by Lena Nicole
“Huh,” is all Addison says. I look over at her and her eyebrows are drawn down and she’s looking straight ahead.
“What’s wrong?” I ask, completely confused about her sudden mood change.
“Oh, nothing. You just seem really fond of Charlotte. You talk about her a lot, now that I think about it.”
“Well that’s because we work together, and most of my time is spent in the office as of late. Why? You don’t like her? Before your memory came back you guys seemed to get along just fine the one time we all hung out.” I’m not sure if she’s jealous at this point, but she really has no reason to be. Charlotte and I are colleagues and friends, nothing more.
She lets out a sigh. “I know. I don’t know what my problem is. For a minute there, I just thought I recognized a familiarity in your voice that I hadn’t heard in a while. That’s all.” She glances quickly at me.
“You really have nothing to worry about, Addison.” I reach over, place my hand on her knee and gently squeeze to reassure her.
“I know.” After a short pause she says, “We’re here by the way.” Her face is lit up in excitement. I turn my attention away from her and out the window.
Whitewater rafting?
Maybe there’s something else here besides that. Maybe there’s a nice quiet area to have a picnic next to the river or something. I look back over at her still-smiling face. “What are we doing here?”
“Seriously? Can’t you read the sign? We’re going whitewater rafting, silly!” she says as she claps her hands in excitement before exiting the car.
Oh boy. This could be interesting. This is so far out of my element, and I’m very surprised it’s not outside of hers. The Addison I used to know would have never thought to do something like this. We were both content just being together in a quiet place, going to the movies or something low key. Definitely nothing like whitewater rafting.
She grabs my hand and practically drags me to the registration desk. We read and sign the liability forms—seriously, I’ve never been on a date that required a liability form—and get our gear on. We’re sitting in the raft, waiting to take off with the other crazies that think this sort of thing is fun. If I’m being honest with myself, and at the risk of sounding like a major pussy, I’m actually kind of nervous. I’ve seen videos of these things, and they are not always safe.
I’m clutching the oar in my hand, waiting for us to move and steal a glance over at Addison. She is absolutely beaming and practically bouncing in her seat with enthusiasm. How did I miss this when we were together? Was there always this adventurous, adrenaline junkie lying beneath her quiet exterior that I never noticed?
We start moving down the river and I relax a little, since it’s not so bad and not nearly as rough as I was anticipating. As soon as that thought crosses my mind, I realize I spoke too soon. The current quickly picks up and the raft is bouncing from side-to-side, taking on the rapids. My body immediately tenses up as we all paddle as hard as we can to keep from getting stuck in an eddy. Once we make it through that obstacle, we come to a calm place in the river where we can all catch our breaths.
“Are you okay?” I’m barely able to ask, since I’m so out of breath.
“I’m great! Isn’t this fun?” Again, she’s glowing and the sheer excitement shooting off of her is enough to make me smile at her and make this a little bit worth it.
“Yeah, it’s great,” I say in a calmer tone.
We make it the rest of the way down the river without any issues. I’m utterly exhausted by the time we get out of the raft. I’m in fairly good shape and go to the gym frequently, but my arms feel like jello from all the paddling we had to do.
Addison practically skips to her car, floating on cloud nine from our little adventure. Again, I ask myself if we’ve really changed that much in just a year. Well, if she’s changed that much over this past year.
COLIN WAS on the quiet side the whole car ride home from rafting. I’m not sure if he was just exhausted from the physical exertion or if something was bothering him. I was able to catch a couple of glances at him while we were rafting and he didn’t seem like he was having nearly as much fun as I was.
When I saw the ad in the magazine at work, I knew I wanted to try it. I figured it would be something new and fun for both Colin and I to try. I haven’t been able to show him the new adventurous side of me and I thought, “what a great way to start.” I feel kind of bad that he wasn’t into it, but I absolutely loved it. From now on, I will let Colin choose where our dates will be.
Heading over to Pierce’s house, I realize I probably should have taken him with me instead. Stuff like that is more up his alley. I know if I ask him to go with me, he would in a heartbeat. I just hope he doesn’t get upset that I asked Colin to go and not him. I would have asked him to go, but I really wanted to try it with Colin to see how we mesh with this new side of me.
Pulling up to Pierce’s, I get out of the car a bit on the fast side because I’m excited to see Pierce and Ali. I haven’t seen her in a while and I can’t wait to get slobbery kisses from my baby. I walk up to the door and can hear music playing. I know Pierce usually plays music when he is cooking. I doubt he will hear me if I knock, so I decide to just walk in, since he’s expecting me. I try the knob, seeing that it’s unlocked and let myself in. As I close the door and turn around, I’m suddenly frozen in place. I have a vile taste in my mouth and my stomach feels like it’s about to empty its contents. As Ali comes running up to me, scratching my leg for attention, I remain rooted in my spot, staring. My heart aches as anger rises and takes its place. Nothing could have prepared me for what I have just walked in on.
Nothing.
ADDISON SHOULD be here soon, so I’m putting away the last bit of laundry I had folded earlier today. I take another glance around the house, making sure everything is in place before turning on some music. A momentary ache builds in my chest when I look at the items we bought together, like the lamp sitting on the side table next to the couch. I know we’ll have the rest of our lives to pick out other household fixtures that represent us.
There’s a knock on the door, so I yell to her that it’s open. I want her to start feeling comfortable enough to just walk right in again. However, when I get up to greet her, I soon realize that it’s not Addison that has just walked through my door.
It’s Samantha.
What. The. Fuck?
Feeling speechless at the moment, she’s standing before me in a long trench coat, clutching the lapels in both fists. That’s odd, since it’s definitely not cold or raining.
Finding my voice after the initial shock wears off, I ask, “What the hell are you doing here?” I bite the words out through clenched teeth as my patience for her boils over.
“You won’t return my calls or texts, so I thought I’d come see you in person,” she bites her lip seductively but all that causes me to do is frown at her.
“There’s a reason I haven’t returned your messages. Did you ever think of that? I told you at lunch that day exactly where we stood. Why can’t you get it through your thick head that I want nothing to do with you?” I run my hands through my hair and begin to pace. Addison is going to be here any minute and I need to get Samantha out of here before she shows up.
She slowly strides toward me in her stilettos and puts her hand on my forearm. “Pierce, I know you don’t mean that,” she says in a low voice. Before I can respond, she unties her trench coat and lets it slide off her shoulders and down her arms, pooling on the floor. Underneath her trench coat she has on a sheer, black lace lingerie set with matching garter and stockings. My anger finally peaks and I can’t stay calm any longer.
“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?! You need to get the fuck out of here. Now!” I shout at her. The last thing I need is for Addison to see this.
“I know you’re still attracted to me.” She runs her index finger down my chest and I swat it away. “Don’t you think we owe it to ourselves to try again? Now
that you’re not in a serious relationship, I think we should give it another go. We were both young and immature the first time around. We could be great together again. You can’t say you don’t feel this pull between us.”
My mouth falls open in disbelief. It’s official. She’s off her fucking rocker.
“Let’s get one thing straight; I’m not single, Samantha. No, I don’t want to give us another chance. I don’t regret ending things with you at all. And, quite frankly, I don’t think you’ve really changed the kind of person you are, or you wouldn’t be here, half naked, trying to seduce me while your boyfriend is at home scratching his balls.” Her eyes go wide and she opens her mouth to say something, but I cut her off, “Now, get the fuck out of here.”
Too late.
I look up and in the entryway is a stunned Addison. I look back at Samantha who has her hands resting on my chest and know this looks all kinds of bad. How the hell am I going to explain this? Samantha notices the expression on my face and slowly turns around toward Addison. She looks back at me with a devilish grin on her face.
“Hi, Addison, can’t you see you’re kind of interrupting?” she says. Addison’s face pales at this comment and she looks like she’s going to be sick.
“No, this isn’t what it looks like.” I walk quickly across the living room to Addison and reach out to her, but she recoils from my touch. My hands quickly fall to my side as I wait for her to say something.
“What’s going on, Pierce?” she asks quietly. The pain in her eyes as she registers what she thinks she saw rips my heart open. I hate that she thinks I’d ever do this to her.
“She just showed up and I was trying to get her to leave.” That was obviously the wrong thing to say, because her face transforms from pale and stunned to red with pure anger.
“Oh, so I wouldn’t see her? So, how does this work? You schedule her in right before me and get rid of her before I come by? Do you usually give yourself enough time to wash her smell off of you before getting into bed with me?!” Her hands are on her hips as she hurls each word out at me. The vein in her neck is popping out with the effort of restraining her anger. Shit, this is going to hell real fast.
“That’s not at all what happened, I can assure you. She just showed up like this and I told her she needed to leave immediately.” I stare directly into her eyes, needing her to understand this crazy shit is all Samantha’s doing. I know we’ve been round and round about the whole Samantha thing, but this looks pretty damning.
“I was just here to remind Pierce of what he’s missing, that’s all,” Samantha says smugly.
I snatch up her trench coat and toss it to her. “For God’s sake, put this back on,” I say through clenched teeth. She slowly slinks back into it, putting on a show for both me and Addison. I refuse to dignify her actions with attention and focus solely on Addison.
“What do you mean you’re reminding him of what he’s missing? You mean that he’s missing a two-timing whore who can’t keep her legs closed?” Addison’s hands are balled up in fists as she looks Samantha up and down. Glancing back at me, she says, “And where is Max? Does he know you’re fucking Pierce behind his back? Is this some sort of payback?” Each word is dripping with disgust and it makes me cringe.
Samantha scoffs, “You’re probably too blind to notice, but Pierce and I have a connection. One that I think deserves some attention. And you have a lot of nerve calling someone a two-timing whore. Aren’t you the one who’s dating two guys at once? You’re probably fucking both of them too. Not that I can blame you.”
Before I have a chance to cut her off or respond, Addison grabs a vase sitting on the entry way table and chucks it at Samantha. It barely misses her and crashes to the floor, shattering everywhere. My mouth is hanging open, since this is not like Addison at all. She’s the furthest thing from a violent person, but I have to admit, Samantha can definitely bring that side out of anyone.
Samantha gasps in utter shock and looks at me. “See! This is why you need to be with me. She’s crazy!”
Addison starts to lunge toward Samantha, but I step in front of her and block her path. I point at the door before saying, “You need to leave now, Samantha. And I don’t want you to ever come back.”
“No, don’t worry about it. I didn’t mean to interrupt and you’re clearly busy,” Addison says before she spins around and dashes out the door.
I call after her, but she ignores me and keeps going. “Are you satisfied?!” I yell at Samantha, unable to contain the fury surfacing. Her only response is a little shrug of her shoulders and a slight smirk.
“I swear to God if you pull this shit again, you will regret it. Do you hear me? Now get the fuck out of my house so I can go after her. If you show up again, I’ll call the cops and report you for trespassing.” She looks like she’s going to argue with me, but quickly stops when she sees that I’m not fucking around with her anymore. She quickly exits my house and I grab my car keys off the counter and run outside.
I look around for any sign as to where she went and don’t see her car. Just great. I pick up the phone and call her. Of course, it goes straight to voicemail. I dial again with the same result.
“Addison, please, you have to talk to me. I promise you that this isn’t what it looked like. Just let me explain it to you. You know I’d never do this to you. Call me back. I love you.”
I pull up to a red light and shoot her a text, hoping she responds to that.
Me: Please call me and let me explain.
No response.
Me: I know it looked bad, but I promise I’m not seeing her.
Me: I love you. Please come back to me.
I mean that last sentence in more ways than one.
She never does respond to my messages as I drive around aimlessly looking for her. I go back to my place and I sink down onto the couch, running my hands through my hair wondering how I’m going to dig myself out of this one.
I FLY out of that house like a bat out of hell. My feet can’t move fast enough for my liking.
What the fuck is going on?!
Just when I think I have shit figured out, and that I’m getting the hang of dating, something else slaps me in the face. First Brooklyn, now Samantha. I shudder at the mere thought of her name as the image of her in her slutty lingerie flashes through my head. At least with Brooklyn, I only had to hear about it and not see it.
“Great. Just fucking great,” I yell as I pound the steering wheel and take off driving. I start to head towards my condo, but I know I can’t go there. That’s the first place Pierce will go and he is the last person I want to lay my eyes on right now. Colby’s is out of the question, since she and Damon are gone for a romantic getaway. I grab my phone to call Morgan and see that the battery is dead. For once, I’m thankful for a dead phone. Pierce can’t get a hold of me even if he tried. I know Morgan won’t mind if I drop in on her, so I turn around and make my way to her apartment.
Once I park my car, I run up the stairs and I try to knock, but I’m just so frustrated I end up pounding on it instead. I can hear Morgan yelling through the door that she is coming, but I can’t bring myself to stop pounding. The door swings open and there stands a very pissed off Morgan. She looks like she wants to murder the person who has been banging on her door.
“Addison?” she starts to say as I push past her and let myself into her apartment. She closes the door and follows me into the kitchen. I open the fridge and grab a beer, chugging its contents. Not ladylike, I know, but I need something because right now, I feel like I’m going to explode. Morgan says my name once more and I hold up my finger while I finish the beer.
“Better?” she asks as she takes the empty bottle from me. She tosses the bottle in the garbage and I hear the glass shatter as the bottle hits the bottom. Just like me. I close my eyes for a brief moment and will myself not to cry, but it’s no use. I can feel the warm, salty tears trickling down my cheeks.
“Is she okay?” It isn’t until I hear Jere
my’s voice that I notice for the first time that he and Colin are in Morgan’s apartment, staring at me.
“No she’s not okay, idiot. Does she look okay to you? I swear, Jeremy, sometimes you can be so thickheaded,” Morgan chastises him.
Colin comes over, embracing me in a tight hug and starts to rub my back. “Come on, let’s all go sit down and you can tell us what’s going on.” I nod, allowing him to lead me to the couch.
Jeremy comes from the kitchen with a beer for each of us. I thank him and grab the bottle from him. I take a sip and place the bottle on the table.
“So…. um, you know I don’t mind you stopping by. My door is always open to you, but do you mind telling me why you felt the need to try and beat it down?” Morgan asks. I take a deep breath and exhale it out as I begin to air my dirty laundry to my friends.
“Well, I was supposed to head over to Pierce’s house and spend some time with him and Ali. I thought the last time we spoke we had cleared the air and had gotten every little misunderstanding out of the way.” I take another long sip of my beer before I continue. If I’m going to have to say it out loud again and have that image flash through my head, I’m going to need something to help dull it.
“Pierce knew I was coming over, well at least I thought he did. But he must have gotten his little black book all messed up, because as I entered the house, there he was standing in his living room next to a half-naked Samantha with her hands on him.” I take a look around the room. Jeremy’s eyebrows are raised high and his mouth is shaped in an O. Morgan looks slightly confused as her eyebrows are drawn in together, and Colin, well I notice Colin’s jaw tighten and I see nothing but anger in his eyes. Morgan is the first to speak.
“Addison you know I always like to play the devil’s advocate, so I have to ask: Are you sure that is what you saw?” Jeremy turns his head to Morgan and now he has a confused look on his face.