43. Vance
VANCE
After training with Tyson, I checked my phone and I still didn’t have any messages from Addy. That was odd. I pulled up my socials and all the articles of Tj and Tyson were gone. Addy had been busy.
I showered and saw that Tyson’s office was open, a female voice drifted down the hall from his office. Weird. I looked in and he was sitting across from Becky and they were laughing. I didn’t like this. “Hey Van, you remember Becky.”
“Yeah…” I said slowly. I couldn’t hide the suspicion in my voice.
“She stopped by to drop off Tj and wanted to chat.” He seemed so at ease. What if Addy saw this? After her hard work cleaning up articles of Tj, I don’t think she’d like Becky sitting in Ty’s office.
“Right. Of course.” I turned and walked out. I couldn’t watch this. I was hurt on Addy’s behalf.
“Van, wait a minute.” Tyson grabbed my shoulder and yanked me back. His voice dropped to a whisper. “I’m trying to play nice to see if she leaked information.”
I jerked out of his grasp, “You should have more faith in Adelaide and her team. All the articles are down already.” The look on his face told me that he didn’t know that bit of information.
I continued on, because clearly he wasn’t paying attention to what was going on around him.
“Right. And I’m sure I’m not the only one who saw you getting friendly with Becky.
So you have to deal with that.” I turned and walked out.
Sure as shit, I checked my phone again and the first article was from a gossip page and it was of Tyson and Becky walking into the gym with Tj hanging onto Ty’s right hand and Becky tucked under his left arm.
My phone vibrated in my pocket.
Addy: Is it true?
She sent a screenshot of the article.
I typed out a couple answers, then deleted them. This wasn’t my battle.
Addy: It’s okay if it is. But he should know that she did leak the information. Laurel and I cleared it up already.
I couldn’t believe Tyson did this. He can fix it too. I wasn’t about to save his ass from her.
Addy: Vance, please. Tell me so that I know if I need to have Laurel take care of anything else.
She was constantly looking out for us. And we’d just used her. Whether we intended to or not.
Me: You should talk to him, but you don’t need to take down anything.
There. Vague, but still letting him handle it. I hated myself for setting them up like that. It was the only way to push them back to each other or be done for sure and I’m left out of it.
Addy: Can I come over tonight?
Me: Yes. I’ll cook.
I put in my address and she liked the message. I’m not sure what her intention was but if she wanted to come over I wouldn’t say no.
I heard footsteps behind me in the entry of the gym and Tyson cut me off from the exit. “Jesus. They don’t waste any time.” He held up his phone and scrolled through a few articles.
Tyson and his new family.
Tyson McNally reunites with his ex and son.
Tyson and Becky McNally reunited.
“You do see that Tj’s name isn’t listed anywhere though. That was Addy and Laurel.”
“You think I don’t know that!” He snapped. “I can’t fix this if she won’t talk to me.” He pulled up his messages to her. Begging her to talk to him. Her only response was, ‘If you want to be with Becky and Tj I get it.’. And that was it.
“I don’t want to be with Becky.” He grabbed my shoulders. “Tell me what to do.”
“I can’t tell you anything. You know that.
Figure it out. This push and pull between the two of you is something you two will have to fix.
I’m staying out of it.” This was Ty though.
I won’t say he liked the fight, but he didn’t turn away either.
Him and Addy were both stubborn, they’d have to figure this out on their own.
My phone vibrated in my pocket, but I didn’t pull it out.
Addy: Don’t tell Ty about tonight. I just need a night away from all of this, my house included.
I quickly tucked my phone away and opened my car door. “See you later Ty. I guess let me know if you need anything.” I shrugged and got in. He just stood in the parking lot and watched me drive away.
Addy sat at the bar watching me cook, I had decided on a pasta dish that my mother taught me how to make. I heard her sigh and when I turned around she was smiling at me. “It smells amazing in here.”
“Thank you. I make this for myself often, so I hope you like it.”
“I don’t know how the guy who says things like ‘who got you smiling like that’ also comes up with some fancy pasta dish.” She shook her head.
“I have to keep you guessing.” I winked and she blushed slightly. “The same guy will tell Adelaide to get on her knees and suck his cock while I stir this sauce if you're not careful.”
“You are an enigma Vance Langston.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment.” I turned around and went back to stirring the sauce.
I heard a sigh from behind me and it worried me. Was she second guessing this? Second guessing Tyson and I? “Are you alright Addy?”
“You caught me.” She laughed quietly. “I just really love you.” Then another sigh made me turn around again. Hearing her say those words to me made me feel like my heart was going to explode. I should get that checked out.
“I really love you too.” I responded with my whole chest, then finished up with dinner. If she kept distracting me, everything would be burned. A chair moved behind me, and then I heard feet shuffling on the floor. Addy peeked around my shoulder and took a deep breath. “This smells amazing.”
“You mentioned that.” I answered quietly.
Now she was really distracting me. I picked her up and put her on the counter next to where I was working but out of the way.
“Now you can be as close as possible without getting burnt.” She nodded but didn’t look at me, she watched as I stirred the pasta into the sauce and added cheese.
I couldn’t help myself, I leaned over and kissed the end of her nose, then went back to stirring. “Better?”
“Much.” She smiled softly. I enjoyed being here with her and it was moments like this that I loved the most. Music floated around us in the otherwise silent kitchen, she just watched, subtly touching me as I’d walk past her or kicking my butt playfully. This was easy and comfortable.
“Can I help you with anything?” She hopped down, ready and willing to do exactly as I asked.
“Grab two plates please, I’ll pick out a bottle of wine.”
“You are a man of many specialties.” She said appreciatively, then grabbed two plates and two wine glasses.
I barely plated the pasta dish before she dug in, humming with approval. “I thought I loved you before.”
“Again, thank you. A man of many talents.” I answered humbly. Tonight was so easy and relaxed and I could tell that Addy needed that. Her shoulders relaxed and I saw her loosening up.
“I needed this.” She said quietly.
I nodded in agreement, because I needed this to. It solidified for me that we needed Tyson back because he’d love this too. A quiet, relaxed dinner with Addy was just what the doctor ordered.