Chapter 27
Fact or Fiction?
This is my poker face.
Addison
“Good morning, daughter,” my dad booms as he comes striding into my office bright and early on Friday.
“Dad?” I stand up from my desk, taking in his tall frame in the doorway. “What are you doing here?”
“I told you I was home,” he replies gruffly, walking over to the coffee maker by the window and pouring himself a cup.
“I know but . . . I mean . . . what are you doing here-here?” I ask, pointing to the desk.
He holds the mug up to his mustache and blows on it as steam billows up around his face. “I have a couple meetings today and
needed some files.”
My brows crease at that because my dad hasn’t really needed anything from the office in months. Not since he retired. “What
meetings? What files? Can I help?”
“Don’t you worry.” He sets his mug down and walks over to the rusty filing cabinet, pulling it open and thumbing through some
folders. “I can find what I need.”
I join him at the filing cabinet and when I look at what he’s sifting through, he turns his back on me, hiding what he’s doing.
“Dad, I’m running this place now so whatever meetings you’re having that involve lumberyard files should probably involve
me.”
He turns his head to look at me, his bushy brows arched. “I’m still the owner, Addie May. I shouldn’t need to remind you of
that.”
His tone is chastising, and I feel my throat tighten at the hard set of his jaw.
I’ve seen my dad like this a lot throughout the years, but very rarely directed at me.
He usually gets this way with mill workers during negotiations.
But even if that was what his meetings were, why wouldn’t he just tell me that?
I lick my lips and jut my chin upward. “Since I’m due to inherit this company, I think it’d be a good idea for me to know
about what meetings you’re still taking.”
“Like a dog with a fucking bone.” He exhales heavily and slams the cabinet drawer closed before propping his arm on top of
it to glower down at me. “If you must know, I’m meeting with the people who wanted to buy the yard.”
My jaw drops. “Are you meeting to tell them that I’m married now, and the deal is off?”
His lips twitch. “Perhaps.”
“What the hell do you mean perhaps?” I grind through clenched teeth.
“Well, Addie May, a year is a long time away still. You and Luke Fletcher might not work out,” he huffs, moving past me to
go back to where he left his coffee mug.
I twirl on my heel to stare at the man who raised me. “Me and Luke will work out just fine.”
“I’ll be the judge of that.” He eyes me harshly before taking a loud slurp of his coffee.
“What is that supposed to mean?” I march over and stand toe to toe with the old man, refusing to let him speak complete nonsense
without backing it up.
“Oh, come on, Ads,” he barks, waving his mug at me. “I know your marriage with Luke is bullshit.”
“You don’t know that,” I exclaim, crossing my arms over my chest. “I’m living with him, aren’t I?”
“And still paying rent at your apartment,” he adds, taking another sip of coffee.
My lips part. “How do you know that?”
“Boulder ain’t that big of a town, sweetheart. Word gets around.”
He stares out the window at the guys all working in the yard, and I watch his body language closely, still not understanding
why he’s being like this. My dad can be an asshole, but he’s usually a reasonable asshole. I don’t understand this side to
him.
“What are you doing, Dad?” I ask, walking over and trying to lower my voice to a softer level. “Why are you meeting with those
people?”
His nostrils flare. “They want to present me with a new offer.”
“A new offer? What kind of offer?”
“I don’t know. That’s why I’m meeting with them.”
I blink rapidly, my mind swimming with this sudden new information. “But I got married to fulfill the stupid trust stipulation.
I’m throwing a wedding because you asked me to. Why are you even entertaining these people?” I stare up at him, a knot forming
in my throat because this feels personal now. “Why are you so determined for me not to run this lumberyard?”
“I’m not.”
“You obviously are,” I exclaim and fight back the tears welling in my eyes.
He scoffs and rolls his eyes dramatically. “Don’t get all emotional. This is just business.”
“This is my life and I should have a say in it!” A stray tear runs down my face and I swipe it away quickly, irritated that
more seem to be following in its wake. Crying in front of my dad is never a good thing. In fact, it just adds fuel to this
ridiculous fire he has over me not being able to handle the business on my own.
I really did think it had to do with me not being married. I thought that convoluted trust was legit, and marriage was the only thing preventing me from taking ownership. But now I can tell there’s something else brewing here. Something my dad isn’t saying.
His nose wrinkles as he looks at me. “This is why I think it’s a bad idea for you to run this place on your own. You’re too
damn soft for all of this.”
“I am what you made me,” I growl, anger bubbling up in my veins. “I am you. I am your daughter. I’ve given my whole life to
this place. Just because I don’t have a dick and shed a tear every once in a while doesn’t make me any less capable!”
“Now that’s enough,” Dad barks, setting his mug down to glare at me. He thrusts a finger in my face. “You’re crying over nothing.
It’s just a meeting. Get your panties out of a wad and leave it be for Christ’s sake.”
Without another word, he stomps past me, out of the office, through the building center, and back into his car, stirring up
a whole lot of insecurity and a whole lot of rage that I have no idea what to do with.
Luke
“So how goes it with the wifey?” Calder asks from across my brother Max’s dining room table as he tosses some poker chips
into the middle. “I haven’t seen much of you two the past couple of weeks. Do I take it the honeymoon is going well?”
Calder waggles his brows at me, and I wince as I stare down at my cards, which have been cold all night. It’s our monthly
poker night, which usually consists of the four Fletcher brothers and a bunch of Max’s guy friends from Boulder who have turned
into our friends throughout the years. But tonight, it’s just the four of us.
I hesitate with how to reply, chancing a glance at Max, who responds, “I know your marriage is total bullshit.”
I drop my cards and glare at Wyatt and Calder. “This was supposed to be a fucking secret.”
Wyatt points to Calder, who is pointing back at Wyatt.
“Everly told me,” Max relents, his eyes tight as he tosses his own chips into the middle.
“Do the ladies all know too?” I ask, looking at my three brothers. “Cozy? Dakota? Trista? Mom?”
They all three shake their heads, so I sigh with relief. “Just keep it quiet, okay? The more people who know, the harder this
is going to get for me.”
“So, you guys aren’t . . .” Wyatt doesn’t finish his sentence because I can read his mind.
“No, we’re not . . . together,” I huff, tapping my cards on the table. “I mean . . . we’re getting closer for sure.” But I
stop myself from revealing the sofa dry humping session and the fact that I got disgustingly close with her wet panties last
week because they would taunt me mercilessly for that. And instead add, “But it’s still . . . just friends.”
“Jesus fuck, man, it’s been damn near a month,” Calder drawls, eyeing me with the most irritating wrinkled nose of judgment.
“You’re getting married in two weeks.”
“I know,” I growl and rake my hand through my hair. “But it needs to come from her. I kissed her a couple weeks ago and shit
got super weird afterward and we’re just still finding our way.”
Max shakes his head, clearly judging me.
“Don’t start, Max.”
“I didn’t say anything.” He holds his hands up in surrender.
“You’re giving me the dad look. Like I’m fucking fumbling this thing.”
“Well, Everly said you need to close the deal before the wedding, so what is your plan exactly if you only have a couple more
weeks?”
“I don’t know anymore.” I turn my hat backward, pushing down the top of it.
“I’m just trying to show her how good we are.
All week she’s spent the night in my bed .
. . just sleeping because she has issues with insomnia, and I swear she never sleeps as good as she does when she’s with me.
That feels like a big deal, right? Like she must be comfortable enough with me to do that, right?
I mean hell, I fucked my shoulder up holding her every night because I don’t want to move a muscle for fear of waking her up. ”
“That’s really sweet, baby bro,” Calder deadpans.
“Shut up.”
“I’m being serious! That is sweet.” He frowns thoughtfully at me. “But maybe that’s the problem. You’re being too sweet, and
you need to be a little savage instead.”
“That’s what our kiss was. It was . . .” My voice trails off as the memory of it causes a shiver to run down my spine.
“Maybe you need to take her out,” Max says, looking thoughtful and not judgmental for once in his life. “Get out of the cabin
and take her somewhere that forces you to act like a couple.”
“We could all go out together,” Wyatt suggests, eyeing all of us. “You have to fake it in front of us, so . . . we can be
your wingmen for the night.”
I frown and nod at that suggestion. “I don’t hate that idea.”
“There’s a band playing at the Mercantile tomorrow night,” Calder says, eyes bright and excited. “Let’s get all the ladies
together and make it a couples night. Addison seemed to get along with them well last time they were all out.”
Last time they were all out, I kissed the fuck out of my wife, and she liked it.
This is a good idea. Maybe even a great idea.
“Addison seemed stressed after work today, so I think this is exactly what she needs. I’ll text her now.”
My brothers resume the game while I pull my phone out to text my wife.
Me: My brothers and the ladies want to go out tomorrow night. You up for it?
Roe: Good God yes. I could use a drink after seeing my dad today.
Me: Everything okay?
Roe: I’ll tell you about it when you get back.
Me: I’ll be home soon.
Roe: Good. I’ll be waiting in your bed.
I close my eyes as ache blooms in my chest. She has no idea what those words do to me. How much need they stir up in every
cell of my body. When she crawls into my arms every night, when I smell her all over my sheets the next day . . . I’m in heaven
and hell right now and just happy to be existing in any way with her.
My best friend.
My wife.
It will be good to go out tomorrow night with everyone and play the part of husband and wife. But right now, I just want to
go home and cuddle with my best friend.