23. Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Three
Addie
“ S eriously, we can cancel. We don’t have to go this weekend,” Isla says over the phone.
Leaning back in my chair, I spin to look out the window. “Dude, I swear I am fine. I managed to move all my shit across the country by myself, and I am sure I can manage across town. And I have some friends coming to help. Don’t worry about me. Go be in your gross love bubble with Cal for the weekend.”
“Okay, fine. But if something happens, just call and we can come right back.”
I have always been the adultier adult in this friendship. It appears, without my knowledge, we have flip-flopped.
“Calm down, Mom. I’ve got this. I swear. I will call you when I get settled tonight. I love you. Go have fun with your fiancé.”
“Okay, fine. I love you, too, bitch.”
Immediately after hanging up, I pop out of my desk chair and make my way to Regina’s desk. I politely smile to all those I pass in the walkway as I make my way. Seeing Tyler through his glass window, I send a wave, which he doesn’t even see because he is buried deep in whatever he is doing. I laugh to myself because I guess I don’t have to worry about him listening in. Really, why do our desks have to be this far apart?
“I need to tell you a secret,” I blurt as soon as I get to her desk. She jumps from the random person showing up. The papers in her hand go flying as that same hand lands on her chest.
“Okay. Can you do it without giving me a heart attack next time?” She bends down to collect the papers she dropped and I go to help her.
I roll my eyes. “Okay, seriously. You can’t tell Tyler, and you can’t tell Isla or Liv when we see them. It’s too soon, and technically, nothing has happened. So, it could be nothing, but I don’t think that it’s nothing, which is why I am here. Telling you. About the secret.” My words come out in a rush. I place both my hands on the edge of her desk, leaning closer to her.
“Damn, what did you do, kill someone? You’re being really freaking weird.’
“Remember the other night at the bar, when I disappeared and then never came back?” My whispered words are met with her raised eyebrows.
She eyes my suspiciously. “Yes?” It comes out slow and drawn out.
“Okay, well, creepy Caden had followed me outside and was being all pushy. One thing led to another, and Sam punched him. For touching me.”
She sits up ramrod straight in her chair, as if she is going to fly out of it and go on a manhunt this moment. Anger flashes across her face. “That motherfucker. Did he do anything?” Sheesh. Good thing he’s not here right now; he’d probably get kicked in the junk again.
“Oh, no. Sam laid him out before he could, and then I kicked him in the balls. I don’t think he will come anywhere near me again.” I take a deep breath because the nerves are making me talk fast and forget to breathe. “Anyways, I didn’t want to go back inside. So, I ended up hanging out with Sam. And I stayed over with him.”
Her eyes about bug out of her head, quickly followed by a sheepish smile and an eyebrow wag.
“Not like that, you horndog. Although…” I shake my head, getting rid of the thought. I don’t want to share too much too soon.
“Back to the topic. He will be over today to help me move. We had been texting and I asked for help when I realized Cal and Isla were going to be out of town. Not that we couldn’t handle it, but a little manpower couldn’t hurt.”
“Okay. I’m going to be honest, I don’t think I am following.”
Fair enough, that was about as clear as mud.
“You can’t tell anyone he’s coming.”
“Once again, I am not following. Why is it a secret? Wouldn’t Isla be thrilled you are hanging out with her soon-to-be brother-in-law?”
Coming around her desk, I hop up on an empty corner. “See, that’s the thing. Sam is kind of estranged from his family. It’s a work in progress, but I don’t want to push it too hard, and I am honestly not really quite sure what’s happening between us.”
“Okay. So. Sam is estranged, and you want to keep it on the down-low because…?”
Damn, I am a really bad storyteller.
“Because Isla kind of isn’t sure about him, and with my track record, I already know she won’t approve. So, I will just have to cross that bridge when I get there. Or, if we get there? We’ve only kissed once.”
Her hands fly to her desk as she borderline jumps out of her desk chair. “YOU KISSED?!”
I look over to Tyler, who has now perked his head up. I give a little wave, which is returned this time, before I turn back to Regina with wide eyes.
“Bitch, can you please keep it down?” I say, looking around at everyone who is now staring at us in her cubicle. “This is not being cool and keeping it on the down-low.”
“Shit, sorry.” A sly smile finds her again. “Soooo, how was the kiss?”
“Really freaking good.” So good that I can’t stop thinking about it and am going through all sorts of trouble just to do it again.
“Nice.” She nods her head in approval. “Yes, your secret is safe with me.”
“Okay, great. He will meet us at Cal and Isla’s, and his friend Theo is also coming. He was the bartender from the other night.”
“Okay, well, from here on out, my lips are sealed.” She fake seals, locks, and throws away the key. “Only if you promise to share the juicy bits with me.”
“Deal.” I reach across and shake hands with her.
A part of me—a large part—feels guilty for not telling Isla. I feel like I am just getting back on my feet. I’ve got my own apartment, I’m doing really well at work, and I’m finally letting myself chase who I want. And on the odd chance she would shut this down, it would be another hit to my confidence that I couldn’t take after barely getting it back. She has made it pretty clear that I cannot pick a suitable partner to save my life.
If this goes further, I’ll bring it up. Really, I will. I promise, mostly to myself.