9. Addison
Addison
My head is in the clouds.
I didn’t get to see Theo again, because he’s keeping his distance, but we talked the rest of the weekend. It’s nice getting to know him. When he told me he hasn’t always been a teacher, but used to be an accountant, I found that ridiculously entertaining. We both laughed when I called him a nerd.
I’m eager to get to my first class this morning so I can see his handsome face. It’s crazy to think we made each other come in his truck. I wanted so badly to kiss him deeply and to give my virginity to him.
I sigh as I imagine myself naked in his bed with him. Someone laughs when I enter the building, but I ignore them. My watch buzzes and I slow down to look at the notification.
Lucy: How many teachers have you fucked at your new school? I have eyes everywhere. Don’t lie to me.
I yank my phone out of my purse to reply back to her.
Me: Why are you so obsessed with me? Your lies are boring. Your threats are lame. Lose my number.
I’m smirking when I toss my phone back in my purse. My watch buzzes again.
Lucy: Enjoy your fifteen minutes of fame at your new school in 3, 2, 1…
Elody pushes past me, her arms full of something, and she hisses out something rude under her breath. I grit my teeth, intent on getting to the greenhouse as quickly as I can.
And then something strange happens.
Someone tosses a handful of papers into the air. They flutter around and then more are thrown into the air. The hallway is crowded, so I can’t see who’s throwing them. I realize they’re photocopied black and white photos of what looks like the same picture.
My heart seizes in my chest.
No.
I snatch one off the person’s backpack in front of me. When I bring the photo to my face, I recognize it immediately. It’s me. It’s the picture I sent Lucy. All this time later, it continues to haunt me.
Hundreds of copies of this picture have littered the linoleum for as far as I can see. People are laughing and pointing at me. One guy asks if I want to suck his dick. A girl shoves me out of her way. Coach Long starts yelling.
I fall to my knees and scramble to snatch them up as fast as possible. Hot tears fill my eyes, and my heart is caught in my throat. My entire body shudders as I desperately try to collect them all. Sobs wrack through me.
Lucy did this. Not literally, but she was behind this.
Someone touches my shoulders and I scream, shaking them off.
“Hey, Addison, it’s me.”
As soon as I hear Theo’s voice, I turn toward him, crushing the handful of photos between us. He hugs me tight, murmuring that everything’s going to be okay. I’m not sure if that’s true. I feel so horribly violated right now.
“Get her to the office,” Coach Long orders. “We’re going to get the pictures, and I’ll find out who’s behind this.”
I want to scream that it was likely Elody, but I’m too overcome with humiliation. Theo easily hauls me to my feet but keeps me in his protective hold.
I don’t want to be here.
“Who do you want me to call?” he asks, voice low as we walk past people who are laughing.
I’m reminded of being in the office with everyone at my old school and no one believed me. My parents were embarrassed. I was ashamed.
“Addison,” Theo says again, voice firmer. “Mom or Dad?”
“Dad,” I blurt out because Mom will just make it worse.
He guides me into the office. I can feel eyes on me, but I don’t look at anyone.
“What happened?” a deep voice booms.
“Go talk to Everett. She needs a safe place right now. Close the door behind you.”
Principal Renner limps past us and then we go into his office. The door shuts behind us. Once we’re alone, Theo pulls me to his chest, hugging me so tight I can’t breathe. He kisses my head over and over again.
“I’m so fucking sorry, baby. So sorry.”
This makes me sob even more. I want to burn the photos in my grip. Everyone saw me and I hate it.
“Sit down,” he instructs. “Over here.”
Theo pulls off my purse and backpack. Once I sit down, he takes the seat beside me, scooting closer so he can keep his arms around me. I’m still clutching the photos, afraid to let them go.
“We’re going to find out who did this,” he assures me, “and they’re going to fucking pay.”
The severity in his tone makes me feel a little better. Theo knows the whole story and believes that I didn’t send nudes to Mr. Thompson. It’s relieving to have a battle partner.
Eventually, the door reopens and Principal Renner makes his way back inside. He sets down a huge stack of papers on the desk. His eyes skim over the way Theo holds me and his lips thin out.
“Mr. Langford,” he says, a warning in his voice.
Theo, reluctantly, releases me. “They’re terrorizing her. It’s unacceptable, Adam.”
“I know,” Principal Renner rushes out. “We’re going to find out who did this.”
I scramble to find my phone. Then, I show the messages from Lucy, Nick, and everyone else. Theo vibrates with anger from beside me.
“Elody is Nick’s cousin. I’m pretty sure she’s responsible for this,” I say, voice still trembling from crying. “I just want it to all go away.”
“We’re here to protect you,” Principal Renner says. “They won’t get away with this.”
By the time Dad was able to leave work and come up to the school, I was much calmer. Principal Renner let me use his shredder to get rid of the pictures. It was satisfying to watch them all get destroyed.
Dad was pissed on my behalf, in which I was grateful. It was nice to be seen as someone who needs protecting rather than someone to be ashamed of.
I ended up leaving for the rest of the day, but not with Dad. Instead of going home, I went for a long drive to clear my head and then to Moonlit Gables to see Savvy.
“I really wanted baby snuggles,” I whisper. “Is nap time over yet?”
Savvy groans and shakes her head. “Not yet. Be quiet or I’m kicking you out.”
We both grin. I sip from the can of Dr. Pepper she gave me, relieved to see my friend after so long.
She looks happy and in a really good place.
What’s weird, though, is she’s in a relationship with both of her deceased dad’s best friends.
Two men. I’ve wondered a lot about the sex stuff, and how it all works out for them, but I don’t think we’re there yet.
One day, we’ll be back to basically being sisters and I’ll put my nose right where it doesn’t belong because I’m dying to know the schematics of their relationship.
My watch buzzes and I flinch. When I see who the text is from, I relax.
Theo: I’ll call you as soon as the bell rings in just a few. Need to see you.
“That’s a cheesy grin,” Savvy murmurs. “Who’s the lucky guy?”
At first, I worry she might judge me but then remember she’s sleeping with two men. Two. I wonder if the men touch each other too or just her. It’s fascinating.
“Take it to your grave?” I ask, eyebrow arched.
Her eyes flash with interest. “Duh.”
“His name is Theo,” I say, another smile tugging at my lips. “He’s so hot and sweet and protective.”
“But…” She sips on her Dr. Pepper as she waits for me to answer.
“He’s my teacher.”
She nearly chokes on her soda. “What? The one you got in trouble over?”
My face burns hot. “No, a different one at my new school.”
“At Brown? What’s his last name? Tell me he’s not married. If it’s Coach Long—”
“It’s not Coach Long. Mr. Langford and he’s divorced. He’s new this year.”
She relaxes. “You’re eighteen now. What’s the problem?”
“There is no problem aside from the drama that continues to haunt me. Like today.”
When she opens her mouth to say more, a baby starts to cry. My phone rings and Theo’s name flashes across the screen.
“We’ll catch up more soon,” she vows as we both stand. “You’re tough and you’re not alone. You’ll get through this.”
I give her a tight hug and then answer on my way out the door. “Hey.”
“How are you?” Theo asks, voice rough like he’s been yelling.
“Saw Savvy. Feeling better. What about you?”
“Gave detention to anyone who looked at me wrong. Very therapeutic.”
I giggle at his words as I slide into my car. “So, you want to see me?”
“Need. Well, hell. I want to, too.”
“Where?”
“My place.”
A thrill shoots down my spine. “I don’t know where you live.”
“I’m going to tell you.” He sighs heavily. “I’m not trying to get you into my bed, baby. I just want to hold you and make sure you’re okay.”
Tears well in my eyes. As much as I want to sleep with him, I don’t think that’s what I need. I need to be held and cared for.
“On my way.”
The apartment complex Theo lives in is fancy.
There’s a pool I wouldn’t mind taking a dip in considering how hot it is lately.
I follow his directions to the second floor and the eighth door on the left where there’s definitely no flowerbeds or gardens.
This amuses me for some reason since he teased before that I could come do his apparently nonexistent ones.
Before I can knock, the door opens. Theo is no longer wearing his professional teacher clothes.
He’s comfortable in basketball shorts and a plain white T-shirt that hugs his muscular frame.
I step inside and he closes the door behind me.
Then, he yanks me into his arms. Clinging to him, I chew on my bottom lip, trying desperately to keep my tears at bay.
My body trembles, giving me away. A little squeak comes out of me when he grabs my ass and picks me up.
I wrap my legs around his waist, hugging him tight.
He takes me over to his sofa and then sits down. I relax against his chest, tears falling freely as he strokes his fingers up and down my back.
“I wanted to do just this all day, baby. You didn’t deserve that. I’m so sorry.”
“I’m where I want to be now.”
A yawn forces its way out of me, and I sag in his arms, the adrenaline of the day quickly leaving my body. Then, I close my eyes.
I wake to the smell of something cooking.
It takes me a second to figure out where I’m at.
After letting Theo hold me until all my tears were gone, I crashed in his arms. He must have laid me down on the couch and covered me with a blanket.
My heart squeezes. His tenderness is exactly what I needed.
“Are you cooking for me?”
He chuckles from the kitchen. “Figured that would wake you up. It’ll be ready in twenty. Make yourself at home.”
“Can I shower?”
“Of course, beautiful. Feel free to borrow something of mine if you want to put fresh clothes on.”
The shower is nice and relaxes me. Then, after, I put on one of his T-shirts and some sweatpants. I even slip on a pair of his socks. His apartment is cold, so his clothes warm me up.
By the time I make it to the kitchen, he’s plating up grilled chicken breasts, buttery asparagus, and loaded sweet potatoes. My mouth waters. I’m starving.
“Grab us something to drink and we can sit in the living room to eat.”
His fridge is stocked with lots of healthy stuff. I know he goes to the gym most mornings with Principal Renner and Coach Long. All his hard work is paying off because his body is so nice. I’m his biggest fan girl.
“When will your mom start missing you?” he asks once we get settled beside each other on the couch.
I glance down at my watch. “Not for a few more hours.”
“Good.” He reaches over to tuck a strand of hair behind my ear. “I want to hold you for every single one of those hours.”
My heart flutters.
I want that too.