“Nope. Just Michael. Trust me, he’s enough.” Adam’s eyes met hers. “Do you have any siblings?”

“No, it’s just me,” she said, feeling the internal cringe that always happened whenever someone asked her that question. “I, uh, was adopted by a couple who couldn’t conceive. They’d planned to adopt again, but after getting me, things sort of changed.”

Adam grinned. “You must’ve been quite a handful.”

She smiled, realizing what he thought. “No, it wasn’t me that changed their minds.”

“Yeah, sure. That’s what they all say.”

“Actually, I’m telling the truth,” she stated, feeling a sudden weight on her chest. “My mom, uh…passed away when I was only six.”

He blinked, surprise registering in his eyes. “Oh. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said—”

“It’s okay,” she said with a shrug. “You didn’t know.”

Adam lowered his voice. “How did she…”

“Lung cancer. Stage four.” Preslee rubbed at her chest absently, remembering how she would lay her tiny hands on her mom’s chest while she slept, wishing a magical fairy would take away her pain so she could breathe easier. “She only lived eight months after her initial diagnosis.”

“I’m sorry.”

Tears pricked her eyes. “Don’t be. My mom was in a lot of pain toward the end. While it was devastating to lose her, it’s comforting to know that she isn’t hurting anymore. And I still have my dad. Although he had to raise me by himself, he’s always treated me as if I was truly his. I couldn’t have asked for more.”

Adam’s eyes softened. “Preslee, I don’t know your dad, but I’m sure he would agree when I say that you are his. Not being biologically related doesn’t make you any less significant. In fact, I think it’s the other way around. Your parents weren’t stuck with you. They chose you.”

Her heart squeezed inside her chest. The guy was just too sweet at times. “Thanks for saying that, Adam. I appreciate it.”

“You don’t have to thank me. I’m just being honest. You’re great. Who wouldn’t want you?”

Well, she could think of a few people. But there was one who stuck out in her mind the most. Him. Preslee began to fidget uncomfortably. “We should, uh, probably get on with the rest of our workout.”

“All right,” Adam said, smiling. “Let’s head over to the weights.”

“Okay.”

Once the strength-training session was over, Preslee went home soaked in sweat and probably smelling like it. After a quick shower, she pulled out her laptop and looked up some mud run competitions online. Mostly because she wanted to know what she had gotten herself into.

Unfortunately, it had been a horrible mistake.