I look around. “Where’s Finn?”
“He went downstairs to the gym.”
I should’ve done the same. Instead, I responded to Lennon’s message to come to their room, and Finn is suspiciously missing.
I sink down onto the couch, leaning forward and resting my elbows on my knees. Dust motes dance in an arc of sunlight shining through the window. Last night’s rain has given way to today’s clear skies.
“What’s up?” I ask Lennon, the reluctance plain in my voice. “I hear I’m a fool?”
“I talked to Addison last night.”
My head turns sharply to meet Lennon’s gaze.
“How?”
“I was in the lobby, looking for someone who was late with my dinner, and saw Addison out front getting her car. There was an opportunity and I took it.”
Great. Just great. “And?”
“This is how I know you’re a fool.” Lennon blinks, waiting, but I don’t say anything. She continues. “Addison loves you, Brady.”
I breathe out a short, angry stream of air from my nose. “Right. And she also loves Warren. Therein lies the problem.”
Lennon rolls her eyes.
Was she always this willing to display her true emotions? I don’t remember a lot of eye-rolling and being called a fool before. But that was back when she was managing my feelings. She no longer has to worry about that. This turned corner in our friendship is interesting, but not necessarily bad.
“You’re being an ass, Brady.” She crosses her arms.
I can’t help my smirk. “So now I’m a fool and an ass?”
“Yes. You’re a foolish ass. She’s not in love with Warren. You didn’t let her finish yesterday when she went after you in the rain.”
My mouth drops open. “She told you everything?”
Lennon nods. “She needed someone to hear her out. Which is how I know that she loves him in a perfectly normal way. The way you love someone who loved you once upon a time.” Lennon takes my hand. “She loves Warren the same way I love you now, Brady. I love what we almost were, because it’s a part of our story and a part of my story as an individual. It’s an experience I’ll treasure, because of what it taught me. You’re a part of me, but I’m not in love with you. Warren is a part of Addison, but she’s not in love with him.”
My stomach sinks to somewhere around my kneecaps. “Oh, shit.”
Lennon grins. “That’s what Addison said last night when I jumped in the passenger seat of her car and introduced myself.”
I want to laugh, but I can’t push the sound past the forlorn feeling in my chest. “When I talked to Warren, he told me in no uncertain terms that he was here to fight for Addison, and he was going to use all the tools in his arsenal, including the underhanded ones. He has no problem exploiting her guilt and using it to his advantage. What if it works? What if he tips the scale in his favor?”
“That will only happen if you keep being a foolish ass and don’t let Addison tell you herself how she feels.” Lennon tugs on my hand, forcing me to meet her gaze again. “You might not want a competition, but I’m afraid Warren has brought it to you anyway. You fought for me for years, Brady. Are you exhausted, or afraid of losing again?”
I rub the bridge of my nose with my finger. “A little of both, probably.” I don’t like admitting it.
“Great. Now, it’s time to get out of your own way. And if you don’t fight for her, then I will. And I’ll fight dirty just like her ex, because nobody suspects a pregnant woman.” She pats her belly and smiles triumphantly.
I wrap an arm around Lennon’s shoulders and pull her into me. Her hair smells like the Lennon I remember, but it doesn’t do things to my heart the way it used to. My heart wants only Addison.
“I love you, Lennon.”
She hugs me back. “I love you too, Brady.”
Finn walks into the room, sweaty, eyeing us with a bottle of water tipped up to his lips. “Should I be worried?” He asks the question in a voice that holds no concern.
I release Lennon and stand up, striding across the small room. Patting his back, I say, “Here, hold my trophy while I kiss your girlfriend.”
Finn spits out his mouthful of water, some of it flying into the air and some of it dribbling down his chin. “I forgot about that shirt,” he says, smiling and wiping the back of his hand across his chin.
“Ugh, I didn’t.” Lennon’s lip curls.
Finn goes to Lennon, using one finger to lift her face for a kiss. “That shirt was awesome.”
“Seventh grade Finn was awesome,” she clarifies. “Seventh grade Finn’s shirt was not awesome.”
“Bye, guys,” I say from the door. If I waited for their banter to cease, I’d be waiting for hours.
“Where are you going?” Lennon asks with a cautiously excited expression.
“To win my girl.”
“Yes!” she whoops, tossing her hands in the air. She high-fives Finn. “It worked,” she tells him, continuing her celebration dance.
I slip out the door and hustle back to my room. I need to hurry if I’m going to make it to the results of the baking competition.
* * *
Lonesome Day is in full swing. Main Street has been blocked off by local police, so I’m forced to park my truck a couple blocks from the bakery and hustle.
I turn the corner and see people crammed onto the front lawn at Lucy’s, hovering on the sidewalk and spilling out into the street. A rectangular table sits on a platform, and five people are positioned behind it.
The table holds seven trays of baked goods. It must be the goods made by each entrant, which means one of them is Addison’s. I search the trays for treats I recognize, and three from the left I spot butterscotch blondies piled beside rows of cupcakes and muffins.
I walk through the crowd, my eyes seeking out every blonde and quickly eliminating them all. Where is Addison? She has to be here somewhere.
A loud voice booms through the crowd. “People, we have a winner!”
My gaze swings up to the stage, where Lucy, the owner of the bakery, stands with her arms open. “This wasn’t easy, but there was one tray of goodies that pulled ahead with a special treat we all have an affinity for.” She beams. “Addison West, I hope your blueberry muffins are permanently on the menu at your new bakery!”
The crowd lets loose with a raucous cheer. Lucy’s eyes scan everyone, looking for Addison just like I am. Her smile wavers every second that passes without Addison’s presence.
“Uh, our winner seems to be missing in action,” Lucy says, her tone confused and slightly annoyed.
I raise my hand, maneuvering my way through the crowd. “Lucy, hi, I’m Brady, Addison’s boyfriend.”
Relief makes Lucy’s chest sag. “Everyone, Addison sent a proxy to accept her win.” She points at me. “This is her boyfriend, Brady.”
I turn and face the group. All the gazes are excited and expectant, until my stare lands on a frown of disapproval.
Warren.
I look away from his sour face, addressing the group. “Addison had something important to take care of. When she learns she won the competition, you will probably hear her celebration from wherever you are in town.”
A collective chuckle rolls through. I don’t look at Warren, because I don’t give a shit how he’s feeling right now.
“On behalf of Addison, thank you to everyone who came out today” —I sweep my arm behind me— “to the judges for being willing to make what was undoubtedly a tough choice, and to the fellow competitors who worked hard and gave my girl a run for her money.” I step away from the front with a nod and a smile.
There is more applause and a few claps on my back as I make my way into the crowd. I offer polite smiles and thank you’s, but my focus doesn’t stay on any one person for long. I want to find Addison.
People move past me, surging forward, ready to sample the trays of treats now that the event is over. I’m tall enough to see over the heads of three quarters of th
e people here, and when I look up to the judges table, I see a certain someone surreptitiously swipe a blueberry muffin from the tray Addison baked.
Beatrice. Her thick eyebrows draw together as she takes an angry bite from the top of the muffin, not bothering to peel off the wrapper. Her features soften and her eyes close. The look of enjoyment lasts for only a second. Her eyes snap open and her gaze darts around, checking to make sure she hasn’t been caught. She doesn’t see me.
I can’t wait to tell Addison about Beatrice. But, of course, first I have to find her.
I slip onto the sidewalk. I’m going to start my search at Sweet Escape, and if Addison isn’t there, I’m going to look every place I can think of.
“Brady,” a deep voice behind me says my name.
I’m slow to turn around, mostly because I don’t have time for this right now.
“Warren.” I tip my chin down in greeting.
“You’re an asshole, you know that?”
My eyes look fixedly over Warren, considering his position. Maybe I am an asshole. But I’ve been the nice guy my whole life, never making waves.
I want Addison, and if I have to be an asshole to get the girl I plan to love until I’m old and wrinkled, then so be it.
“Yep,” I say to Warren. “I know that. And I also know what it feels like to be in love with someone and not be the guy they choose. But I got over it. And you will too. I wish you the best man, I really do. But this happily ever after belongs to me, not you.”
I leave him open-mouthed and walk away, and when I get in my truck I point it toward Sweet Escape.
* * *
“I’m sorry, Brady, she’s not here. She hasn’t been home since this morning when she left for the bake-off.” Louisa’s apology floats through the air in the open doorway.
With a pang, I realize it’s not only Addison I’ve missed, but Louisa too.
I back up a step. “Would you mind if I explored the woods a little? There’s a spot we went to once…”
“Have at it, Brady.”
I thank her and head down the front porch steps, stopping only when Louisa calls out to me.
“Did she win?”
I turn back, beaming with pride. “She won.”
“I knew it!” Louisa pumps her fist into the air.
I continue on around the side of the house, over the slope of the backyard, past my cabin, and onto the path. I keep going, winding my way deeper and deeper, until I reach my destination.
But my hopes of finding her at the amphitheater are dashed. I stand at the top of the steps and look around. Nothing is here but dirt and pine straw.
Disappointed, I walk back through the woods and out to my truck. Louisa stands on the front porch, and we lock eyes. Her raised eyebrows ask the question, and the shake of my head answers it.
I get back in my truck and pull onto the main road.
By late afternoon, I’ve checked every place I can think of. My heart sinks lower and lower with every failed stop.
Finally I head back to my room at the hotel.
It’s my fault she’s gone. My fear kept me from listening to her.
Tomorrow, I’ll call my dad. I’ve never asked him to pull strings for me, but I’m not above it. Not when it comes to finding Addison. He must know someone who can search her transactions, find out where she last spent money.
I slip my key card in the slot. When the light flashes green, I push open the door, walking slowly inside with shoulders that feel so heavy I don’t want to stand upright any longer.
“Hi.”
A soft voice reaches into me, its sound a melody.
* * *
I rush forward, the weight suddenly gone from my shoulders.
Addison hurries to me. “Brady, I—”
My lips swallow her words. I’ve been accused of not listening to her; one more time won’t hurt. My fingers thread through the hair at the nape of her neck, my other hand grips her hip possessively. She moans into my mouth, and I swallow that too.
My tongue slips into the seam her lips create, and she parts them quickly. We’re needy, desperate. Our kisses become apologies and our touches feel like promises.
Addison pushes me toward the bed, grabbing at my shirt as we go. We’re a flurry of eager hands, our breathing turning to panting as we attempt to rid one another of clothes.
Addison lies back, her hair fanning out around her as I lean over her. I place a kiss on her heart.
“So sorry,” I murmur against her.
“Me too,” she says, her breath heavy.
Pushing myself up on my forearm, I drag a fingertip across her ribcage, over her hip, and down her thigh. Curling a hand around the back of her knee, I hitch it up and she wraps it around my back.
“I’ve missed you.” My voice is thick with everything I’m feeling.
Addison’s eyes are clear and bright. She stares up at me, her eyes roaming over my face. “So much,” she agrees. Her arms encircle my neck, pulling my face down to hers.
She kisses me deeply, devouring, her lips meshing against mine.
Her chest rises with a sharp intake of breath when I push inside her. A hot rush of air slips through my teeth. Addison feels like a home I don’t ever want to leave.
Burying my face in Addison’s neck, I work to show her how much she means to me, how sorry I am for the past few days.
With my lips, I tell her I love her, with my body I show her how deeply I cherish her.
She is not just a good thing. She is the very best.
29
Addison
“Don’t go,” Brady groans, reaching for me from his spot under the covers.
I laugh, stepping back from the edge of the bed so he can’t reach me. “I need to. I told him I’d be there by now.”
Brady lifts his head from the pillow, grimacing. “I still think I should go with you. He might try to lie and tell you I’m bowing out again.” His lips draw together in a hard line.
I shake my head. We went through this last night, after we came up for air. We’d ordered room service and Brady finally let me tell him everything, and that was when we discovered Warren’s lie. I could be angry with him, but I’m not. I don’t have it in me, not when he’s been through so much, and traveled here to find me.
When I’d said I needed to see Warren and make sure he understood we were over, Brady tried to convince me to let him tag along.
He’s a very good lawyer, and I have a feeling he was using some fancy lawyer tactics on me, but I didn’t waver. What I’m going to tell Warren will be hard enough on him; he doesn’t need an audience.
“What are you going to do while I’m gone?” I ask, slipping my feet into my shoes.
Brady sits up, looking around the room. “Pack, so I can go back to Sweet Escape. Assuming your grandma hasn’t given away my cabin by now.”
“Don’t worry,” I tell him, running his hairbrush through my hair. I look down at the clothes I wore yesterday. A little rumpled, but they’ll do. “The cabin is still yours.”
“How long will you be?” He frowns as he speaks.
“Not long. My day is pretty full, and I want to get started on it. I have to go by the bakery and hear how exactly I’m going to officially take over the space. I want to write down my ideas and figure out what’s a priority.” A smile splits my face as I talk. I can’t believe I won. The space will be mine, and not anybody else’s. Nobody can kick me out when they think I’ve misbehaved.
“And you have to leave room for your boyfriend,” Brady adds, winking at me. He climbs from the bed, naked, beams of sunlight sweeping over him.
He sees me eyeing him in all his glory and smirks. “Don’t you have somewhere to be?”
“Yes,” I say through gritted teeth. “I’ll come back here when I’m finished downstairs.” With superhuman strength, I drag myself from the room and down to the lobby.
* * *
Warren watches me as I approach. The air around him has changed.
; He’s no longer trying.
“Hi.” I wave, taking a seat opposite him.
“You came from the elevator. Not the entrance.” He says it matter-of-factly.
“Yes.” It’s a confirmation he doesn’t need.
“You’ve made your choice, then?”
I stare at him, at the face I loved, the face that kissed me goodnight and made me smoothies in the morning. For me, this relationship was over a long time ago. For him, this wound is new.
I don’t tell him what I told Brady last night. I don’t tell him how there was never a competition, because Brady was my first and only choice.
I tell him I’ve chosen, and that my choice is Brady.
“I don’t know what to say. I’m sorry.” My eyes fill with tears. I hate what I’m doing to him, but I’d hate a life without Brady even more.
I used to think sacrifices were a selfless act, and perhaps some are. But I’m willing to break a person’s heart in the quest for my happy ending, and that’s about as selfish as it gets. It’s not like I’m the only one; it happens everywhere, all day long.
Right now, this sacrifice is the only one I care about.
“Warren, I have to be honest with you.” I take a deep breath, because he deserves the truth. “Before your accident, I was having doubts about us.”
His head jerks back. “Were you going to break things off?”
“No, I wasn’t. I would’ve married you.”
He balls up a napkin, angrily tossing it on the table. “I guess you were happy when the coma took care of your problem for you.”
I shake my head quickly, horrified at his words. “Not at all. Just because I wasn’t certain about us doesn’t mean I didn’t love you. I grieved you, Warren. It took me months to feel well again.”
“How nice.”
I flinch at his biting sarcasm but forge on since I know I’m the one who caused it. “I appreciate that you came here.” His hand rests on the table, and I place my hand on top. He starts to pull away, but I press down firmly, stopping him. “I want the best for you, Warren. I want you to find happiness with someone.”
One Good Thing Page 23