New Jersey. Princeton.
Leonard's little smear campaign? Adam, who'd ducked out with a phone call excuse, had no clue about it. Even if he did, he'd probably just laugh it off. Honestly, he might even prefer it that way.
Once, drunk, I whipped a famous horse; I feared too much passion would wear out a beauty.
Leonard could never understand that kind of melancholy.
Right now, Adam's focus was entirely on Paige. As he headed toward her apartment, he listened to Lisa give him the rundown on Paige's week.
"Paige's mom still hasn't come back?"
"Nope," Lisa said, shaking her head. "She called once, said she's at her boyfriend's hometown. Apparently, he landed a big gig, so she's staying there for a while."
"What, boyfriend takes priority over her daughter now?" Adam chuckled, shaking his head. "What's the guy do?"
"He's a furniture designer, I think," Lisa replied after a moment. "Used to work at a big company, quit recently. Met Paige's mom while on a break, and it was love at first sight. Now he's starting his own business—designing and making furniture back in his hometown, some little place in Washington."
"Huh, interesting." Adam nodded. "How's Paige taking it?"
"She doesn't seem to care much," Lisa said with a grin. "She's a total science nut. Ever since I moved in across the hall to look after her, she's been lost in her thoughts or scribbling equations. Barely says a word to me."
"Has she mentioned me at all?" Adam couldn't help but ask.
"Nope." Lisa shot him a weird look.
Seriously?
Her flirty boss was acting like this?
Guess a beautiful scientist's charm really was something else.
Seeing Lisa's expression, Adam's mouth twitched. He'd just asked offhand—did she have to make a thing of it?
They'd reached the apartment building by then, so he dropped it and headed upstairs.
Outside Apartment 3A, the sound of a guitar melody drifted through the door. Adam perked up instantly.
"Paige really loves that little ukulele guitar you gave her," Lisa said with a smile. "She plays it every now and then."
Adam glanced at her. Lisa lowered her eyes, but a sly smirk tugged at her lips.
This little tease.
Adam knew she was messing with him, but he wasn't mad. Lisa was young, and looking after Paige probably worked better with a bit of playful energy anyway.
He didn't barge in. Instead, he lingered outside, listening quietly, picturing Paige cradling the ukulele and strumming away.
Suddenly, a clear, sweet voice joined the guitar. Paige was singing.
"Two months ago, I was still a teenager. A week ago, I officially went from girl to woman. A few days ago, I wrote this song."
Her voice was captivating, but the lyrics made Adam's mouth twitch. A bad feeling crept up on him.
What is this? Personal experience turned into a song?
No way. No way. Please, no…
"Looking back on growing up, when things got tough and confusing, I stumbled, even thought about giving up. But lucky for me, I had a half-friend—a dork, and half an idiot…"
Lisa couldn't hold it in. She covered her mouth and turned away, avoiding Adam's gaze.
His face darkened.
Of course. What I feared most.
Paige really was an experiential songwriter. Fine, put your life into your lyrics—but calling Sheldon a dork was one thing. Why drag him into it as "half an idiot"? That was too much.
Adam's teeth itched with annoyance. Seeing Lisa still snickering, he shooed her off.
After listening to the whole self-written, self-sung performance from outside, he finally pushed the door open.
Inside, Paige sat on the couch, hugging her tiny ukulele. She looked up at him as he entered.
"You're here~"
That smile, that tone—half of Adam's irritation melted away instantly.
Whatever.
Why should a grown man like him squabble with a girl like her? For a science-obsessed free spirit like Paige, teasing you meant she cared. Otherwise, she'd just ignore you completely.
One day, when his IQ climbed higher and his math research got deeper, he'd blow her mind with something big. Then she'd see who's the "half-idiot."
"Heard you like that little guitar?" Adam said, sitting beside her with a grin.
"It's a song I wrote and composed myself. Do you like it?" Paige countered, ignoring his question.
"…" Adam's mouth tugged to one side. "The melody's nice."
"You showed up at the perfect time." Paige set the ukulele down, threw her arms around his neck, and giggled. "My ideas aren't flowing like they did last Sunday. I'm running low on inspiration."
I'm not your inspiration muse! Adam screamed internally. But his body? It was like it'd been hexed—completely out of his control.
The wind howls, the river runs cold. A hero rides forth, never to return.
With a dramatic, tragic flair, Adam scooped Paige up and strode toward the bedroom.
Noon.
Across the hall in Apartment 3B, Lisa was torn. Normally, she'd bring Paige lunch around now. But today, the boss was here…
Maybe a phone call?
After agonizing for an hour—well past lunchtime—she finally dialed Adam.
"The number you've reached is turned off."
Lisa blinked at the automated message. When did he turn off his phone?
After a moment's thought, she grabbed her keys, crept over, and quietly unlocked 3A. Then she heard Paige's singing drifting from the bedroom, faintly mixed with Adam's backup vocals. Her face flushed red instantly.
She turned to bolt, but paused at the door. Blushing, she lingered a little longer, eavesdropping, before finally slamming the door shut and scurrying off.
Nightfall.
"Boss?"
Lisa, who'd dozed off without realizing it, picked up a call from Adam.
"I'm on it!" She leaped up, whipping together a big meal. Mid-prep, she dialed her old boss, Ada, asking her to send someone to buy a new guitar and drop it off.
After bustling around, the guitar arrived. She grabbed it, packed up the food, and headed over, knocking on the bedroom door.
"Boss?"
"Just leave it on the dining table," Adam's voice called back, tinged with Paige's playful laughter.
"Got it." Lisa set down the food and guitar, then hightailed it out of there.
If she stayed any longer, she wouldn't be able to drag herself out of bed tomorrow.
Once she was gone, the bedroom door cracked open. Adam, wearing next to nothing, peeked out, dashed to grab the food and guitar, and slipped back inside.
"Wanna eat something first?" he asked, opening the takeout container and setting it by the bed with a smile, glancing at Paige nestled in the covers.
"Not hungry." Paige poked her head out, her bright eyes lighting up at the new guitar. "Let's play something together! I remember you started that Fruit Hard Candy band way back. This time, play my song—I'll teach you."
"Sure, why not?" Adam felt refreshed, not the slightest urge to say no.
He set the food aside, handed Paige her little ukulele, picked up the new guitar, and sat across from her. They locked eyes, grinned, and started strumming together…