Chapter 19
This is a team sport.
Gage
I drive us toward Smuggler’s Rest since Addy is in no state to concentrate on the road. Her knees are shaking, and she’s chewing on her fingernails.
I place a hand on her thigh. “We’ll figure it out.”
“You didn’t say things will be okay.”
“I can’t guarantee things will be okay. I can guarantee that whatever we’re facing, we’ll figure it out.”
“Okay.” She blows out a breath and drops her hands to stop chewing on her fingernails. Her accepting my reassurance means the world to me. She believes me. It’s a start.
We arrive in Smuggler’s Rest. “Where am I going?”
“The courthouse.” She points to a large building near the square.
I find a parking spot in front of the building. As soon as I switch the car off, Addy reaches for the handle. I stop her.
“Wait for me. We’re going in there as a team.”
She opens her mouth – probably to argue with me – but snaps it shut and nods. Good. I’m getting somewhere with her. It’s two steps forward, one step back with her. But I don’t mind. I’m used to working hard to get what I want.
I hurry around the front of the car and open her door. She doesn’t hesitate to take my hand and I help her out.
We walk into the building together. As a team. I want to be on Addy’s team forever. It’s where I belong.
We make our way through the building until we reach the police department.
“Hi, Jennifer,” Addy greets the receptionist. “I want to visit Otis.”
“Of course, you do.” She pushes away from the desk and stands. “I’ll take you back.”
When I follow, Jennifer pauses. “Who are you?”
“I’m Gage. I’m on her team.”
Addy’s hand spasms in mine. She’s not used to someone being on her team. She’s used to being a solo act. Things have changed, songbird.
Jennifer shrugs. “Okay.”
We follow her through the police station, which is much larger than I expected it to be for a tiny island, to a back hallway. She opens the door and motions us inside.
“Otis is in the first cell.”
Addy rushes forward. “Otis-bug, are you okay?”
Otis stands and ambles to the bars. He appears fine. Pissed off but fine.
“I’m fine and this is bullshit.”
“Language,” Addy growls.
“Sorry, big sis, but this is bullshit. ”
Addy opens her mouth to respond but I squeeze her hip to stop her. Arguing about Otis’s use of foul language will get us nowhere. “What happened, Otis?”
“Yesterday, after you left the Mermaid Lagoon Races, I kept watch on Penelope and Mila the way you asked. I noticed some kids giving Penelope a hard time. I tried to stop them but Vincent wouldn’t leave her alone.
He called her a stuck-up bitch.” He scowls.
“Penelope insisted we leave and we did. But later at dinner, I asked her about Vincent and his group of assholes. Turns out they’ve been bullying her since she started high school last year. ”
“Bullying her how?” I ask.
“They put stink bombs in her locker. They shove her. They trip her. They steal her books. The usual shit.”
Addy drops her chin to her chest. “I failed her.”
“You didn’t fail her,” Otis insists. “How could you know? I didn’t know, and I go to the same high school as her. Not even Mila knew, and they share a bedroom.”
My heart warms. This kid is the best. He was slacking off before – letting his big sister handle everything – but he’s stepping up now. Good for him.
“What did you do?” I ask before Addy can speak. Knowing her, she’ll go on and on about how she should have magically known Penelope was being bullied. I’ll deal with her and her guilt later.
Otis smirks. “I went to Vincent’s house and taught him a lesson.”
Addy groans. “A lesson that ended up with you in a jail cell.”
“The jail cell is bullshit. They wouldn’t have arrested anyone else for dumping a bucket of old fish bait on someone’s porch.”
I lift a brow. “Old fish bait?”
He grins. “It’s epic. Vincent came outside because the smell is so repulsive, you can’t miss it. The seagulls were already circling the bait and one shat right on his head.”
I chuckle. “I’ll remember that.”
Addy fists her hands on her hips. “I’m glad the two of you are enjoying yourselves. Did you forget Otis is in jail?”
Her brother waves to the bars in front of him. “Kind of hard to forget.”
The door opens and a police officer steps inside. Addy marches to him. “Lucas, how could you arrest my baby brother?”
Otis snorts. “I’m actually glad to be behind bars. Addy on a tear is scary.”
“I got this.”
“Thanks, Gage.”
“Anytime, Otis. Anytime.”
I join Addy and Lucas. The police officer has his arms crossed over his chest. He appears intimidating but my songbird is not impressed. She’s mad as a coach on fourth-and-goal with no timeouts.
“Why didn’t you let him off with a warning?” Addy asks Lucas.
“This is his first transgression. I want it to be his last.”
I see red. Transgression? The kid was bullying Penelope. “You have got to be fucking kidding me. ”
Lucas scowls. “Being some famous football player doesn’t court you favors on Smuggler’s Hideaway.”
“Vincent was bullying Otis’s sister. He stood up for her and protected her. He shouldn’t be punished. The other kid should be punished for bullying.”
Lucas’s brow wrinkles. “Vincent was bullying Mila?”
“No, Penelope,” Addy corrects.
Lucas rubs a hand over his neck. “What did Vincent do?”
“Apparently, he’s been bullying Penelope since she entered high school last year.”
“He called her a stuck-up bitch yesterday,” I add.
Lucas growls. “If anyone calls Natalia a stuck-up bitch, I’ll do worse than throw fish bait on their porch.”
“I don’t care about Natalia,” I grumble. I don’t know who she is. “I care about Penelope.”
Addy pats my chest. “Natalia is his teenage daughter.”
“I’m sorry, Addy,” Lucas apologizes. “I didn’t realize the context.”
Her brow wrinkles. “Otis didn’t explain?”
“He was too busy shouting profanities at Vincent for me to make any sense of the situation.”
She blows out a breath. “Can you seriously wash someone’s mouth out with soap?”
“There are worse things than swearing,” I remind her.
“I know. It’s …” She trails off with a shrug.
“The one thing you can control now.”
I understand her need for control. I’m the same way. Especially when it comes to protecting the people I care about .
She nods. “Yeah. Exactly.”
“What happens now?” I ask Lucas. “Do we need to post bail?”
I’m at a loss. I’ve never gotten in trouble with the law before. Between football and surviving, I didn’t have time for screwing around as a kid. Tanner is the team member who’s always in trouble and knows how to handle these situations.
“Nah.” Lucas shakes his head. “I think he’s been punished enough.”
He marches toward the jail cell Otis is in and we follow him.
“About damn time,” Otis says when he walks out of the cell.
“Stop swearing,” Addy orders. “And be thankful and respectful to Lucas for letting you off with a warning.”
Otis’s cheeks darken. “Sorry, Addy. Thank you, Lucas, for understanding the situation.”
Lucas squeezes his shoulders. “Sorry, kid. I should have asked you sooner why you would suddenly pull a prank. You’ve never been in trouble before.”
We reach the end of the hallway and I offer my hand to Lucas. “Thanks for your help.”
“Sorry, I snapped at you.”
“You can call me a famous football player anytime.” I wink at him, and he laughs.
I usher Otis and Addy out of the station, through the courthouse, to my SUV. Addy halts on the sidewalk.
“We don’t need a lift. We can walk from here.”
Otis rolls his eyes as he climbs into the backseat. “You don’t have to fight every single person who wants to help you. ”
“I don’t…”
I press a kiss to her lips before she can finish her lie. She leans into me for a second before tearing her lips from mine.
“Gage Edwards, don’t you dare kiss me in front of the entire town of Smuggler’s Rest.”
“Why not?” Otis shouts from the backseat. “You’re obviously dating. You’re wearing yesterday’s clothes, and you haven’t brushed your hair.”
Addy’s face flames and she ducks her chin. I help her into the front seat of the car. I have to bite my lip to stop my smile from escaping.
Otis is on my side. Excellent. Since there’s no way last night was a one-night stand. I want Addy in my bed. Permanently.