31. Pancakes Take Two
CHAPTER 31
PANCAKES: TAKE TWO
W hen Addison and Tim reemerged in the garden, hand-in-hand, Lexi immediately hugged them both. “I can’t believe it! You’re back together, right?”
“Yes, Lexi, we are,” Tim laughed. “Also, hello.”
“Sorry, where are my manners? Hi, Tim,” she grinned, eyes practically heart-shaped.
“I want to make this official,” Addison said dramatically. “Lexi Perez, this is Tim Dobbs, my boyfriend and the love of my life. You may remember him from such relationships as your own.”
“Oh, we’re so behind on celebrating! You owe me months of relationship gossip.”
“Don’t be a pervert,” Addison warned.
“She’s earned the right,” Tim agreed. “Can you start by taking a few photos?” He handed Lexi his phone.
The happiness Addison felt in that moment was indescribable. They posed for photos, finally able to enjoy being together without any secrets.
“Now that you two are all settled, I’m going hunting for single men. Later!” Lexi waved, disappearing into the crowd.
“Want to dance?” Tim asked, pulling Addison close.
“I never want you to let go,” she replied, kissing him.
They danced until the night ended, only pausing to wave off Jake and Laura as they left in a cloud of bubbles. Watching the couple drive away, Addison thought, I can’t wait until that’s us.
Lexi had long since disappeared, leaving a single text telling Addison to have fun and tell her everything later. For once, Addison didn’t feel the need to lecture her friend about Girl Code. She was too caught up in the moment with Tim.
“Come home with me?” Tim whispered, kissing her neck.
“I was hoping you’d ask.” Jake and Laura practically pushed Addison and Tim out the door, clearly pleased that everything had worked out and they’d have them as couple friends–Laura’s biggest concern. –
Once Tim was relieved of his best man duties for the night, they made their way to his condo, both anxious with desire. Tim parked haphazardly and they rushed upstairs.
“Alone at last,” he said, pulling her into his bedroom.
“Are you sure?” Addison asked, still worried that he might rethink everything in the morning and break her heart all over again.
“I’ve been thinking about this since I left Aspen and realized I’d made a huge mistake. I don’t want anything or anyone but you. I’m sure about that.”
“Good enough for me,” she said.
The next morning, Addison woke to the smell of pancakes and the sound of Tim whistling in the kitchen. Her stomach growled loudly. I don’t think I’ve eaten in almost two days.
Pulling on some of Tim’s clothes, she found him flipping pancakes. “Ooh, looks good,” she said, giving him a quick kiss. “Sorry about the morning breath.”
“You’re my dream girl, even when you stink.”
“Hey!”
“You know I’m kidding,” he laughed, lifting her onto the counter. “You’re perfect.”
She smiled, watching him cook. This almost didn’t happen. That would’ve been tragic.
After breakfast, Addison picked up her phone. How did I not hear all these texts? She scrolled through Lexi’s messages.
Lexi: You’re killing me. How did things turn out?
Addison: I never kiss and tell.
Lexi: Liar. You always kiss and tell. Now tell.
Addison: I’m at Tim’s. Fill in the gaps.
Addison diverted the conversation. She wanted one more night that was just theirs before the world found out.
Addison: What about you?
Lexi: You know Jake’s brother?
Addison: Yes. How well do you know him now?
Lexi: We got to know each other very well last night…
Addison: STOP
Lexi: Why? I was building to the good part.
Addison: He was pretty much my little brother, too, when Jake and I were together. You’re about to gross me out.
Lexi: You’re no fun. But he is.
Addison: Take a cold shower. I’ll talk to you later. I have lots of time to make up for with my own guy.
“What do you want to do today?” Tim asked.
“I want to start by making us social media official,” Addison said, scrolling through the wedding photos Tim had sent her the night before. She quickly updated her profile pictures across her accounts and posted a photo of them together with the caption: “A wonderful night with my boyfriend, Tim, celebrating our friends’ wedding!”
“Wow, big move,” Tim said, glancing over. “Are you sure?”
“There’s no one to hide from. There never was.”
The next weekend, Addison was running late to meet Lexi, and it was all Tim’s fault. He had underestimated how long it would take him to get ready, watching the Nats game on TV until the last possible second.
“I told you I’m sorry,” he called out from the bathroom, still shaving.
“Lexi won’t notice that tiny bit of rogue hair around your beard. Let’s go! Ugh, you men and your ‘getting ready’. What a diva.”
“Ha. Ha. You love me,” He teased.
Addison was excited for their first official outing with Lexi. They were meeting her for dinner at one of their favorite casual spots. She had thought there might be some awkwardness lingering from when Lexi had dated Tim, but surprisingly she didn’t feel a single negative emotion.
When they arrived at Federalist Pig, Lexi stood up to greet them, barbeque sauce giving her away.
“You already had an order of pork rib tips without us, didn’t you,” Addison accused, narrowing her eyes.
“No,” Lexi protested, then, lost her bluster when she spotted the sauce on her finger. “Fine, yes.”
“It’s on your face, too,” Tim added helpfully.
Lexi brushed off her embarrassment and replaced it with a sly grin. “So, how have things been? Lots of time, uh, getting to know each other again?” she teased.
“Lexi!” Addison cried, while Tim chuckled.
“I’m glad to see you haven't changed, Lex,” he said.
She shrugged in response.
“In all seriousness, thank you for being cool about everything. You played a big part in helping us get back together. We should’ve been enjoying each other’s company from the start,” Addison said.
“I agree,” Tim said, with a mischievous smile. “There’s enough Tim to go around, ladies.”
The women groaned in unison.
“I’m going to stop you right there,” Addison said, holding a hand up. “You’re all mine, and I’m not afraid to tell the world. I’d even fight Lexi if she got in my way.”
“I’d like to see that,” Tim mused.
“Calm down,” Lexi said. “I don’t want to inflate your ego, but I know, firsthand, how great you are. I wasn’t going to let Addie miss out on being with you. You just needed a good old-fashioned, big public display of affection,” she added, confidently high fiving Tim.
“You know I had a big part in this, right?” Addison grumbled.
“Yes, Addie, you’re a smart, beautiful, wonderful girl,” Lexi said, patting her head.
“I had a lot of help pulling this off,” Addison said. “Lexi has always been my biggest cheerleader, and this was no different.”
“Kinda makes a person wonder why you kept it all from your biggest supporter, huh?” Lexi goaded.
I’ve been plagued with the same thought since coming clean to you.
“Can we please order?” Addison said, trying to shift the focus.
They turned their attention to the menu, giving Addison a brief moment of peace. If I had realized how fine everything would’ve been with Lexi, we could’ve had afternoons like this all year.. What an idiot.
“Have either of you heard from Jake and Laura? Ryan said that they should be back from their honeymoon by now,” Lexi said.
“No, I—hang on. Ryan? As in Ryan Tanner, Jake’s brother?” Tim asked.
“Oh, did I forget to mention that we’ve been hanging out?” Lexi said innocently.
“Yeah, you did,” Addison replied, “Well, we’ve been together pretty much non-stop since we got to know each other very well after the wedding.”
“As in, you’re dating him?” Addison asked, leaning forward.
“Did I neglect to mention a significant relationship that’s been brewing with someone you know, Addie?” Lexi said with a smirk.
Touché, Lexi.
Lexi and Ryan met Addison and Tim at Tim’s condo pool. It was already shaping up to be a steamy August day, and they had arrived early to claim their chairs.
It had been a tough week at work, but Addison was pleasantly surprised by Kyle’s newfound seriousness and effort. Ever since she had opened up a bit about her sadness over breaking up with Tim, Kyle had made her his project. He checked in on her daily, using a fresh coffee or snack as an excuse to see if she was okay.
Their tenuous friendship wasn’t one-sided, though. Addison held back her annoyance with Kyle and invited him to help with a few simple cases. He had shed most of his bro persona and started taking work seriously, enjoying the satisfaction of winning cases he had contributed to, sometimes staying late into the night.
Addison peeked at her phone to check work email, making sure Tim wasn’t watching. He had been trying to coach her toward a healthier work-life balance. There was an email from Kyle waiting for her, containing extensive research.
Kyle working on a summer Saturday morning? I never would have bet on that. Maybe I should discourage him from becoming a workaholic like me. At least for the sake of his future girlfriend.
“Get off your phone. Work can wait,” Tim said, his back still turned to her.
How did he know?
“You’re wondering how I knew, aren’t you?”
“Yes. I mean, I’m not checking work emails.”
“I never said anything about work email. Way to narc on yourself.”
Lexi rolled over from the next lounger. “You’re such a nerd, Addie. Why are you working?”
“Oh, like you’ve never checked work over the weekend,” Addison huffed.
“It never crossed my mind,” Lexi replied. “Government work ends when it ends. Follow our lead.”
“I’ll admit to working over the weekend,” Ryan chimed in.
“Okay, but you’re a nerd too. Also, you’re a grad student, and that’s not a real job,” Lexi teased.
“Excuse you, but they pay me a fat $6,000 per semester,” Ryan said, grinning. “Fine, that is sad.”
The group laid in silence, enjoying the sun and the sounds of kids playing in the pool.
“Pst. Hey. Addie,” Tim whispered. “I’ve got good gossip for you.”
“You’re way overdue. You owe me at least three stories after all of Granny’s wampus cat sightings I’ve shared with you.”
“Oh, like you don’t love telling me about her cryptid adventures.”
“She’d be mad you’re not acknowledging that she caught photographic evidence of a whole clowder of them on her trail cam.”
“A clowder? Is that the technical term for a group of werecats that are absolutely colluding with the other cryptids to take Granny down?”
“Yes. Now, what’s your gossip?” Addison pressed.
Tim shared an outrageous story about his elderly neighbor, who was allegedly a drug mastermind among her peers. She was selling erectile dysfunction pills at a huge markup.
“Yeah, she really got the shaft with that Viagra operation,” he finished.
“I wonder if she needs legal representation?” Addison asked dryly.
“From a high-priced lawyer whose motivation is hearing the dirty details of her story?”
“I’m comfortable with my intentions.”
Addison realized she was the happiest she had ever been. With her friendship back on track with Lexi and her continually growing relationship with Tim, she finally had something to focus on besides work. She glanced adoringly at Tim, who snored softly next to her, like a cat basking in the sun. She no longer needed to distract herself with work or endless scrolling on her phone. I’ve never just been… content.
“We’re going on a lunch run,” Lexi announced about an hour later.
“Any requests?” Ryan asked, fishing for his wallet and keys.
“Smoothie,” Addison mumbled from under her sunhat.
“You know that’s not a meal,” Tim said.
“Fine. Smoothie and salad. I still feel like I’m going to explode from all the food I ate at that restaurant opening last night.”
Tim nodded, impressed. “Yeah, you’re an animal around free food.”
“And you?” Ryan asked Tim.
“Whatever you’re getting—make it two. I’m not picky.”
After Lexi and Ryan left, Addison struggled to reapply sunscreen to her shoulders.
“Let me get that,” Tim said, warming the lotion in his hands. “I’ll take any chance to feel you up.”
“Stick to my back, buddy. There are children present,” Addison teased as a plump boy cannonballed into the pool, soaking them both.
“Perfect ten” Tim called to the boy, who flexed his arm in response.
“What a beautiful day,” Addison commented, stretching her long legs on the lounger.
“What a beautiful companion,” Tim said, looking at her appraisingly.
“I’ll never tire of your compliments,” she smiled.
“I wish we didn’t have to keep going back and forth between our condos.”
“I think our system’s working out okay,” Addison replied. They had left enough things at each other’s places over the last few months that packing anything extra hardly took any effort.
“Remember how we were talking about living together? Move in with me. I’ll do anything, Addie. I’ll make you your dream waterfront penthouse with my own two hands.”
“Let’s not be hasty. I’ve seen your attempts at manual labor,” Addison teased.
“I want to wake up to you day after day for the rest of my life.”
“Only if Prickles gets his own room,” she replied.
“Anything for my girl. And her hedgehog, of course.”