19. Giselle
GISELLE
G iselle stood there, her gaze locked on Addie, trying to ground herself in the moment.
She knew she needed to say something—anything—to break the intensity that hung between them, but the words twisted in her throat as if she might reveal too much if she wasn’t careful.
Addie adjusted her shirt as she dressed, her fingers moving in a gentle, familiar way that made Giselle’s chest tighten. Everything about her felt calm, like she belonged here with Addie. For a split second, Giselle wondered what it would be like to be with Addie for every waking moment .
The thought surprised her. She was already expecting so much.
Giselle watched Addie get ready. She admired the way Addie’s fingers moved deftly as she pulled on a crisp white shirt. Addie’s hair, usually tied back in a messy bun, was now styled in loose waves. She looked…different. More put together. A little more…desirable.
Giselle felt a strange mix of emotions—excitement, anticipation, and a touch of fear. She’d never felt this way about someone before.
“You look…nice,” Giselle muttered, her voice barely audible.
Addie turned to her, a playful glint in her eye. “Is that the best you can do, Giselle? I expected more from you.”
Giselle rolled her eyes. “I’m not good at this lovey-dovey stuff.”
Addie chuckled. “You’ll get the hang of it.”
As Addie applied a touch of lipstick, Giselle couldn’t help but stare. She was captivated by the way Addie’s lips moved, the way her eyes sparkled. She wanted to touch her, to taste her. But she hesitated .
Everything that had just happened was a blur—the kisses, the touches, the raw, unfiltered desire. It was exhilarating, terrifying, and utterly intoxicating.
“That was sensational,” Addie breathed.
“Blissful,” Giselle agreed. “No regrets.”
They both laughed.
“We should’ve known,” Addie said, a mischievous glint in her eye. “Remember how Josephine interrupted us earlier?”
Giselle snorted. “Yeah, that.”
“The body wants what it wants, I suppose,” Addie mused.
Giselle feigned offense. “Oh, come on. Don’t act all high and mighty now.”
Addie chuckled. “I’m just teasing. You were the one acting all icy earlier.”
Giselle rolled her eyes. “Was not.”
Addie smiled. “Sure, Giselle. Sure.”
Giselle reached out and traced the lines of Addie’s face.
“I’m glad it happened,” she said softly.
Addie smiled. “Me, too.”
“Want to come over?” The words left Giselle’s mouth before she could overthink them .
Addie looked at her, a flicker of surprise in her eyes, but then she nodded. “I’d love to. Just for a little while, though. I need to get Sophie from school soon.”
They finished gathering their things, and Giselle couldn’t help glancing at Addie as she ran a hand through her hair. She had a way of moving that was both graceful and grounded, something Giselle found strangely comforting.
“It’s strange,” Addie said, finally breaking the silence, “being this close and still feeling like we have so much to learn about each other.”
Giselle looked at her, appreciating the honesty in her words. “You’re right. There’s still a lot to discover.”
Addie’s eyes met hers as a faint smile touched her lips. “But I don’t mind taking the time to figure you out.”
The words hit Giselle in a way she hadn’t expected, softening something inside her that she’d held tight for so long.
Giselle stood there, her gaze fixed on Addie as her mind slowly pieced together the events of their morning.
She watched Addie smooth out her shirt and adjust each button with a steady, practiced hand.
The shirt framed her figure perfectly, and Giselle found herself distracted by how well Addie wore it.
Every gesture Addie made felt deliberate and graceful. Giselle’s eyes traced the line of her collarbone, the curve of her neck, even the way her fingers moved to tuck a stray lock of hair behind her ear.
She looked so natural, as if she belonged right there, standing in front of Giselle and taking her time. There was a calmness about her that both soothed and unsettled Giselle.
“Did you say something?” Addie looked up, noticing Giselle’s silence.
“No,” Giselle said, shaking her head slightly. “Just watching.”
Addie smirked. “I could tell.”
Giselle took a step back and crossed her arms, trying to maintain her usual calm. “You know, some people would consider your level of self-confidence impressive.”
“Only impressive?” Addie raised an eyebrow, teasing. “I expected more.”
Giselle rolled her eyes, letting out a small, reluctant smile. “You’re ridiculous. ”
“Guess you’ll have to get used to it.” Addie gave her a light shrug, a hint of mischief in her expression as she finished up her lipstick.
Giselle watched, her heart doing a slow, steady drumbeat she didn’t dare acknowledge. She forced herself to look away, straightening the sleeves of her own shirt, though her mind was anything but focused on the simple task.
Her thoughts were fragmented and scattered, all centered on the way she felt each time she was around Addie.
Inwardly, Giselle felt a flicker of something unguarded, some sense of ease that was both familiar and strange.
She hadn’t allowed herself this kind of closeness in a long time, and she wasn’t sure how to process it. But Addie made it feel like she didn’t have to overthink.
She reached out, her fingers tracing the line of Addie’s cheek, soft and reassuring. The gesture felt more honest than words.
They stepped out of the office together, and for a second, Giselle felt a pang of nerves, almost as if someone might notice something had changed between them. She glanced sideways at Addie, catching her small, knowing smile.
Their gaze locked, but the moment was interrupted by a familiar voice. “Well, well, look who’s here!” Josephine’s voice was unmistakably cheerful, her expression all too curious as she studied them.
Giselle tensed slightly, hoping Josephine wasn’t watching them too closely. Josephine’s gaze was sharp, noticing every detail with that quiet, knowing glint in her eyes.
“Good morning,” Giselle replied, keeping her tone level.
Josephine raised an eyebrow, her lips curling into a smirk. “You both look refreshed. If I didn’t know better, I’d think?—”
“Josephine,” Giselle interrupted quickly, shifting her weight from one foot to the other, a faint heat creeping up her neck. “We have a lot to get done today.”
Josephine chuckled, undeterred. “Sure, sure. Just making an observation.” Her eyes sparkled with that same mischievous glint.
“Right,” Giselle muttered, ignoring the urge to roll her eyes.
Beside her, Addie looked like she was trying to keep a straight face, but the faint smile playing at the edges of her lips betrayed her. Josephine’s playful prodding didn’t seem to faze her one bit.
They walked on, and Giselle couldn’t help but glance at Addie, a small smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.
As they rounded the corner, they nearly collided with Madeline, who gave them a mock salute. “Morning, you two,” she said with a smirk, barely hiding her amusement.
She lifted a hand in a casual wave, but there was something knowing in her eyes, a glint that made Giselle instantly wary.
“Madeline,” Giselle replied, keeping her tone brisk and professional.
Madeline raised her hands in a gesture of surrender, a playful grin on her face. “Don’t mind me. Just passing by.”
She cast them a final knowing look before walking off, leaving Giselle feeling slightly exasperated.
Addie let out a soft laugh as she glanced at Giselle. “She can be quite the character.”
Giselle shook her head, stifling a small smile. “She’s annoying. ”
Addie shrugged. “She’s nice when you get to know her.”
They continued walking, the morning passing in a blur as they finished their rounds. As the day wore on, Giselle’s thoughts kept drifting back to Addie, and she found herself fighting the urge to look in her direction more times than she cared to admit.
When they finally headed back toward the parking lot, Giselle felt a strange mix of anticipation and uncertainty.
They walked to Giselle’s car in silence. As they reached it, Addie’s phone rang. She answered, her expression turning serious. Giselle watched as Addie listened intently, her brow furrowed.
“Alright,” Addie said. “I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
She hung up the phone and sighed. “Work,” she explained. “Something’s come up.”
Disappointment washed over Giselle. She’d hoped for a quiet afternoon, just the two of them. “Of course,” she said, trying to hide her disappointment. “Go ahead. I’ll be fine. ”
Addie hesitated. “I just need to sign off on a treatment plan. It should only take a few minutes. Do you want to wait for me?”
“I’ll be right here,” Giselle insisted. “Go.”
Addie gave her a grateful smile. “Thanks. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
With that, she turned and walked back into the hospital. Giselle watched her go with a strange mix of longing and relief. She was glad that Addie was needed, that she was important. But she couldn’t shake the feeling of loneliness that crept in.
She got into her car and sat there for a moment, lost in thought. She thought about Addie, about the way she looked, the way she talked, the way she made her feel. She’d never felt anything this all-consuming before.
Her phone rang, startling her. It was Ashley, her former colleague. Giselle hesitated before answering, wondering what it was about.
“Hey, Ashley,” Giselle said, trying to sound casual.
“Hi, Giselle! How are you?”
“I’m good. How are you? ”
“I’m fine. I was just calling to see how you’re settling in at Phoenix Ridge.”
“It’s been good,” Giselle said, trying to keep the conversation short.
“I heard about your ex,” Ashley said, her voice soft. “I’m so sorry for your loss.”
A lump formed in her throat.
“Thanks,” Giselle managed to say. “But I don’t really want to talk about it.”
“Of course, of course,” Ashley said quickly. “I just wanted to check in.”
“I appreciate it,” Giselle said. “But I’m good.”
“Okay,” Ashley said. “Well, if you ever need anything, just let me know.”
“Thanks,” Giselle said. “I will.”
She hung up the phone and sighed. She didn’t know why Ashley had called. Maybe she’d just wanted to catch up. Or maybe she’d had something else on her mind. Either way, Giselle wasn’t in the mood to talk about her ex.
She looked out the window, lost in thought.
A few minutes later, she saw Addie walking toward her car. She was moving quickly, her expression determined. Giselle watched her, admiring the way her hair fell around her face and how her eyes sparkled.
Addie approached the car, a small smile playing on her lips. “Sorry, that took longer than I expected,” she said.
“It’s fine,” Giselle replied. “Shall we?”