Chapter Seventeen
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
ADDISON
I can’t believe I was so damn stupid. Okay, well, I can believe it—this is Alex Noble we’re talking about. But that’s really the point, isn’t it? This is the Alex Noble! In what alternate universe did I think that having sex with me would make him announce to the world that he’s forsaking hot sex with all other women to be with Addison Moore, sister of a rotten thief, nanny to his kids, and all-around nobody?
I must have fallen asleep while he was in the bathroom because the setting sun now shines through the window and I’m tangled in a blanket on his bed—naked. And alone. I call out Alex’s name, but there’s no response so I tip-toe to the bedroom door and peek out. Nobody is upstairs, but I can hear the kids in the kitchen. Discarded clothes in hand and blanket wrapped around me, I make a run for it, not stopping until my bedroom door is closed behind me.
I cover my face and groan at the memory of my uncharacteristically slutty and wanton behavior earlier. I practically begged him to screw me. Scratch that—I’m pretty sure I did beg him.
I quickly clean myself up and dress before forcing my cowardly ass down the stairs and finding DeeDee and the boys in the kitchen. I paste a smile on my face and ask about soccer camp and what they learned. Tristan enthusiastically regales me with the story of an apparently miraculous goal he scored, making the two older boys duck their heads to hide their smiles.
I steal covert glances at DeeDee, looking for any sign that she knows about my afternoon activities, but I sense nothing, thank God. I’m feeling pretty desperate after about twenty minutes, so I cave and ask about Alex’s whereabouts, attempting a super casual tone and probably failing miserably.
“He left after he got the boys from camp.” She shrugs. “Said he had errands and might be back late.”
I try not to let the embarrassment and disappointment show on my face. I knew it the moment I woke up alone. He’s establishing distance between us, making sure I don’t get the wrong impression. This was hot sex and nothing more. I’m the nanny, for Christ’s sake—he’s my boss! What did I expect?
I’m foolishly wishing for some kind of relationship while he runs errands and returns to business as usual. Hell, he was probably relieved that I fell asleep so he didn’t have to give me “the talk.” Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.
I excuse myself again and retreat to the bathroom, where I lean into the counter and stare at myself in the mirror. Tears prick my eyes. I can’t stay here. I’ve fallen in love with Alex and slept with him. Watching him with his boys, going about his days, dating models—it would be sheer torture. I drop my head back, attempting to stay my tears before exiting the bathroom and going back upstairs to pack my bags.
Luckily, I travel light, I think as the Uber driver drops me off by the entrance to the trailer park. No more driving the Noble family’s luxury vehicles for me. Police lights flash from a few rows in—something that, unfortunately, is not uncommon. I lug my duffle bag and giant backpack down the center roadway, hoping the police leave soon. I’m exhausted and just want to collapse on the couch and sleep for a week.
“Hold up there, Miss,” a police officer stops in front of me with a hand extended. “Nobody allowed past this point.”
I look at him imploringly. “I live at the end of the row.” I point behind him. “I can see my place from here. It’s the last one—by the water tank.”
He glances behind him and then back at me again, this time taking in my bags. “Wait right here. I’ll be back.” He leaves to confer with another officer, and I begin to get a sick feeling in my gut. I stand on tip-toes and peer toward my mom’s trailer, but there are too many cars and an ambulance in the way. I step to the side and crane my neck. And that’s when I see it. The unmistakable grey Land Rover I know in my heart belongs to Alex.
“Alex!” I hear myself scream. Before I know what I’m doing, I’ve dropped my bags, ducked past the cops, and am sprinting down the dirt lane toward my childhood home. I scream his name over and over, silently praying that I’m wrong—that it’s someone else’s Rover standing out like a sore thumb in my crappy neighborhood.
But it isn’t. I catch sight of the dark hair and matching scruff I know so well as paramedics lift Alex into the waiting ambulance. Another police officer tries to hold me back, but I shove him roughly aside and run to the back of the vehicle. “Oh my God, Alex! Is he okay?” I scream.
Idiot! Of course he isn’t okay. His eyes are closed and his shirt is off. I can see blood. Blood! Oh god, this is all my fault. I brought my dirty, unseemly past into his life and look what it’s done. Look what I’ve done. “Please,” I plead, not sure if I’m speaking to Alex or the paramedics or God. “Please!” I repeat, gripping the bumper of the ambulance as the paramedics worked on the man I love.
“Addy!” a voice calls from behind me. I whirl around to see Vince, looking ashen and strung out.
“You! You did this!” I shove him in the chest. “What the hell did you think you were doing?”
He raises his hands in defense. “It was Keller! I had nothing to do with it.”
I scoff and shove him again, backing him up against the trailer. “Sure. You’re always innocent. Passing the blame and letting other people clean up your messes. You should have told him to leave if you knew Keller was within a hundred-mile radius of this place!”
“Look, I’m sorry. Keller was inside looking for anything worth taking when Noble showed up. Damn, I could hardly get a word in edgewise with him threatening me.”
“Wait, what? Why was Alex threatening you?”
“How the hell should I know? He told me he’d pay the debt to Keller and I should leave you out of it.”
“He what?!” I glance back at the ambulance and leave my brother behind. They’re about to shut the doors. “Please, let me go with him!” I plead.
“Sorry, Miss,” an older paramedic responds. “Immediate family only.” He shuts the doors and the siren begins to wail as the ambulance carrying Alex weaves its way down the dirt road, leaving me standing alone with no idea what to think.