Page 73 of In a Pinch

Her voice softens, and all the anger is gone when she puts it all together. “You know I’m just joking, right?” She puts a hand to her chest. “It’s not your fault good men are a dime a dozen.”

Patting her hand, I say, “I know that, and usually, it doesn’t bug me. But I haven’t been in a good place. And I couldn’t tolerate your rejection. And a little piece of me wasn’t sure about Sam.” My shoulders hunch up. “What if he is the asshole that you all said he was? I’d tell you about him, and then he’d break my heart, and I’d get a,” I put my finger up, mocking a finger shake at Isla, “'I told you so,’ and I just couldn’t. It was stupid. I’m in a much better spot as of today. Well, at least I was.” I had my shit together for all of three seconds. That should count for something, right?

Isla sinks in on herself. “I feel like an asshole. I’m so sorry I made you feel like you couldn’t talk to me. I trust your judgment. If you say he’s good for you, then he’s good for you. My opinion shouldn’t matter, babe.” Hearing it from her is nice, but I came to the same realization today.

If I am happy, what does the rest matter? Why did I put so much weight on everyone else’s opinions, when in reality, the only person who has to live through it is me.

“I know that. I really do. I was just in a funk and struggling and unhappy when I got here. Sam helped pull me out of all that. He saw me for me, and it didn’t matter that I wasn’t kicking ass, he loved me anyways.” At least, he did.

“And now, I have to figure out how to fix it all. I was trying to tell you today about him. If Cal’s stupid car wouldn’t have broken down, this would have all been avoided.” Actually, if I wouldn’t have been a pansy, I could have told her a month ago and we probably could have been double dating this whole time. Hindsight really is twenty-twenty.

Cal walks up looking sheepish. Was he eavesdropping? “Sorry, I should have called my dad or done something.” He hands us each a mug.

Grabbing it from him, I let it warm my hands. “Don’t be sorry. I’m just trying to find someone else to blame. This one is on me.”

Cal props himself against the couch. “For what it’s worth, Sam reaching out to me hasn’t happened in a long time, and I’m sure that was you. So, thank you. I can talk to him, too. We have never seen eye to eye, but I hope with your help, that can change.”

While it makes me happy that they’re reconnecting, I can only think of the douchebag that put them in this spot in the first place. “Yeah, your dad did quite a number on him.”

“He’s done a number on us all. I think he’s trying to be better.”

Isla and I both level him with a look. He may be trying, but not very hard.

Desperate for them to see Sam for who he is—for who I see him as—I say, “I hope you guys realize how great he is. He is kind and funny and caring. He is a bit of a grump, but it adds to his charm. He’s the best. There’s not a thing about him that I don’t love.”

Isla’s eyes go wide and she looks around the room. “Holy shit. Did it just get cold in here? Hell must have frozen over for Adeline to be saying she is in love.”

Heaving out a sigh, I say, “Sam broke the curse, and then I broke him. How kind of me, right?” An empty laugh leaves my throat.

“I’m sure this has more to do with his issues with his family than you,” Isla says as Cal decides to sit down. Might as well be a part of the conversation, since he was going to be a Nosey Rosie, anyways.

“I know, but that doesn’t help the fact that I made him feel like he’s someone to be ashamed of. I may not have done it intentionally, but that doesn’t really matter.”

Squeezing my leg, Isla says, “Well, you have to quit beating yourself up. It’s said and done now. What are you going to do to fix it?”

I think about the question as I bring the tea up to my lips. Its warmth shimmies down and helps soothe the ache.

“I really have no idea.” This is going to need more than anI’m sorryto fix it. Trust is so delicate. It takes forever to build and seconds to destroy.

“I’m sure he will be more levelheaded after he calms down, too,” Cal replies.

“Yeah, I’m sure you’re right. I will think of something. Do you guys mind if I crash here tonight? I don’t feel like driving. Or being alone.”

Isla wraps her arm around me and squeezes. “Not at all. We can have a sleepover in the living room. Cal, make like a tree and leave, will ya?” She hikes her thumb toward the stairs. “We need some girl time. Maybe a little wine while we’re at it.”

His face looks like he is genuinely disappointed. His hands drop to his side as he replies, “What, you don’t want a man’s perspective? I feel like I could provide some good insight.”

“No,” comes out of both our mouths at the same exact time. We look at each other and laugh. Ugh, I hate that I’m here for this reason, but this is what I have missed.

Holding up his hands, he says, “All right, all right. It’ll work out, Addie. Everyone fights. The best relationships come out stronger for it. You’ll see.” He walks over and plops a kiss on Isla’s forehead. My heart hurts because that could have been me tonight. That should be me. I miss him and it hasn’t even been an hour since I left his place.

Once Cal jogs up the stairs, Isla grabs the ottoman to make a leg extender for us. Grabbing a throw pillow, I pull it to my chest.

Hopping off the couch, Isla says, “I’m going to go grab a pen and paper.”

I have half a mind to ask her what for, but this is Isla, after all. Lord knows what she has planned.

She comes running back into the room, snags a book from the coffee table, and plops the book and both a pen and paper in my lap.

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