Page 3 of Beneficial Misfortune

“My brother, Dessy, is the best!” she shouts, jumping up to pull me with her toward the door. “He bought me Ruby for my birthday two years ago, and he always brings me the best sweets when he travels! Oh, and he lets me stay up past my bedtime when Rose tries to put me to bed.”

Her face turns down in a frown at the mention of Rose. I’m unsure why she calls her that. Maybe she’s her stepmom? Whatever it is, she can’t seem to say her name without scowling.

“Oh, he sounds fantastic, Addy. I know how much you love Ruby. That was a very special birthday gift. He sounds like he loves you very much.”

I direct our conversation back to her dog, which I know she loves so much, and just like that, her smile is back.

“He does! He told me I’m his best friend in the whole world.” She throws her arms out wide and spins around, making her light brown curls whirl around, and I can’t help but smile watching her.

She’s so full of spirit; it’s no wonder she has her brother wrapped around her tiny fingers. Heck, she’s got me the same way, and she isn’t even my little sister. She’s so easy to love.

“Well, he’s one lucky guy to have a friend like you.”

Addy smiles when I boop her nose before she throws her arms around my waist, hugging me tight.

“Addison.”

A deep voice calls from down the hall, and we both turn to look toward it.

“Oli,” Addison huffs, folding her arms over her chest with a pout.

Oh no, I can see today might not be so easy to get her to leave after all.

The man approaches, and I look him over. He has sandy brown hair and hazel eyes. His hair is combed back neatly, and despite the heat, he wears a full three-piece suit. It fits him perfectly, and I’d bet he gets them custom-fitted. You don’t get that kind of fit from a department store buy.

It’s not uncommon to see people in full business attire, regardless of the weather. I’d been a bit shocked the first few weeks when the weather warmed up. How can anyone wear that much material when it’s hotter than Satan’s balls? I’ll never understand, but I know a lot of people have office jobs. They must be used to it.

His face lights up with a smile when his eyes find Addison down the hall, even though she seems less than happy to see him. He has a dimple on his left cheek that gives him an almost boyish quality that isn’t common with businessmen. If anything, they seem to all have permanent sticks up their asses.

“What, no hug for Oli?” he asks with a laugh, coming to a stop in front of her. She doesn’t even look at him, only pursing her lips further in a clear show of her annoyance, but it doesn’t seem to affect him at all. Instead, he crouches down and holds his arms out, and all I can do is watch them. It takes a moment, but just when I’m going to intervene to try to save him, Addy gives in.

With a very sassy eye roll, she huffs before throwing herself into his arms with enough force that he sways. His arms go around her back, pulling her tight to his chest before he stands, taking her with him, and she squeaks before laughing.

If I thought his smile was cute before, it's almost devastating now.

He extends a hand to me with a polite smile, but it doesn't have the same warmth as the one he just had for Addison—not that it should; I’m a stranger, after all. Something about his eyes looks guarded, almost uncomfortable, as I reach out to shake his hand. The moment our hands drop, it’s gone, and I wonder if it was even really there to begin with.

“My name is Oliver. My cousin was supposed to come get her today, but he got held up, so here I am. Sorry about the mixup,” he tells me, bending back down to let Addison’s feet rest on the floor again.

The second he’s let her go, she turns, throwing her arms around my waist and almost knocking me over.

“No problem. If you don’t mind just giving me a moment, though, I need to make sure you're on her release card.” I tell him with a soft smile, hoping not to offend him, but I’d prefer to be sure she’s allowed to leave with him rather than just taking his word.

His brows frown ever so slightly before he gives a stiff nod. “Yeah, of course,” he tells me. “I’ll just wait out here.”

Addison’s tiny fingers lace in mine as I turn, heading back into the classroom.

“Mr. Lawson,” Trevor’s voice has me stopping short just before the door and looking toward him. He’s about halfway down the hall, headed our way with a huge smile on his face.

Damn it, I’d hoped to be gone before he came to find me. Usually, it takes him longer. His class, thankfully, has some of the chronically late parents.

“It’s always nice to see our sponsor families,” Trevor says, and I take advantage of his attention being off of me to slip away. Trevor usually makes a beeline to me, but whenever any of the ‘rich’ families are around, he’s quick to cozy up to them.

I wasn’t aware Addy’s family was a sponsor, but I’m grateful for the distraction that offers; I’d had more than enough of Trevor for the day.

Making my way back to my desk, I quickly check the card to see who is approved to pick Addison up.

Rose Aston and Oliver Lawson.

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