Hopeless Hero

I rolled my eyes. “Nothing important. This isn’t a love story, Adam. You aren’t going to be able to live vicariously through me on this one.”

“I refuse to believe that,” Adam said dismissively. I could almost see him waving his hand impatiently. “Well, what did he say then?”

“He said he was sorry for my loss, that it was good to see me, and that I looked beautiful… That kind of thing.”

“Swoon!”

“Don’t do that!” I said, annoyed. “He didn’t mean any of it. He was just playing into some script in his head that he’s been carrying around. He left me, remember?”

“And then he came back.”

“No. I came back. And now I’m wishing I hadn’t.” I sighed deeply and moved another step forward. It was almost my turn to order and I was ready to get off the phone with Adam, but he wasn’t done talking.

“Alicia,” he said, “listen to me, okay? Don’t let this become one of those things you don’t deal with.”

“What are you talking about?”

“You hide,” he said bluntly. “It’s what you do when things get rough. You run. You hide. You avoid. You, Alicia Joppa, are an avoider.”

“I am not.”

“You are too,” Adam insisted. “And that’s okay. I get it. You’ve had to stay strong any way you could. But maybe it’s finally time for you to let your guard down.”

“With Zane?”

“Yes, with Zane,” he hissed. “Are you telling me you don’t have any questions for him? That you haven’t thought about him once over the past five years?”

“Of course, I have, but—”

“But nothing. This is your chance, Alicia. All the unanswered questions you have—go get answers. And please, this time, don’t be mean to him.”

“How do you know I was mean to him?”

“Weren’t you?”

I closed my eyes for a fraction of a second, ashamed. “I was a total immature bitch.”

“I know,” Adam said. “So next time, be nice. Just talk to him. See what happens.”

“And you’re sure that won’t open doors that are better left locked?”

“It might,” he admitted, “but how will you know if you never take the chance to find out?”

“You’re annoying.”

Adam laughed. “Don’t I know it.”

“I gotta go. I’m next in line.”

“Don’t forget my scones! Talk soon. Love ya.” He hung up right as I stepped up to the counter.

I glanced at the display case before me, my mouth immediately watering. “I’ll have one lemon scone and one apple raisin, please,” I ordered with a smile.

“We haven’t seen you around lately,” Angel said. “How have you been, Alicia?”

“I’ve been good. Busy with work and things, but good.”

“That’s nice to hear.” She smiled kindly at me, making me remember why I loved her place. Everything felt so homey and comfortable, and the aroma of vanilla and cinnamon was so strong, you could smell it down the street. I loved it. “That’ll be $4.95,” she said.