Page 55 of Letting it Ride

Addie chews on her lower lip. “This might be boring, but what about just walking? Like along the beach, or around the island? I’ve never been here before this trip, so it would be fun to see more of it.”

Anything with Addie is fun, if you ask me. I’mnever bored when I’m around her. “I love that idea. Let’s go.”

Just off the main island is a smaller one called Paradise Island. The two are connected by a bridge. We take a cab, spending the entire ride with our faces close to the windows like a couple of kids watching the view.

“Are those the pigs people pay to swim with? Out there in the bay?” Addie asks, pointing.

I follow her gaze. “Looks like it. Apparently, it’s a big thing.”

The cab driver grunts. “Good for tourists, those pigs.”

Addie covers her mouth to hold back her giggles.

The cab drops us off near the beach. I take Addie’s hand as we make our way down to the shore and slip off our shoes. We hold them in our hands as we walk along the waterline. My toes curl into the warm sand while the waves lap gently against our feet.

“God, this place,” Addie sighs, looking out over the blue water that spans endlessly toward the horizon. “It’s just gorgeous. I wonder what it would be like to live here.”

“It would be magical,” I murmur, following hergaze. “Imagine listening to the sound of the waves every day.”

Addie stops and picks up a spiral seashell, brushing off the sand to admire it. “I guess it’s also that we’re on vacation right now, huh? Like, anywhere you don’t have to get up in the morning to go to work probably feels relaxing.”

“True. Vacation goggles.” I nod.

She giggles. “Exactly.” Addie looks at me, squinting against the late morning sun. “What would you do if you ever decided to stop playing poker? Or do you think you’ll keep doing that forever?”

It’s a subject I’ve thought a lot about lately. “I’ve always wanted to teach. I majored in applied math and education in college and kind of figured that I’d use that, but I never did.”

Addie’s eyes widen. “How did I never know that?”

“I’m guessing it’s because if you heard Maddox and I talking back then, the logical assumption would be that we were majoring in beer pong. We didn’t talk much about academics.”

She nods slowly, thinking as she watches a boat on the horizon. “Makes sense. I don’t know that I talked a lot about my studies during my time off, either.” Addie turns and looks at me. “Did you plan on teaching? What were you going to do with your degree?”

We take a few more steps along the water. “Originally, I was actually planning to get a doctorate so I could be a college professor. I kind of figured that’s the age group I’m best suited for, you know? But then I got started in poker, and it just seemed like so much to go back to school, you know? And especially now, seeing Blake all stressed with his post-doc stuff, I’m not sure that’s the lifestyle I want. So… maybe high school? Middle school at the very youngest. I’m not sure I know much about kids.”

Addie laughs. “Just hang out with Julio for a while. He’ll get you up to speed.”

21

ADDISON

Annika

You didn’t say yes to the senior class advisor thing, did you? She’s emailing all of us. Don’t cave.

Remember, No is a complete sentence, Addie.

Not yet. Thinking about it, though.

Addie! How in the hell are you going to have time for that?

You can’t just give in to everything people want all the time.

*shrug emoji* It’ll be fine. And if it doesn’t work out or it’s a huge pain, I’ll quit. Probably.

Don’t kill yourself just so other people will be happy.

Speaking of making people happy…

---