CHAPTER FIVE

"I should be the one saying that. You have grown from what you used to be" Flint said, hugging him

"You still have your sense of humor" Adam said

"Of course. I was so surprised to see Ivy. How time flies when you are busy. How have you been?" he asked

"I've been good. The last I heard of you was that you were joining the navy" Adam said

"I am a full fledged member of the navy now. Just came back home after eight months of deportation. It is good to be back in these parts" Flint said

"So what brings you to my house?" Adam asked

"I actually came to invite you to my wedding. I would be getting married in two months and I want you to be my best man" Flint said

"Married? Who would think the almighty Flint would one day settle down with a woman?" Adam teased

"I was always going to settle down eventually. All the playboy lifestyle in highschool isn't my thing anymore. I mean, it once was but now, I just want the peace that comes with being with one person" Flint said

"I am happy for you" Adam said

"And what about you? Still the playboy?"Flint asked

Adam was about to answer when Liz walked down the stairs

"Actually, I am not. I have found someone I want to spend the rest of my life with but I have not made things official yet" Adam said

"Why the delay?" Flint asked

"I don't know, I just don't think marriage is something I want to rush into. I am not trying to discourage you or anything but I don't think I would willingly jump into a marriage except I am a hundred percent sure about what I am doing" Adam said

"I think I am. I don't even want to be delayed by anything, not anymore. While on the battle field, one thing I discovered and learnt the hardest of ways is that life is to short. So whatever you have to do, do it now. Don't waste your time, thinking about a future that you have little or no control over. You can only control your present actions" Flint said

"That is a very wise thing to say. I would think about it" Adam said

Flint nodded at him and his phone rang, interrupting his conversation.

"We were just about to have lunch. Would you mind joining us?" Adam asked

"I would love to but I have to get going. Apparently, my parents just landed and I have to go pick them up" he said

"Alright. I hope you come around again, before the wedding" Adam said

"You are my best man, I am pretty sure I would be dropping by every now and then" he said to him

"That would be very much appreciated" Adam said

"Also, I have your number. I think we would stay in touch" Flint said as he got up from where he was seated

Adam took his hand and saw him to the door

"It is so good to see you, once again" Adam said

"The pleasure is all mine" he said

He walked out and Adam closed the door behind him. He turned around and he saw Liz standing behind him.

"Hey, what's going on?" he asked

"I need your help. I need to borrow your laptop" she said

"What for?" he asked

"I have some spill overs from work that I ought to have finished up since Friday but I couldn't"

"My laptop is in my room. You can finish up with work and maybe after that, we can talk about things" he said

"Yeah, if that's okay with you" she said to him

She gave him a little smile and headed up to his room when Ivy appeared out of nowhere

"So that's it? You have to step up your game if you want to keep your woman" she said to him

"And what does my dearest sister know about relationships?" he asked her

"A lot actually. At least, I know that things are not fine between the both of you and I know that you would never get to completely fix it because you keep putting your work over your girlfriend. I am not saying it is a bad thing, hear me out. I am just saying that you should make time for what is important to you and if what you have with her is important, then make time for it, for her. Don't become lonely because you're trying to be successful" Ivy said

"I totally understand you but if she was working at the company..."

"It would have been the same thing, Adam! You still wouldn't have time for her. I went all out on her today, telling her how bad I'll hate her if she cheated on you and now that I think about it, it was totally unfair of me to have said that to her because it is your fault, Adam. Make time for her before someone else does"

She said as she patted him on his shoulder and walked away. He looked at her. She was right. He headed up to his room to talk to Liz. He knocked gently before opening the door

"Liz, can we talk?" he asked

"Yeah"

"Look, about last night. Things got out of hand. I thought you were flirting with your boss and I didn't handle it so well. I am sorry. I have been busy and I am finding it so hard to balance my work and my emotional life. I want you to know that I would always care about you. I love you, Liz. I love you more than anything in the world. I just need time to adjust. Once the company can stand on its own again, I would be back to normal" he said

"And till then?" she asked

"Till then, I would make time for you. I would try to fix you into my every plan although that might affect your work schedule" he said

"I don't mind" she said to him

He smiled at her and kissed her. She kissed him back

"Then let's start now. Let me take you out for dinner"

"Really?" She asked, surprised

"Yes, really. I would take you anywhere you want. Tonight, it's just us. No work, no calls, no running off" He said

She smiled at him. He was really trying to make up and she knew this. She also knew he was a busy person

"Are you sure you want to do this?" She asked him

"Yes I am. Don't you?" he asked her back

"You know I want to spend time with you but you have so much on your plate and I can't take all your time"

"It is Saturday and I already called in sick. There is no big deal about it. Besides, I own the company. Whoever has questions about when I resume or don't resume should bring the questions to my table, first thing on Monday morning" he said

"Are you completely fine with it?" she asked

"What's with all these questions? I am trying to make time for us and it is starting to feel like you don't want that even though you've been asking for it for weeks now"

"Don't think like that, Adam. Ofcourse I want it, I just don't want it at the expense of your company" she said

"Everything would be fine at the company. Pick a place and let me know if I have to make a reservation ahead" he said to her

"Of course you would have to. Maybe we can just eat somewhere simple or better still, let's go see a movie"

"You want to go see a movie? With me?" he asked

"Yes, why do you sound so surprised?" she asked

"You never want to go to crowded places with me. What changed?" he asked

"Nothing changed. The movie house is not a crowded place" she said, defending herself

"Yet, you've always opted to watch the movie at home instead. What is going on?" he said

"Nothing is. I just don't think I should hide the fact that I am in a relationship with you anymore. It's been what? two years and I think it's time the public know who you're with" she said

"And you don't care about the rumors?"

"I have cared about it long enough. The media is always going to be the media, Adam. Nothing is ever going to change about them. I can't put my entire life on hold because of the media. It doesn't happen that way" she said

"I don't know what to say. A part of me is glad that you are saying all this but another part is not so glad about it. I don't want you to do any of this because of me"

"I am not doing it because of you. I'm doing it because I should have done it a long time ago. I still don't want a public relationship but a secret one isn't what I want either. So whatever it is going to be, let it be" she said to him.