Chapter 22 #2
He’s already moving, grabbing his clothes and Jameson’s borrowed jacket from the floor. I watch him disappear into my bathroom as Addison knocks again.
“Coming!” I yell, yanking on a robe and kicking Patterson’s shoes under my bed. I scan the room for any other evidence and spot his watch on my nightstand. I shove it in my drawer and take a breath.
I open the door, and Addison breezes past me, holding a paper bag and two gigantic coffees. She’s wearing workout clothes, and her hair is in a messy bun, which means she came straight from the gym.
“You look like hell,” she says cheerfully, setting everything on my kitchen counter. “Rough night?”
“Wine. Lots of wine.”
She looks at the counter and sees the two empty bottles and notices the two glasses. “Wine with Jameson?” She waggles her eyebrows.
“Actually, yes. We had a heart-to-heart last night,” I tell her, and I’m happy none of it is a lie.
She pulls a doughnut out of the bag and takes a bite of it. “If you’re getting back together with Jamie, I support it. Patterson’s the one you should stay away from.”
I want to ask her why. When I get the courage, I hear the faintest creak of floorboards, and my heart stops.
Addison’s head turns toward the sound. “What was that?”
“Old building.” I grab an energy ring too. “The pipes are ancient.”
She stares at the bathroom door for a long moment. I hold my breath.
“Is my brother here?”
My heart starts racing as she walks down the hallway and stands outside the bathroom door.
“Jamie, if you’re in there, please know, I totally support this. Okay?”
The door locks.
“Thanks, Addy. Now, please go away. Also, don’t tell Patterson about this.”
“Are you getting back together?” she asks quietly against the door.
“Maybe,” I hear him say.
When she returns to the kitchen, her eyes are wide, but she’s still chewing. Even I’m stunned.
Patterson lied—something I didn’t want to have to do.
“Oh my God.” Addison is practically vibrating with excitement. “This is happening. You two are actually giving it another shot.”
“It’s very complicated,” I manage, which is the truest thing I’ve said all morning.
“No way. I knew you two clearly still had feelings for each other. And now he’s hiding in your bathroom after spending the night.” She grabs my hands. “This is romantic as hell.”
I want to crawl out of my skin. “It’s just sex.”
“Is it ever really just sex?” She squeezes my fingers.
“Addison, yes. You literally told me to find a fling.”
“I did,” she tells me. “But you two almost spent the rest of your lives together. This is big.” She lowers her voice even though the bathroom is down the hall.
I think about Patterson’s hands on my body twenty minutes ago, the way he whispered, “Let go,” against my mouth.
“Things aren’t always what they seem.”
The guilt is suffocating.
She grabs her coffee and heads for the door, pausing with her hand on the knob. “I’m going to let you two finish what you started. Bye, Jamie! If you hurt my best friend, I’ll murder you myself!”
“Okay! Love you!” Patterson says.
“Love you, Jamie! Love you too, Keke!” she nearly squeals. “Please, please be my sister-in-law. I’m not giving up hope.”
The door clicks shut behind her, and I stand frozen in my kitchen, listening to her footsteps fade down the hallway.
Patterson emerges from the bathroom, fully dressed, running a hand through his hair. “That was—”
“Stupid.” I sink onto my couch. “You should’ve never pretended to be Jameson.”
“If she’d opened that door, she’d have known the truth.”
“Maybe we should tell her,” I whisper. “I trust her with my life.”
“I don’t want any outside pressure while we’re still figuring this out,” he says, moving to crouch down in front of me. “Look at me.”
I meet his eyes.
“You love playing this game. Tell me you don’t.”
I swallow hard. “I do. I know we’re going to deal with the consequences of this. I really hope we survive it all.”
“I do, too, because we might not.”
I appreciate that he doesn’t try to sugarcoat it.
I think about waking up in his arms, about how he looked at me when he said he’d never wanted anyone enough to risk everything. I think about the years I spent wanting him close. And now that I have that, I don’t want to lose it. This man makes me so unapologetically selfish.
“Fuck it,” I say. “But if this blows up, I’m blaming you.”
“Fair.” He leans forward and kisses my forehead. “So, we keep going. One lie at a time.”
“That’s a terrible motto.”
“I never claimed to be inspirational.” He stands and checks his watch. “I really do have to go. I can’t be late this morning, or your dad will rip me a new asshole. Try to have a good day.”
He slips out the door before I can respond, and I’m left alone in my apartment, surrounded by Addison’s doughnuts and a bundle of red flags.
I pick up my phone and stare at the screen. I should text Jameson to warn him that Addison thinks we’re rekindling things. But then again, I’m sure his agent has already emailed him about us being in the gossip headlines.
But that means having to talk to him, and I haven’t forgiven him yet. Honestly, I don’t know if I ever will.