9Liz walked out of Adams bedroom dressed in a pair of his boxers and overly sized T-shirt. Frank was bent over the island in the kitchen, leaning on his elbow eating Adams wet burrito.
"Frank, that was suppose to be for Adam." She said smiling.
"We'll tell him the cat ate it" He said from a stuffed mouth.
"Frank...you don't have a cat" She said trying not to laugh as she sat down at a stool in the corner.
"...We don't?" He said looking up dubiously, fork in hand like a wand." She laughed and glanced around as Frank dove back into the burrito zealously. You walked in to the kitchen, small with a five foot by four foot island in the middle, just two feet or so beyond the island was a living room, there were large square windows at the opposite wall with the only expensive thing in the house, a large flat screen TV. To your right was a hall with two bedrooms and a bathroom. Adams bedroom was at the end of the hall. She liked it the best because there was a small sun roof in it, why, she never knew. It seemed a odd place to put one. But it was wonderful at night.
"So" She said after a long pause.
"Hmph?" Mumbled Frank through mouthfuls.
"Adams gonna be out until late?" She asked. Frank nodded discarding the empty styrofoam box into the over heaped trash can. He walked past her to the couch and flopped down clicking on the TV, unlike Adam, Frank didn't surf, he switched to a station which was playing JAW's. Liz walked over and sat down beside him, drawing her knees to her chest.
When the comercials came on Frank muted the TV and turned to her.
"So whats on your mind cupcake?" He asked.
"What do you mean?" Liz asked still watching the TV.
"Liz, my beautiful little ray of sunshine, you are the biggest chatter box I know, you never wait for commercials to talk unless your tired, angry, or sad. And you don't seem very tired. So whats up." He said. She shrugged. He sighed and turned the TV off.
"Come on, spill it girly."
She glanced at him, he usually wasn't this persistent, was she THAT obvious?
"Is Adam...I mean, is Adam disapointed in me?" She asked. Frank seemed perplexed and leaned away from her for a moment.
"Why would he be disappointed in you?" He questioned. Her face turned red and she looked away.
"Oh...because you guys haven't done it yet, ya mean?" She glared at him but he shrugged. "I hate to tell ya this Sugar, but when two guys not only live together, but work together, and AREN'T gay, they talk about few things. Most of the time its girls, sex, and eating. And some other disgusting things I won't discuss while a lady is present."
She smiled but looked down at her feet and didn't answer.
"Liz hes not disappointed in you about that...I think in a way hes disappointed in himself. He feels like hes doing something wrong, or hes pushing you, but a guys a guy." He stated. She frowned, that seemed like a pretty bogus answer.
"Liz the important thing is you know he isn't mad at you about that."
"But he had this look on his face tonight, Frank. It was so...odd"
"When did he give you the look?" Frank asked. Liz told him the nights events, about Lucar, the cello, the dinner, Adam leaving. But she stopped it at that, not wanting to go into the weird conversation in the cab.
"Liz, your blind as a bat, ya know that? Did you ever think hes jealous?" Said Frank smiling. Liz's for head scrunched for a moment before she smoothed it out.
"Jelous? Why?" She asked.
"Because this Lucar guy, you talk about him as if the sun rises and sets on him" Said Frank.
"I do?" She said feeling stupid. Frank went to answer just as the door open and Adam walked in. Frank glanced at Liz then turned the TV back on. Adam raised his eyebrows at her but she turned and watched the TV too. She felt like a utter idiot. How didn't she realize that she had been talking about him like that. No wonder Adam had seemed so miffed with her at dinner. And the other thing. She thought she wasn't sleeping with him because he was doing something wrong? That wasn't it at all!"
"Hey" He said sitting down next to her. He lifted up his arm and she curled up under it, leaning against his chest, his arm wrapping around her. He laughed as she kicked Frank when he reached out and tried to tickle her foot.
They finished watching JAW's, Liz was falling asleep on Adams arm when he shook her slightly, she opened her eyes to see him smiling at her.
"Come on, lets go to bed" He said tugging on her. She felt her face go red knowing Frank was staring at her. Adam looked confused for a minute before glaring over at Frank.
"Well I'm going to bed" He said quickly jumping off the couch and disappearing down the hall.
"I'm gonna kill him one day..." He said quietly. He tugged on Liz's arm, she got up and followed Adam down the hall. She loved his room, it was dark and you could hear a mix of traffic and crickets from his windows. It would annoy most people, but it was like a lullaby to Liz.
She curled up on his bed, Adam slipped off everything but his boxers a T and curled up behind her, his arms wrapping protectively around her. She snuggled into him feeling safe and instantly comfortable and sleepy. Adam wasn't however.
"What did you and Frank talk about while I was gone" He asked. But it didn't really sound like a question. She knew he knew. She just shrugged keeping her eyes closed.
"Liz..." He said. She could hear the annoyed tone in his voice. She sighed, then rolled over to face him, but ended up whiming out and staring at his chest insted.
"We...I...I asked him if you were disapointed in me" She felt Adam stiffen for a moment.
"Why would I be disappointed in you?" He asked. He almost sounded hurt.
"Because...we haven't...I mean...I haven't let you...and...um.." She pushed her face against his chest wanting to just disappear. He paused for a minute, then she felt his hand hook her chin, she tried to fight it, but he pulled it up to face him.
"Do you really think I'd be disapointed because you didn't want to have sex with me?" He said. He really did look hurt.
"Adam, but you don't get it, I do want to...I mean...ugh." She said. Her face felt like someone had just layed a scolding plate to it.
"So why haven't we?" He asked. "I feel like I'm doing something wrong."
"No! Adam...its not that at all..its just..."
"What Liz?" He asked. She glanced away from his face since he wouldn't let her move her head.
"I...I wanted to wait until I was engaged to do this. I want to know that who I give ... thatto isn't just going to leave. There going to be there for a long time." There was a unbearable silence. His hand slipped away from her face, he wrapped his arms around her and hugged her tight. Her arms were folded up against her chest, her head laying against his chest.
"You know I never will leave you, don't you?" He asked. She paused and nodded.
"No Liz, I mean it. You do know that right? If we did do anything, you know I wouldn't just leave."
"Adam...If someone told you to walk across a ravine on a rope bridge, would you?"
"Liz I don't see-"
"Just answer the question."
"...No" He said.
"Why?"
"Because its a rope...it would be so easy to just fall off, or for it to break."
"And if it was a wooden bridge with guard rails and such?" She asked.
"...Yeah, I'd walk on that."
"Why"
"Because its more stable"
"Exactly. Adam, I know you are sincere when you say you'll never leave me. But saying it, and putting the word into some sort of action are two different things. I've seen it with my friends, people I thought were really, really in love, and then one day, the guy, or the girl, was just gone. And you find out the words...were just that. Just words. A ring, even a cheap ring, added with those words, takes the effort, the actto show me you mean what you say, what you want, and what your willing to do, and give up for it. Even a cheap ring is something I can look at, its not the expense, the size of the diamond or whatever, its the symbol, what the ring stands for, the promise that was made when given. . .right now its like your asking me to walk across a rope bridge. . .Adam I love you more then I've ever loved anything in my entire life, and I can say that without guilt, hesitation, or doubt. . .but you asking me, or pushing me, to do this. . . if its that important to you, then its important enough for you to purpose, because I see both as equally important. With that ring I'd be walking across a wooden bridge, with guard rails, holding your hand. Its also a matter of respect, Adam. I'd feel like you respect me if I had that. To show I'm not just a girlfriend your sleeping with, but a fiance you care for and are making love with...do you understand?"
Liz finished feeling relived but terrified. There was a long lapsing silence as she waited for him to answer. He hadn't moved, interrupted, or anything. Just silence.
"Yes" He finely said. She paused.
"Are you mad?" She asked.
"No." He wrapped his arms around her and hugged her tight.
"I won't push you about it, and even if they are just words, I swear to you Lizzy, I will never leave you."
For the next hour they both layed there in silence, both of their eyes closed, but both very, very, awake.