CHAPTER THREE: WHERE THERE IS A WILL, THERE IS A WAY

Adam could hardly believe it when he saw the message flashing on his phone screen. Rhea had asked him for her birthday party. For someone who had gone out of her way to avoid him for the past two years, she had suddenly made progress. Maybe Zoey had talked some sense into her and she had started to see him in a positive light.

But Adam was no fool. He knew that Rhea was not going to crumble her barrier just like that. He knew about her inner feelings; more than she herself knew them. She was a broken soul and Adam wanted to mend her; just like he had set everything right in her life before by making her part of his family.

With a curse, he shut the file in front of him feeling unable to concentrate. Life was not fair sometimes. For some, life was like eating sugar candy all the way like his own life had been. Born with a silver spoon in the mouth, he had the most wonderful parents on earth and had never lacked anything. Whether it was materialistic wise or emotion wise. While for Rhea, nothing had been simple. And she had not been the one responsible for it.

For one, she had lost her mother Kyra Hart at childbirth. It was as tragic as anyone could never imagine. She had never known her mother but the worst part of the whole tragedy was that her father had blamed her for having lost the love of his life. Slade Palmer had never loved his daughter like a father should.

Hell, Uncle Slade hated the very sight of her. His father Jake and Uncle Ashton had tried to convince their friend that the little baby was innocent but Slade had never even glanced at the newborn. It had been the worst day of her life; the day she had been born.

It was as sad as it sounded. Rhea had never understood the absence of her father not until she had turned seven when her father had suddenly returned back to meet his friends. And had suddenly came across Rhea in the Crighton mansion. Slade had then remembered that his daughter existed and had only greeted her with a “hello”. And it had been dramatic.

The seven years old Rhea had been unable to understand the fact that her father had not loved her. Hell, he himself was twenty five and he had never understood the reason why Slade had never shown any affection towards his only daughter. On the contrary, her father had been nasty to her and Rhea had had her first heart break at the age of seven.

“But you’re my father,” she had whispered stricken by the lack of affection of the latter when she had tried to jump in his lap for a hug and the latter had awkwardly stood up nearly making her fall on the ground.

“Unfortunately so,” he had replied without any qualms. “Believe me if I had any choice, I would have changed that.”

“You don’t mean that. Daddy!” she had wailed.

But “Daddy” had been deaf. Deaf to her pleas. Deaf to the incessant pestering of his friends. Deaf to the world. And he had never changed. Not after twenty three years. He still treated Rhea like she was some kind of trash and avoided her as much as he could. Rhea had grown up as part of Crighton and Cooper clan but Adam knew she had always taken the rejection badly.

It was logical of course because in her case, she had done nothing wrong to deserve such kind of treatment. But unfortunately, it had turned her into someone cynical and wary of any emotional attachment.

Adam had never known her to have a boyfriend. Whenever a guy had approached her, she had given him the cold shoulder until the guy had been tired of chasing her. Like she was doing with him now. He knew she believed that if she held on some more, he would dump her like her own parents had done in the past.

But he was Adam Devin Crighton, son of Jacob Bruce Crighton and the grandson of the great Devin Richard Crighton. The Crightons did not give up easily on their loved ones just like that. And when they loved it was a forever kind of love. The one which last a lifetime and beyond.

And he was certain that the reason why Rhea was rejecting him was not because she did not love him back. Or maybe she did not yet. But she would. He was sure of that. If only she let go of her shell which she had built around her heart since so long.

He wanted to show her that there were other ways to be happy. How it would feel like to live for once in her sorry life. What she was doing was not called living; she was only surviving the hardships. But she should learn how to let go of her miseries and turn them into her happiness.

Except that Rhea Palmer was made of stone. He sighed again as he stared at his desktop and finally realizing that he would not be getting any work done, he packed his stuff and headed home. There were a few advantages of being the boos; nobody could ask him about his office hours.

As soon as he reached the living room, he heard voices from upstairs and knew that the gang had gathered again and he felt anticipation at the prospect of meeting them again. Except that he was still very much affected by his last morose thoughts.

“Hey how are you doing man?” he asked as soon as he caught sight of Zach. Zacharias Cooper was the brother he never had. Adam was an only child but he had never felt lonely during his childhood. He, Zach and the girls had always been around for each other. Well, except for the last year. When Rhea and Zoey had suddenly disappeared for their New York adventure.

But he had never broken contact with Zach. They had always been there for each other. No matter how busy Zach had been lately with taking over the software company of his father, he always found time to hang out during weekends.

“I’m good A.D.C,” Zach greeted him back with a manly hug. “Has my parcel been delivered yet?”

Adam shook his head mentally slapping his forehead. Zach was a computer freak. He was obsessed with latest technologies and had wasted so much money already on the latest phone or tablets. Adam got fed up of him one day and had cut his credit card into two exact pieces. That man practically leeched eBay!

So for revenge, whenever Zach wanted something from the internet, it was Adam’s credit card which was used. Tough luck. But it was the only way he had found to monitor Zach’s online transactions.

And the parcel he was talking about was the latest tablet which had been launched only one month ago and Zach could not wait to have it. It was an addiction, he was sure.

“What parcel?” asked Zoey picking something up quickly.

Zach sighed almost like someone in love waiting for his beloved. “My new baby.”

Zoey rolled her eyes at his love-struck expression knowing her brother only too well. “Let me guess. A new gadget?”

Adam nodded grinning but not showing his smile to Zach. It was time the latter took those things seriously and stopped with that obsession. He was trying to be the rational one here.

“But why is it being delivered to Adam?” asked Rhea suspiciously speaking for the first time. Thankfully, she no longer had the wary look she had been given him and it loosened him up too. There was not the tension that had been tangible between them for so long. Good, he was finally getting somewhere with her.

“Be-cause,” Zach replied putting emphasis on the word as two monosyllables. “That idiot here cut my credit card. And has prevented me from having another one. He thinks I’m addicted to technology or something.”

“Technomania I call that,” Adam replied nodding to the girls. “I’ve got the situation under control here. The last time he bought something was…let me think. Aaah, two months ago. Which…” he paused dramatically. “let me tell you is the longest record for our dear Zach here.”

The girls both grinned at his light banter and Zoey poked Zach in the chest. “You technomaniac! Whatever it is you’ve bought, I want the old one.”

“Sure,” Zach shrugged. “It’s a tablet by the way. I have the version 4.0 already. But you need to do one thing for me in return. Give me your credit card.”

Adam signaled frantically in her direction. There was no way Zach would be allowed near a credit card for the next ten years. Or maybe more. Zoey giggled playfully.

“Never mind then. I’d rather buy myself a brand new one. Maybe I’ll have the version 6.0 instead when it comes out. And who knows? Maybe you won’t be allowed to buy another one at that time.”

If there was something Zach could not tolerate it was to have someone else have a new version before him. Especially someone among the four of them. “Fine! You can have the old one,” grumbled Zach behaving like a child but Adam knew he would never sneak on his back to buy anything.

Which made all four of them howl with laughter.

***********************************

Adam was tired; it was only seven but he had worked hard to get the party rocking in such a short notice. But now that the guests had started to arrive, he was all too tired to even greet them. But it would be impolite to ignore his guests and so he gritted his teeth and smiled at the people invading his living room.

It was supposed to be a small party but when the list had been made, there were friends who had been added and finally it had become a big bash. And so at the last minute, they had to organize extra food and extra everything else.

Zach was still out fetching something for the cook while the girls had been getting ready for the past damned hour. It was so unfair. If he or Zach had protested, the girls would have complained that it was so ungallant from their part. So neither he nor Zach had dared protested.

But now as guests seem to flow in, Adam thought it was time for them to get their ass down and play the hostesses. Smiling at the newcomers, he excused himself and barged into the girls’ room without bothering knocking.

And everything flew out of his mind when he caught sight of Rhea standing in front of the full-length mirror! Everything faded as he stared at her looking so lovely in her knee-length black dress and her hair made up like a pro. His heart literally sighed at the sight of her. The love of his life. The one who had the power to make his heart beat faster at the merest sight. The one who had the power to make his heart stop beating at the merest sight.

No matter how much he tried to convince himself that she was only her friend, that he had to stop thinking about her that way, his resolve flew out of the window at merely one look. He was such a goner. Swallowing hard to hide his feelings since he did not want to spoil her special moment, he looked away and took in a deep breath feeling the pain seep in. Life was truly such a bitch.

“Where’s Zoey?” he asked looking around the room. “Why are you not ready yet? Everybody…,” he stopped. There was something wrong. He just knew it. “What’s wrong?” he asked forgetting everything else.

She looked up at him, eyes round in surprise and her hands midway in the process of putting on her other pair of earrings. There was not a lovelier sight. She was wearing makeup with made her eyes look smoky and sensual. Her lips had a natural pout but with some lip gloss, they shone and he wanted to taste them.

If only she knew how much power that vulnerable look of hers could have on men. Men like himself. Who would die just to have her against him. He already felt himself growing hard at the thought and immediately chided himself.

“How do you know something’s wrong?” she asked.

Adam smiled sadly. Because I love you silly. But he tried a nonchalant shrug. “I just know. Now will you tell me what’s wrong?” he asked more gently coming closer to her.

She did not retreat seeming lost in her thoughts. “I..I have to tell you something,” she began hesitatingly.

Although he knew she was not suddenly going to confess her undying love to him, hope filled in his heart anyway. Damn! That organ of his was so out of control. He had to swallow down the acute feeling of anticipation which coursed through him.

“Shoot away,” he said crossing his arms as a way to protect himself from whatever was coming his way. He had a pretty good idea.

“Adam…Adam.. can we please get back to what we were? I mean what we were before…,” she stopped and he did not say anything. She looked up at him waiting for him to continue but he stood like a statue. He wanted to hear what she had to say even if it killed him. She was already breaking his heart anyway.

“I mean I love you but as a friend. I…I will never… I mean. You know what I mean,” she finished in a small voice.

Damn! He had to tamper down his frustration. Why was she not saying it? Why was she so hesitant to tell him that she did not love him and she never will?

He shrugged and did not move not making it easy for her. “No, I don’t,” he finally replied when she fell silent watching him with her doe eye expression again. “Why don’t you tell me?” he asked gently trying not to let his emotions show in his voice.

She frowned at him and then gulped. “I…I…,” she stammered still unable to go on. Adam knew how difficult it was for her to voice out those words. She knew it would hurt him but it was for the best anyway; if he heard it maybe he would stop hoping. But deep down he knew it would make no difference to the way he felt. He loved her and always will. And so he was screwed anyway.

“Don’t say it, I would not be able to bear it.” For one second he thought he had said the words loud but when her expression did not change, he realized it had only been on his mind. But he was portraying the very words in his hazel eyes which would now be almost tainted with green freckles.

“Adam….,” she began but he came closer to her and whatever had been ready to flow out of her mouth stopped as she stared at him with apprehension. The pulse beating at her carotid artery was erratic and her face looked flushed.

So he was making her nervous? It was something that he had never bothered to find out before since she had always rejected his proposal. And he had been too busy focusing on his feelings to gauge her reaction to him. So he got closer to test his theory and he watched as the bone at her throat bobbed up and down as she swallowed.

“Yessss,” he whispered lightly so that his breath blew on her face and the tendrils which had fallen out of her chignon flew on her cheeks. “What is it?” he asked and purposefully bending his face towards hers.

They were so close now that he had only to bend a few inches to kiss her. But he kept a good control on his urges since he knew it was the gesture which was going to scare her off forever. Last time he had tried to hit on her, she had fled for one whole year.

Now if he tried to physically force himself on her again, she would flee forever. And it was precisely what he was trying to avoid. He had to find a different way to tackle her. So he was trying for patience. Which would be the end of him but he had no other choice really.

“I.. ummm,” she stammered again looking at him with her eyes holding such a turbulent expression similar to a rat having been caught by a cat and being mercilessly tortured.

She gulped again and averted her eyes away from him. He stood for a few minutes not enjoying the suspense and when she still did not meet his eyes, he crossed his arms. And waited for the answer with his heart hanging in the air. Until he was sure nothing was going to be said.

Then he allowed utter joy to engulf his heart. She could not tell him she did not love him back. He had given her all the time she needed but she had never voiced it out.

It meant two things. One that she was too scared to hurt him. Or she was still indecisive about the way she felt about him. Which either way meant that she loved him too. It was no rational thinking he knew but he could not stop himself from hoping.

Love was complicated but unrequited love even more.

“Happy birthday,” he said instead bending to kiss her lightly on the cheeks making sure no part of his body touched hers.

As soon as his lips touched her cheeks, her eyes flew to his as if she was afraid he might kiss her on the lips. But she did not withdraw back, Adam observed. But he knew it was too early to kiss her. No, he would have to wait for that. Rhea was too heart-broken to recognize love even if it hot her in the face.

“You look pretty,” he said grinning casually. If she wanted him back as a friend, he was going to play the role. If it was the only way he could have her close, he was ready to crush down his every feelings for her. For the time being.

It was what Zoey had advised him some while before. They had a personal talk on the way to get some beers for the party and she had mentioned that Rhea was unsure about him. And had warned him that Rhea was going to tell him she did not love him back.

It had been Zoey’s idea to ask Rhea to tell him off completely. Adam had been against the idea at first but Zoey had managed to convince him that Rhea had feelings for him but would never admit them due to her unfortunate background. If her best friend was ready to believe that, then it surely meant he was not that disillusioned after all.

And Zoey had bet that Rhea would never be able to tell him that she did not love him. Not out of her good heart because everybody knew Rhea could be quite blunt when she wanted. But because Zoey was persuaded that deep down Rhea wanted Adam to pursue her; to appease her insecurities.

The more Adam went after her, the more she would be able to convince herself that she was lovable enough. And so asking her to tell him off had been a test and Rhea had passed with honors!

But the most difficult part was yet to come. Convince Rhea that she loved him too. She would never admit to having such kind of feelings for him and she would try her best to ward him off if he came on too strong. But Zoey had promised him that she would stand by him no matter what and she would ensure that Rhea was unable to push him away forever.

If she’s not able to tell you she does not love you then she loves you. Ask her for a date without making it sounding like a date.

It was what Zoey had said. And how he was supposed to do that, he wondered. When he had asked Zo, she had asked him to use his imagination. It was as simple as that! So, he winked at Rhea as she still looked at him like he was going to bite her or something.

“We’ll celebrate your birthday tomorrow like we used to. Just the two of us. I’ll take you to your favorite diner place. Be ready at seven,” he delivered lightly although his heart was pounding out of its rhythm in his chest. Where there was a will, there was always a way.

But instead he said “Now, let’s go, we have guests waiting for us downstairs.”