The Libby Garrett Intervention (Science Squad #2) (38 page)

Adam slipped his arm around me and squeezed me to his side. I snuggled up close, enjoying the warmth he gave off in the chilly night air. “I may not be perfect, and may not have all the things Owen has, but what I do have is meaningful. My life has value to me
because
of my mistakes. Because I had to work so hard to gain my happiness. And now that I am taking that continued inventory of myself, my life will hopefully stay sparkly.” I sighed. “Ugh. It appears step ten—the continued inventory—is a never-ending process.”

Adam chuckled. “That’s generally how it works, yeah. Once on the journey, always on the journey. So what about step eleven—have you actually tried the prayer and meditation thing?”

He sounded both skeptical and curious. I was pretty sure that Adam, though we’d never discussed the topic of religion, had a pretty solid belief in God. I admired his ability to have faith in something he couldn’t prove existed. He’d showed that same faith in me when we’d first started this process. Though I didn’t quite have his faith, I loved that he had it.

“I have yet to come to terms with the idea of a higher power,” I said. “So my version of prayer and meditation may have included a day at the hill freeboarding with my dad, and a cheesy romantic comedy and Raisinets with my mom on Sunday, but there was definitely much soul-searching involved.”

“And a tattoo, I hear.” With another chuckle, Adam’s arm around me tightened, and his voice dropped low as he whispered in my ear. “Can I see it?”

Holy hydrogen combustion! My body was suddenly giving off so much heat and energy that I was bound to explode. “Um...” My voice shook as I fought against the shivers rocking my body. “I’ll show you mine if you show me yours, Coffee Man.”

“That…” Adam’s voice was suddenly as strangled as mine. “Is probably not the best idea right now.”

“Yeah,” I breathed. “Show-and-tell definitely needs to wait for another time.”

Adam released his hold on me and shoved his hands back into his hoodie. As disappointing as that was, it was for the best. He rolled his head as if trying to loosen the muscles in his neck, and cleared his throat. “So what about the last step—step twelve? Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to other addicts, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.”

Call me a nerd, but I loved it when he quoted the step verbatim. It was his version of geekspeak. I found it very hot, but I tried to keep focused. “Well, I definitely
feel
as if I’ve had a spiritual awakening. I’d like to think that I’m cured of Owen. But I failed my last test, so I worry that I’ll fail it again.”

“Understandable.” Adam nodded. “But I’m sure you’ll be fine the next time you’re tested again.”

“I’m sure it won’t be that long. I mean, the guy is coming home for the summer, and he’s Grayson’s best friend. We’re bound to run into each other. I’m not looking forward to that.”

“I have faith in you, but I guess we’ll just have to wait and see how you do. Until then, though, you can still accomplish step twelve. It’s all about taking the lesson you’ve learned to help others. Even if you continue to struggle with your addiction—which I doubt you will, but if you do, don’t feel bad. Most addicts do—you can continue to fight the temptation by mentoring someone else. Being an example and helping others makes you stronger.”

He had a point. Maybe I was over Owen, but the deeper issue, my constant struggle with my own self-worth, I knew I’d always have to fight that one. It made sense that if I tried to help others, I’d be able to feel good about myself. I nodded and pulled myself away from the car. “I’ll think on that one and report back to you, oh great intervention master.”

Adam laughed and followed my lead, leaning up from the car. He pushed his body into a stretch and glanced up toward his apartment. “You do that.” He walked around to the side of the car and opened the door for me. “Good night, Libby,” he said as I slipped behind the wheel. “If you can escape your father’s clutches for a while tomorrow, come see me around eleven thirty. I usually take my lunch break around then.”

And there went my heart again. The poor thing was getting quite a workout tonight. “It’s a date, Coffee Man.”

Libby

Jo’s was a sight for sore eyes
. The sexy barista trying to hide the fact that he was happy to see me made it even better. I hadn’t seen Adam since our lunch date over a week ago. Considering the smile he was failing to keep off his face, he’d missed me.

Making my way to the counter, I drank in the sight of him as if he were a delicious cup of apple cider. In the weeks since the intervention started, I’d gotten used to seeing him on a nearly daily basis, and I’d really missed him. Not just because he was hot, but he’d become a real friend. It was amazing how much I’d come to depend on him.

This week had solidified what I’d realized in the limo with Owen. The Coffee Man and I belonged together, and he would be mine. Oh yes, the skating god cider supplier was mine. I was done waiting. I didn’t need to figure anything else out. I knew what I wanted. I was ready for it.

A low grumble from across the room brought me out of my ogling and back to reality. Kate glared at me, and I sighed internally. Adam
would
be mine…just as soon as I convinced his psycho little sister it was okay. I flashed her a thousand-watt smile and then turned it on Adam. “How goes it, Coffee Man? Heard you had a photo shoot with Kendrick. Very pro skater of you. Congrats.”

“Thanks.” Adam nodded, trying to play it cool, but his cheeks betrayed him by turning rosy. He quickly changed the subject. “You want some cider?”

“Does your sister need anger management therapy?”

Adam tried to hold back a smile for his sister’s sake, but failed. “She’ll come around, once she sees you’re serious.”

“I hope so, because I’m pretty sure she could kill me if she put her mind to it.”

Adam glanced at Kate and laughed again. “She’s all show. Inside, she’s just a big, annoying softy.”

“Hmm. Sounds like someone else I know. Wonder where she gets that from.”

“Funny, Cider Chick.”

Adam went to work filling a large to-go cup with caramel apple cider. “You have a break coming up, right?”

Adam slid me a glance. “I can take my break as soon as Avery gets back from hers, if you need me to. Why? What’s up?”

“Tutoring. It’s your turn.”

When Adam handed me my beloved cider, he noticed the folder I’d brought with me. I passed him a stack of stapled papers, which he immediately began flipping through. “I figured out what I want to do for my step twelve.”

Adam’s eyes shot to my face, and I grinned so big my cheeks hurt. “I’m going to help you get your GED.”

Adam froze. I couldn’t tell if he was shocked or scared or upset or what, but he was completely still, staring at me so hard I suddenly got self-conscious. I’d been so sure he’d appreciate this. Had I messed up somehow?

I glanced across the room to where Kate was studying, hoping I’d find a clue to Adam’s reaction in her face, but she was just as startled as Adam. When she saw me look at her, she stomped across the room to me. I didn’t know whether to run for my life or not. “Are you serious?” she demanded.

“I—” I struggled to produce an explanation, too baffled by their reactions. But this was important, so I pulled my shoulders back and met her eyes with my best imitation of the Coffee Man Staredown. “Yes. I’m serious.” I looked back at Adam and softened my voice. “If you want me to, that is.”

“He does.”

“Kate!” Adam glared at Kate and looked at me again. He didn’t ask, but I knew he wanted more information.

I shrugged. “I don’t really know any other man-candy addicts like myself, but, like you said, my addiction came from a deeper-rooted problem. I have self-worth issues. I struggle to like myself. But I’m not the only one, am I?”

Adam fought to keep his emotions masked. This was a more sensitive issue than I’d realized, so I dialed back my intensity and tried to keep my words sugarcoated. “You may not be an addict in need of a twelve-step program, but I know you hate the fact that you’re a dropout. I know you think you’re never going to amount to much more than a manager in a coffee shop, but it doesn’t have to be that way.”

Adam gulped, and beside me, I was pretty sure Kate was holding her breath. Her eyes were as big as baseballs.

“I can help you, Adam,” I whispered. “I’m wicked smart and I know everything you’d need to learn in order to pass a high school equivalency test. I even know how to help you apply for grant money, and could help you get enrolled in college if you wanted to.”

“Libby…” His face morphed into an expression I’d never seen on him before. I didn’t recognize it as vulnerability until he muttered, “You don’t have to do that for me.”

“You’re right; I don’t,” I said gently. “But I want to. You’ve helped me so much, and I’ve been trying to think of a way I could repay you for everything. This is something I can do. So for my twelfth step, my attempt to carry the message I’ve learned of loving myself to others will be to help you be happy with yourself, too. If that means helping you catch up with everyone who had opportunities you didn’t, great.” I flashed him a wicked grin. “And if that’s not enough, and it takes your dream girl falling head-over-heels for you instead of staying with His Holy Hotness? Even better.”

Adam’s eyebrows flew up—both of them. After his surprise faded, his face broke into a grin. “Head-over-heels, huh?”

I shrugged, playing up my nonchalance. “Maybe. It’s a possibility. I guess we’ll have to see, won’t we?”

“Oh, we’ll definitely see.” He put both hands on the counter and leaned toward me. “Challenge accepted. Your head’ll spin from how fast I make you fall. You’re
mine
, Cider Chick.”

He growled the last half of that speech at me, as if it were a threat. Sanctified sea dragons, was he ever hot when he got all possessive like that! Yummy with a side of finger lickin’ good. The joke was on him, though, because I’d already fallen.

“Um,
gross
.” Kate’s exaggerated gagging noises broke up the moment.

Laughing, I picked up the folder I’d brought with me. “Actually, this time you’re mine, Coffee Man.” I pointed to a table in the corner of the shop. “I’ll be waiting for you right over there.”

I took a seat, prepared to sip my cider and wait for Adam to take his break, when Kate slid into the chair across from me. She looked pissed again. “Can you really help him get his GED?” she whispered, glancing at Adam to make sure he wasn’t paying attention to us. He was busy helping a customer.

“Of course. It’s actually not that difficult. Adam’s a smart guy and a hard worker. I bet I could have him ready to take his test within a couple of months.”

Kate shook her head and stole another look at her brother. It took her a moment to gather her thoughts. “You have no idea how much that would mean to him. He’ll never admit it to anyone, but he
hates
that he had to drop out of school. It’s his biggest insecurity because he’s really smart. He’s just never had the chance to prove it. If you could really help him get his high school equivalent…” Kate sucked in a breath and wet her lips. “You’d change his life, Libby.”

“Good,” I said. “He changed mine first. This is the least I can do.”

Kate watched her brother again with a look that I didn’t know how to describe. I was touched by the concern she had for her brother. I didn’t have any siblings so I had a hard time grasping the true depth of the connection Adam and Kate shared, but the love they had for one another always amazed me when I saw it. It occurred to me then that I did have one more person to make amends to. “Kate. I’m sorry I hurt Adam.”

Kate’s attention came back to me, and she scowled.

“I messed up,” I said. “I messed up huge. I hate that I hurt him, but I give you my word that it will never happen again. I—” I cut myself off, surprised I’d been about to say a word that I hadn’t even said to myself yet, let alone Adam. “Just trust me. I know how lucky I am. I don’t deserve him, but I want him. I promise you I’ll make sure I’m worthy of him.”

Kate sat there, debating for an eternity, and then said one word. “Why?”

“Why what?”