Chapter 4
That’s the last thing I wanted to hear. I could stomach it if Addison had a date with Jacob or a business meeting for another opening at another location, but a new job? At a bar? A sports bar? I have to put an end to this, or she’ll never be able to attend my games ever again.
“Baddie,” I say. “Move in with me.”
She shakes her head, clearly annoyed. She turns me around, using my shoulders to guide my body. “You will never say those words again, or I will not be your friend.”
“Really?” I chuckle sarcastically. “Oh, that’s an empty threat.” “Ah!” she says, covering my mouth with her hand. “Don’t say it. I will block you on my phone and I will change the lock on my door.”
My eyes dart to hers as I slowly stick my tongue out and lick her palm.
“Ew!” she scoffs, stopping me at the front door. She wipes her hand on my shirt, and I stay still as she uses my abs like a washboard.
I disregard the warmth on my stomach that makes my insides cry for more as I ask, “Are you kicking me out right now?”
She removes her hand from these rock-hard abs and nods. “You need to shower and hit the hay.”
“Can’t I just shower here?” I ask.
Her expression softens. “If you want to, sure. But let me check the bathroom first.”
Addie disappears down the hall and my mind wanders back in time to the night freshman year when Addie told me about her mom.
We were studying in my dorm, textbooks and papers spread out, an empty pizza box on the floor. Somehow the topic of family came up and Addie got quiet. It was obvious that something wasn’t right as I talked about my family. She barely asked any questions.
“It's just me and my dad,” she said. “My mom died in a car accident when I was six.”
The words landed like a physical blow. In an instant, I understood so much – the sadness that sometimes flickered in Addie's eyes, the intense independence she claims, and the disconnect with her father.
I scooted closer and pulled her into my arms without thinking.
She came willingly, folding into me as sobs caught in her throat.
My heart has ached for her since then. It was a moment when I understood that I was lucky to have never experienced that kind of pain, and something in my brain changed. She changed me forever.
“I've got you,” I murmured over and over. “I'm right here, Addie.”
I held her like that for a long time, wishing I could absorb her pain into myself. She cried until she had no tears left, falling asleep against my chest. I carried her to my bed and tucked her in, brushing hair off her tear-stained cheeks.
It was our first-ever sleepover. She stayed in my bed, and I took the ground.
It was at that moment, looking down at her, that my protective instincts came to life.
I vowed to do everything in my power to take care of her from that day forward.
She'd already lost so much. Her mom? I can’t even begin to imagine.
To this day, I absolutely refuse to be her friend in passing. I want to be so much more, so best friend it is. I promised her that she would never be alone. Not then and not now.
The bathroom door opens, and Addie says, “Shower’s all yours, China Wall.”
I watch her closely, wondering if she’s hiding the stress of the rent increase.
“Baddie?”
She looks up at me. “Yeah?”
I hold my gaze on her and reassure her, “It’s going to be okay.”
Her brows furrow. “Yeah, I know that, Wilder. That’s why I don’t need you.” She walks back to the couch and continues her paperwork.
That’s my cue to head into the bathroom. I turn the spray as hot as it will go and step under, hoping my anger swirls down the damn drain with the water. She wants me to forget it, but I definitely can’t.
I think of her brown sugar eyes, and I know I can’t sit back and do nothing. I can fix this for her. No, I will fix this for her.
Addison is one of the strongest humans I know, and if she finds out that I’m trying to step in, she will torture me herself.
Which, on the contrary, sounds pretty nice.
She could do whatever she wanted with me, and I would let it happen.
Heck, I’d probably even enjoy it. I probably shouldn’t even be thinking about sneaking behind her back, but I can’t help it.
As we figured out years ago, I am the best friend anyone could ever ask for.
The yes man. Ryan Wilder, the China Wall of the NHL’s Seven Devils, baby. A fucking people pleaser. The Nice Guy.
The plan comes together as I lather her vanilla orange soap over my skin, breathing in the scent of summertime and Addie.
First thing tomorrow, I'll call her landlord and cover whatever extra he's charging.
I have the means to make this problem disappear and she deserves to have something go right for once.
I know she'd continue to deny my help if I offered openly, stubborn pride winning out over practicality. Her independent streak runs deep. So, I'll handle it quietly, just take care of it behind the scenes. She never even needs to know.
Toweling off, I tie it around my hips and walk out of the bathroom.
The steam flows into the hallway as I make my way to her room where I have a few outfits in one of her drawers.
I open the bottom right drawer, which is rightfully mine, but I don’t find clothes.
There are notebooks, so I lift them up to see if my shirt and shorts are hiding underneath.
My eyes widen at the view of what I’ve come across. A bright pink thing shaped like a dick next to a vibrator toy with a round head. I put the notebooks back down and then take a deep breath.
What the fuck?
I lift the notebooks back up because I clearly must’ve been seeing things.
I look at the other bottom drawer, open that one up, and see my clothes folded nicely.
God, why did I not remember exactly what drawer was mine?
Now I have this image of Baddie giving herself the best pleasure of her life, meanwhile, I’m having vanilla sex.
I close that sex drawer and wonder how I can act normal around Addison after knowing what she has in her bedroom. I throw on my clothes and stare at the bottom drawer. I swear that was my drawer. Did she want me to see it? I scratch my head, not knowing what to think. Now I’m pacing the room.
We’re all adults here.
Yeah.
Why wouldn’t she have something like that?
But why would she?
Ok, but did she want me to see that?
Oh, god. Does Jacob use that on her?
I can’t stop pacing the room.
What fucking excuse am I using to get out of her apartment when I just used an excuse to stay longer.
There’s a knock on the door, and it scares the shit out of me.
“Everything okay?” Addison asks on the other side.
I open the door, looking down at her. Her boobs are out, and I catch my eyes accidentally looking at them.
“Yeah,” I breathe. “I need to get going. Hit the hay like how you said earlier.”
Her brows furrow in suspicion as I walk past her. “Okay.”
I lift my phone. “Crew needs to talk to me about something. You know how it goes, guy things.”
Addie is quick-witted when she asks, “Guy things or Madison things?”
I chuckle because Addie knows I forced Crew to live with Madison so that he could keep a close eye on my sister.
“Right,” I correct myself. “Apparently Madlibs has herself caught up with Grey Cress. Do you remember that guy?”
“Him? Yeah, I remember him.”
I stop walking, observing her body language. Fuck, I accidentally glanced at her tits again. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
She shrugs. “Good-looking guy, that’s all.”
“You can’t be serious?”
She throws her head back and laughs. “I am messing with you. Okay, go handle whatever it is with your sister. And good luck at your game tomorrow.”
I nod as my gut twists. She can’t miss every game from here on out. I need to figure this out as soon as possible. “Thanks, Ads.”
She waves once with her lips pursed and I’m leaving her apartment, imagining what she’s going to be doing once I’m gone.
Ryan Wilder: May Day. SOS
Crew Nixon: What’s up brother
Ryan Wilder: Need help sorting my thoughts and figured you’re the man to help with that.
Crew Nixon: Hit me with it
Ryan Wilder: If you don’t play with us next season, I’m going to be livid, man. Work harder. And wtf do I do about Baddie?
Crew Nixon: (Laughing emoji) Bro you need to just tell her how you feel
Ryan Wilder: I technically still have a girlfriend but there’s some stuff going on with Ads, and I need to be there for her
Crew Nixon: I don’t think you will ever love anyone like you love Addison
Ryan Wilder: You’re right. I need to break it off with Hailey
Crew Nixon: Yeah and you need to tell her already. Jeez man
Ryan Wilder: You coming to the game? Crew Nixon: No, but I’m having a watch party at the house with the guys. Your sister is happy to host
Ryan Wilder: No surprise there. I’ll wave at the camera
Crew Nixon: Steady now, China Wall
I’m sitting in my truck in Addie’s parking lot. Nixon’s right. I need to break up with Hailey because this isn’t fair for anyone. And then I need to pull some strings to get onto Addie’s lease agreement.