Chapter Six
Addison was still reeling from the night before when she woke up at seven the next morning. Woke up was kind of a stretch. She’d tossed and turned so much, she’d barely gotten any sleep.
That hadn’t gone according to plan. Her time with Cleo had been amazing.
She was exactly who she’d seemed through her letters and calls.
It was always great when someone lived up to expectations.
It rarely happened. Addison felt a strong connection to her.
Maybe it stemmed from the shared experience, but somehow it felt deeper. A small friendship outside of Knox.
But her icy reception from Wraith and Cross had put a damper on the day.
Addison had been shocked when she’d been introduced.
She’d had no clue Cross was part of the motorcycle club when they’d met at the bar.
He wasn’t wearing an identifying vest like the others.
Of course, he wore it yesterday. He wasn’t just a member; he was the vice-president, according to the patch on his vest.
The man had gone from subtle flirting to shooting death stares once he’d found out her identity.
Wraith’s reaction wasn’t any better. It struck her as odd since she knew he at least was aware they were in contact.
Of course, writing letters from six states away was very different than her standing a few feet from him. And Cross.
Addison wasn’t sure how it would play out, but clearly they had not been happy with her being there. It was best to keep her distance if she wanted to maintain her relationship with Cleo.
As promised, they were getting together again today.
She checked the time. She had about forty-five minutes until Cleo arrived.
She’d taken a shower and gotten dressed by the time she walked out to her kitchen for coffee.
Addison still had to run out to grab breakfast for the two of them before Cleo arrived. Plenty of time.
Cleo had invited Addison to her house again, but after last night’s scene, she’d texted Cleo asking if she wouldn’t mind coming over to Addison’s rental.
Cleo eagerly obliged without question. Addison got the distinct feeling that aside from being a natural people-pleaser, Cleo would do anything to make Addison comfortable.
She was taking her first sip of coffee when the doorbell rang. It caught her off guard, and she glanced up at the clock on the stove. It was way too early to be Cleo. She placed her mug on the counter and walked to the door, opening it slightly.
Um, I guess it’s not too early for Cleo.
Addison widened the door.
“Good morning!” Cleo’s smile was unsure.
“I know I’m early, but I didn’t want to be late.
As I pulled up, I realized that Birch is only a twenty-five-minute ride from Killcreek, and I was very early.
I would’ve waited in the car until ten, but” —She sucked in a breath and lifted a cooler bag— “The casserole has to stay warm, otherwise it gets soggy. But if you want to take it and pop it in the oven at three hundred, I’ll go wait in my car until ten. ”
By the time Cleo stopped talking, Addison’s mind was spinning.
The woman had barely taken a breath. Cleo was unlike anyone she’d ever met.
Addison had a lot of acquaintances, but not many close friends.
It was her own doing. She’d always had a large group of people she’d hang with, but once she got her diagnosis, the number declined significantly.
It wasn’t on them. Everyone had been very supportive, but Addison needed her space, and in the end alienated most of her friends.
Even now almost three years after the transplant, she kept to herself a lot.
Cleo offered her the bag. “Do you want to take it?”
Addison blinked, realizing she’d been in a daze for the last minute, and quickly snapped out of it. She grabbed Cleo’s wrist, chuckling.
“I’m not going to make you wait in the car for the next half hour.” Addison tugged on her arm, and Cleo followed her inside.
“I don’t mind.”
Addison closed the door, smiling at Cleo. “Well, I do.” She eyed the cooler bag and led her into the kitchen, setting the oven at three hundred. “It smells amazing. I feel bad I was only going to run out and get bagels.”
“Oh, I brought bagels too. And donuts. I didn’t know what you’d like, so I brought some of everything.”
God, this woman is too sweet.
“Well, for future reference, I like everything.”
And thanks to you, Cleo, I even like sushi now.
It had been on the list she’d given Addison nine months ago.
It wasn’t necessarily on Knox’s, but Cleo mentioned she’d pleaded with him to try it, and he’d agreed.
But he never got the chance. Addison was in a similar boat.
While she wasn’t a picky eater, sushi had never appealed to her. Until now.
Addison grabbed another mug from the cabinet for Cleo’s coffee while she unloaded the bag of food. How many people did she think would be here? There was enough to feed ten hungry adults. Should I be expecting more visitors? Her mind went straight to the encounter from the night before.
“So um, everything work out okay last night?” Addison grabbed her coffee, eyeing Cleo at the table. Cleo’s body stiffened, but when she turned around, she had a huge smile. Too big. It was suspicious.
“Oh yeah, everything’s fine.”
Liar.
Addison slowly nodded, waiting on Cleo to elaborate.
She didn’t. After Addison made Cleo coffee, they sat in the living room.
Cleo dominated the conversation with small talk while Addison silently took everything in.
She was still curious about what happened after she left Cleo’s.
But she couldn’t blatantly ask. She’d wait for an opening to segue to that subject.
“The rental is nice.”
Addison glanced around the room. “Yeah, it’s decent. Originally, I was looking for something in Killcreek to be closer.”
Cleo snorted. “Not much happens in Killcreek and they definitely don’t rent out houses.”
Addison cocked her head. “But you rent, right?”
“Oh yeah, but that’s different. I live on Grizz’s property.”
Addison assumed Grizz lived in the big house.
“Is Grizz part of the club?”
“No, but he’s like a” —she looked up at the ceiling— “close friend.”
“Would he have minded that I was there yesterday?” Addison asked, lifting her mug and taking a sip.
Cleo’s eyes widened, and she clamped her lips. It was strange, almost as if she was completely shutting down. That hadn’t been Addison’s intention when she’d asked. She was trying to get to the root of the intense hostility Wraith and Cross were feeling. Addison scooted to the edge of her couch.
“Can I be honest with you?”
Cleo nodded.
“Things got very intense last night, and…”
Cleo frantically waved her hand, “And I’m so sorry about that. Wraith was surprised that you were there, and I didn’t tell him.”
Shit! I did this.
Addison placed her hand over her heart. “Well, that’s my fault. I didn’t tell you.”
“That’s totally okay. You’re the best surprise ever. It’s just, he was away and I should’ve called him to let him know you were coming but I didn’t.”
She knitted her brows, cocking her head. “Why didn’t you?”
Cleo’s shoulders sagged, and she seemingly deflated. “He’s really protective of me. And um” —she nibbled on her bottom lip, stalling— “So is the club, and they tend to be suspicious of people they don’t know. I didn’t…”
“What?”
“I-I…” —she closed her eyes and inhaled a deep breath— “I didn’t want him to insist on being there the first time we met. I love Wraith, and he’s the best man I know, but he can be intimidating. I know that.” She flicked open her eyes. “I didn’t want him to scare you away.”
It was the most honest answer she’d ever heard. Addison laughed. “Better to ask for forgiveness than permission.”
“Yeah.”
I love Cleo.
Addison tapped Cleo’s leg. “Well, he didn’t scare me away.”
Cleo smiled, and her whole body seemed to ease.
“But he’s fine with it now?”
Cleo hesitated, but nodded.
Are you lying?
“Is the other guy fine with it too? What was his name, um, Cross?”
Girl, stop! You know his name! Addison forced a smile, ignoring the voice in her head.
“Oh yeah. They were just caught off guard, but everything is good now.”
Why don’t I believe you? Addison wouldn’t question her. Only time would tell if she was being truthful. But Addison had gotten the answers she was looking for, kind of. There was no reason to dwell on it. Addison would stick to her original plan of keeping her distance from the club.
She pointed across the room. “Want to eat?”
Cleo jerked her head toward the kitchen. “Sure, if you’re hungry.”
“I mean, I can wait.”
Cleo turned back, staring at Addison and scanning her face. There was definitely something on Cleo’s mind, and it wasn’t food. They hadn’t known each other long, but Cleo had an expressive face. There was a new tension.
“What are you thinking?” Addison asked.
Cleo straightened as if she was gearing up to say something. But she remained silent.
Addison placed her mug on the end table. “Cleo?”
She shifted in the chair and clasped her hands, squeezing them tightly. What the hell happened? She’d gone from relaxed to seemingly nervous again in ten seconds flat.
“What?”
Cleo licked her lips, staring intently at her. “I had this idea, but now that I’m here, I don’t know if it’s appropriate to ask you.”
I’m intrigued.
“Well, you can ask me anything?”
“It might be weird.”
Girl, this is all weird.
“We’re embracing that, remember? The weirder, the better. Ask.”
Cleo slowly stood and walked into the kitchen. Where was she going? From Addison’s view, she couldn’t see Cleo past the wall. She craned her neck to see as Cleo walked back into the room, stopping ten feet away. Addison glanced down at her hand and gasped when she laid eyes on the stethoscope.
“Can I listen to your heart?” Cleo’s voice shook, and her eyes welled immediately.
Not my heart, Knox’s heart.