See You at the Finish Line (Run, Love, Repeat #1)

46. Adam

I’m so fucking happy I may burst. I knew everyone was going to love Paige, and even Liam is warming up to her. That may have more to do with the fact that she beat Simon in a foot race and laughed while she did it.

God, I love her.

Even though we’re enjoying ourselves, with everyone happy and getting along, I can’t shake the underlying current of dread. My dad was in court this morning, so I knew he was going to be late. Not that he told me himself—my mom informed me.

I keep glancing at the door, waiting for him to appear. I so badly want to enjoy this time with Paige and my siblings, but I keep getting distracted.

Paige’s hand slips into mine, bringing my attention back to her. It’s never far from her anyway so it’s not hard to adjust. The way she effortlessly fit right into everyone’s hearts is more than I could have asked for.

“Hi,” I say. Her perfect eyes are bright.

“Hi. ”

“Are you having fun?”

“I am. Your family is wonderful, Adam.”

My brows shoot up. “Even Liam?”

She laughs. “Even Liam.” She leans her head against my bicep and takes a deep breath. She’s quiet. I can feel her thinking.

“Nothing can replace your mom, your family, sweetheart.” I place a kiss on the top of her head because I can’t help myself. And because we’re together and I finally get to do things like smack her ass when she bends over in the kitchen and kiss her forehead whenever I want.

She looks up at me, her eyes shining. “How did you know what I was thinking?”

I shrug, tucking a stray hair behind her ear, and run my fingers through her dark ponytail.

“I know you. I figured this would remind you of your family.”

She wraps her arms around me. I wonder if my family would notice if I stole her away for a few minutes. Or hours.

“Hey, lovebirds,” Simon calls before chucking a tennis ball at us. I guess not. I catch the ball with one hand before it can hit us. I sigh. With my other hand, I tilt Paige’s chin up and kiss her softly, feeling the smile on her lips. I want it all for myself.

“Adam.”

The familiar disapproving voice fills my veins with ice. Apparently, my parents are going to arrive whenever I’m kissing Paige. I jerk away from her and my walls slam up. I shut my emotions down. The practice is so automatic I do it without thinking.

From the corner of my eye, I see Paige’s brows pinch as she looks between me and my father.

“Dad,” I say. It’s been a whirlwind of a few months with Paige, and the emptiness in my voice is a stark contrast to everything I’ve been feeling lately. I don’t like it.

“Hello, Mr. Ashford.” Paige’s calm voice comes from beside me. She slides her hand in mine and squeezes. “I’m Paige.” She extends her other hand to him.

My dad isn’t a complete tool. He takes it.

“Paige, it’s nice to meet you.”

There’s an uncomfortable silence and then Liam’s voice calls over.

“Hey, Dad! You made it just in time, we’re about to eat!”

I take a deep inhale, catching a whiff of Paige’s coconut shampoo as my dad walks past us.

“Adam?” Paige whispers to me, the sound of her voice cracking my defences. Her smell, her touch—those things make me feel. And I cannot feel around my dad. I slip my hand out of hers, pulling back.

Isabel saves me, coming over to link arms with Paige, tugging her away. I keep my gaze fixed on the ground, but I can feel Paige’s attention still on me, even as Isabel tries to distract her.

“Come on, Paige, if we don’t sit down, Simon and Jake will take the best spots.”

“There are best spots at the table?” There’s trepidation in Paige’s voice that wasn’t there before. I want to blame my dad, but I know this falls on my shoulders. I’ve never had to manage anyone’s feelings but my own when my dad is around.

I hope I didn’t hurt her. I follow closely behind them as we make our way to the large picnic table.

“Of course,” Isabel whispers conspiratorially, “as far away from the bean pole as possible.” She jabs a thumb at Liam, who overhears her like she meant him to. Paige snorts.

We sit around the table and begin dishing out the food. There are sexually explicit moans as everyone digs into the ribs Isabel prepared. Paige’s own groan pierces right through my walls as I remember the last time she made that sound. We were in our shower and I was on my knees, tasting her.

I raise my brows at her, feeling a small smile tug the corner of my mouth.

She closes her eyes, holding in her laugh.

Her joy does something to me and if this was any other moment, I would let it fill me. I would lick the barbeque sauce off the corner of her lip. But I can’t because I feel my dad’s eyes on us.

“So, Paige, I hear you’re a massage therapist,” my dad begins. And just like that, the table quiets.

Paige swallows her food and clears her throat. “Yes, I am.”

My dad nods at the confirmation. “And do you find you are fulfilled by helping people?”

She takes her time answering, and the silence grows every second the response my dad wants to hear doesn’t fall from her lips. She cocks her head as if she’s assessing him and right in that moment, I can see how she was raised.

By a mom who taught her how to stand up for herself, who didn’t give a shit about what other people thought. I begin cleaning my hands with a damp towel, ready to whisk her away if this goes poorly.

“Yes, partially,” she says, not a tremble in her voice. “I don’t think I could be completely fulfilled by a job.”

“Oh?” There is so much criticism bubbling in his tone that I place my hand on Paige’s thigh and squeeze. Even I don’t know if it’s in warning or support. I hold my breath.

“Dad,” I warn. No one listens to me.

Paige’s smile is sincere, but there’s an edge to it. “I think it’s quite small-minded to assume a job is the only thing that can fulfill our lives, don’t you agree?”

I think we’re all holding our breath now. Did she call my dad small-minded? If I wasn’t in love with her before, I definitely am now.

My dad’s eyes flash with something I can’t place.

“I beg to disagree.” His gaze flicks to me and then back to Paige. “I think having stability and a sense of accomplishment, a sense of making the world better by providing essential care and help, is the most fulfilling thing one can do. It lifts everything in life.”

Paige nods like she’s considering the words.

“Interesting.”

One word. That’s all it takes. That single word holds her disagreement. I trade nervous looks with Isabel. I dare to glance at my mom, who has her glass raised to her mouth. Is she ... smirking?!

“What do you find interesting about that?” My dad’s voice is so calm. Like an ocean before a storm. I don’t think I’ve ever witnessed anyone but myself challenge him. Though I know my mom does it in private, I’ve never seen it.

“Interesting that you feel a job is the best way to benefit society. I would think that bringing your sons and daughter into the world and raising them to be amazing people would also impact the world in a positive way.”

Holy shit.

“I never said that was not an accomplishment.”

“But not as significant as your career?”

My dad is quiet. My dad. Quiet .

Paige continues when he doesn’t answer. “If you were to lose them, Mr. Ashford, would you still feel fulfilled?” Her voice does not tremble. This time I know the squeeze I give her thigh is of support. I’m not too proud to let my partner fight my battles.

She’s fighting for both of us. I’ll have to thank her later.

“Because I can tell you right now, having lost both my parents, there isn’t a job in the whole damn world that can fill that void.”

My dad stares at her and his stony face softens a fraction. Softens .

“And if you’re telling me that you value your son’s job over his happiness—if you’re tying his happiness to the arbitrary idea of ‘impact’ you’ve deemed acceptable—then you are telling me you really value your own selfishness. Which does not make a positive impact on society, I might add.”

My dad’s eyes widen. How many times have I tried to tell him the same thing? Though I’m not as straightforward.

“So no, to answer your question, I am not fulfilled solely by my job. I love it, yes, but I find value in loving others. In taking care of them. In helping them become the best people they can be. Because being a positive influence on someone’s life means I have a positive influence on the world, Mr. Ashford. And I find that very fulfilling.”

Paige takes a bite of coleslaw into her mouth as if she doesn’t care that everyone is staring at her with a mixture of awe and trepidation. I want to kiss her so badly right now.

My dad clears his throat and looks right at me. “I like her.”