I didn’t have much experience
with inflating a deflating male ego, but I thought I’d give it my best shot.

I put my hand on his shoulder and tried to get him to talk to me.
“Ryan, are you okay?”

“Yes, thank you.” He was still breathing a little harder than I
would have liked. I know the adrenaline rushes when faced with fear, but he was
no longer in danger, and he’d already been sitting for a few minutes. “I’m
sorry, Rebecca.” He still wouldn’t look at me.

“What are you sorry for? I don’t know many guys that could have
done half of what you just did.” I pointed to the weights.

He finally looked up then looked down at my chest. I looked down,
too. I had decided to just wear my sports bra instead of a t-shirt over it. It
really is meant to be worn alone when working out so it wasn’t as though I
should have put on a shirt first. I smiled at the realization that he stumbled
on that lift because he was looking at my breasts. I shoved him and started
laughing.