“Ginger what?” Joe asked while he made his coffee.
“Wasn’t sure, so I got ginger every damn thing. Four grocery bags full of the shit.”
Lucy swallowed the lump forming in her throat. “Yeah, ginger’s good. Definitely helps.”
Hugh twisted her way. “Yeah? You know someone that used it? What’d they use?”
She’d said that out loud? Shit. Her palms grew sweaty. “Um…”
Her phone vibrated in her pocket and she froze. God, what was that? Number ten? And the day wasn’t even over yet. What the hell was she going to do? She’d hoped the texts and calls would slow down now she was back in LA.
“Lucy?” Hugh called.
“Sorry, what?”
“What’d they use?”
She blinked at him.
He frowned. “Ginger?”
“Oh, the um…she used the tea…plain crackers as well. They’re good, too.”
Hugh sat up straight and whipped out his phone. “Right, cool. I’ll pick some up on the way home.”
Suddenly she was feeling goddamn nauseous. She bit the inside of her cheek when tears threatened again, and shoved all the crap swimming around her head back down deep.
At least now Hugh’s foul mood made sense. Didn’t mean it hurt any less. And being compared to a swarm of locusts didn’t exactly make her feel wanted. But she guessed showing up and dropping a bomb like she had wasn’t helping Hugh’s stress levels. He was already worrying over Shay.
Adam was right, what he’d said to her the day before. Her brothers didn’t need to be worrying about her. They were in serious relationships. Relationships that hadn’t come easy. That’s what they needed to focus on, not their flighty sister.
Thank God they didn’t know the truth, the real reason she’d been forced to leave school. To walk away when she was so close to finishing her child psychology degree…
“Luce?”
Her head shot up.
Joe was holding up the coffee pot.
“What?”
“You want a drink?”
She backed up, shaking her head. “Nah, I’m good. I’m going to go chase up a few of those jobs. I better…” She aimed her thumb at the door behind her. “I’ll…yeah, catch ya later.” Then she rushed out.
“Not that fuckin’ receptionist position!” Hugh yelled after her.
Ignoring Hugh, she raced through the workshop. Knowing she’d disappointed her family—how she’d let them down, let herself down—it cut. What she wouldn’t give to be able to tell Hugh everything, let those big arms of his hold her tight, have him tell her everything would all be okay. That she wasn’t the biggest irresponsible, selfish person in the world. But she couldn’t do that, because she knew without a doubt he’d go after Daniel and Joe would be right behind him.
She was almost at the garage door, and freedom, when someone grabbed her shoulder.
“Hold up there, baby girl.”
Shit.
Swiping a stray tear from her cheek, she spun to face him. “Maybe your hookups like to be called that, but I don’t.” Liar. “Go find someone else to be an asshole to. I’m not in the mood for one of your lectures.”
Lifting his hands in surrender, he took a small step back. “Whoa. Where the hell did that come from?”
“Am I wrong?”
He frowned. “You’re wrong.”
His blue eyes weren’t all icy and cynical for once; they were kind of soft. Wonderful. He felt sorry for her, and she’d just been a bitch, taking her pain and frustration out on him. But it was easier that way. For her at least. If they were actually nice to each other, how would she keep her feelings for him in check? She wouldn’t be able to.
“Look, whatever. I have to go.” She turned to leave, but he grabbed her arm and tugged her out the door toward the steps that led to her apartment. “What are you doing?”
Adam ignored her and carried on up to her place, pushing the door open and pulling her in after him.
“What the hell, Adam?”
When he turned to face her and she got a load of the expression on his face, she snapped her mouth shut.
“You hate my guts, I get that. I’m an asshole.”
He moved in, and before she could stop herself, she’d backed up until her back met the door behind her. Hate his guts? He thought she hated him? “Hang on a minute—”
“But for five minutes, we’re going to put that aside and you’re going to tell me what the hell is going on with you.”
Everything inside her seized. “W-what?”
His jaw hardened. “You heard me.”
He ran a hand through his hair and, shit, he looked…pained. Worried. About her?