Page 71 of In a Pinch

“It really did. Especially when the new kid dropped a fully prepped and ready to go pan of whipped potatoes on the ground. It made for a good start to the night.”

She gasps as she covers her mouth. “Oh no! Poor kid.”

“That was the only major bump. The shift tomorrow was filled by one of my best bus boys. So, it should be smooth sailing tomorrow, too.”

“Look at you, kicking ass and taking names.”

“It was a good night, and you were here waiting for me. That made it perfect. I love coming home and you being here.” My arms wrap around her, and her arms wrap around my neck. “Oh, and I didn’t tell you because I wasn’t quite sure if I was ready for it or not, but I RSVP’d for Cal and Isla’s wedding.” Addie’s words about my siblings missing me have finally gotten to me, and I’ve decided it’s time to test the waters.

Addie adverts her eyes and looks over the kitchen. She mumbles out, “Yeah, she mentioned that today.”

“Do you know if she booked our tickets together? That long-ass flight would probably be less miserable if you were with me.” Cal had messaged me months ago, letting me know he was buying the whole family tickets. That was before I knew I was going, but he bought my ticket, anyway. So, I can only hope that they all are seated closely together, and that Addie’s ticket is in the same group.

“Um, I am actually not sure.” Her posture goes rigid, her arms tense around me, and she avoids meeting my eyes. Red flags and warning bells blare through my head.

“You told her to sit us together, right?”

She fidgets a little as if nervous, trying to find a way to say what she needs to say.

“What, do you not want to sit with me? If you want to sit with Isla, I get it.” It’s her best friend’s wedding, after all.

She hastily shakes her head, keeping her eyes away from mine. My mind racks at reasons for why she would be shutting down like this. Thinking over my conversation, Cal didn’t mention anything about Addie and me. Surely, he knows about us by now, right?

“Does Isla not know we’re dating?” My arms drop from her waist and I take a defensive step back.

Addie grabs onto my arm, shaking her head. “Well, she knows I’m dating someone, but when I went to tell her who, she got a phone call and had to leave. But I’m going to tell her. I promise.”

Shaking off her touch, I run my hands through my hair and pace, trying to figure out what’s going on inside my head. What the actual fuck is happening right now?

The anger bubbles up and flows over into my voice. “We’ve been seeing each other for weeks. Months, even. How does your best friend not know about me?”

Addie’s eyes flash with guilt. “Well, I was kind of scared to tell her in the beginning. All she knew about you was that you were the asshole brother that no-showed his sister’s wedding, and never shows up—”

Cutting her off, I want to put an end to the narrative that I’m that big of an asshole. “I didn’t blow off Liv’s wedding because I don’t give a shit. I blew it off because I had no money, and there was no way in hell I was asking my dad for help. I just started making good money when that was going on. I didn’t have three grand to blow.”

She gapes at me for a minute, as if unsure what to say. Her brows furrow together as she puts it all together.

“Sam, I’m so sorry. I didn’t think you were the villain. It’s just, she already thinks I make shitty dating choices. So, I was just waiting. And then, I waited so long, I was worried that she was going to be mad at me for not telling her and judge me for that, too.”

My eyebrows shoot up and I feel my stomach drop. “So, just like every other person in my family, the fucking girl I love is ashamed of me? Fucking perfect.”

She slowly blinks as she takes in my words. “You love me?” Of course, that’s the part she’s stuck on.

She’s been stuck in my head since the moment I laid eyes on her. My heart knew it before my mind did. She was always going to be mine. I’ve told her more about myself than I have anyone else.

Throwing my hands in the air in exasperation, I say, “Isn’t it obvious? I let you in when I have created bulletproof walls between myself and everyone else.” My anger lashes out through my words and tastes bitter on my tongue.

“I’m not ashamed of you, Sam. I’ve been ashamed of myself lately, and I just couldn’t take one more person thinking I’m a fuckup.”

The fact that she thinks dating me would label her as a fuckup hits me harder than I could have ever imagined.

“No one has ever said you were a fuckup, but people have been saying that about me my whole life.” She has the perfect family—always supportive. No matter how life goes, they’ve got her back. I had her and Theo. At least, I thought I did.

Her hands claw at her chest, the light above the island illuminating against her face. “But I thought I was. I felt like I was losing at life, and I just couldn’t take Isla thinking less of me. So, I didn’t say anything, and then I fell in love with you, too, and I tried to tell her today. I really did. I had a come-to-Jesus moment. I’ve been stupid and afraid for no reason.”

Anger and an ugly emotion that feels a whole lot like hurt and betrayal fill me. Not Addie. Not her.

“Well, I am glad you finally decided I’m worthy of whatever you think you were looking for.”

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