Page 29 of Laugh

Once I see they’re following my instructions, I turn back to Jensen and Addie, and notice that Addie’s cheeks are bulging and turning pink. Jensen has his mouth covered like he’s trying to hold in a laugh, but he’s failing horribly.

I look between them another moment, then ask a little more loudly than I should. “Whatnow?”

Her voice bursts out of her so explosively, I’m stunned I can actually understand what she asked me. “Butdoyoulikeher?”

“Did you just ask me if I like her? Just making sure I heard you correctly.”

“Yes,” she answers while nodding her head rapidly.

“What are we, in middle school? Do you want to know if I like her or if Ilikelike her?” I’m annoyed because I don’t want to talk about this with a woman I barely know. It’s obvious she loves her friend, but this is between me and Haddie. She deserves to have the words from me first.

“Don’t be an ass,” Jensen hisses, flicking a worried glance toward Addie.

She holds her hand up to stop him, a frightening smile growing across her face. “It’s alright, Jensen. It’s really none of my business, but I got my answer.” Spinning around, her hair whipping out, she faces my friend. “You ready to go, baby?”

“What do you mean you’ve got your answer?” I yell out to her, asking one last question.

Grinning over her shoulder, she sings, “Youliiiiiikelike her.”

I want to punch Jensen when he begins giggling like an old woman. “How the fuck did you come to that conclusion? I’m not saying whether you’re right or wrong, but you’re making a big assumption.”

Shrugging me off, she grabs his hand to pull him away.

“Addie!” I shout.

They keep walking, but she turns around and walks backwards to answer me. “Because you’re a boy, and any boy that uses the words ‘likelike’ means he’s thinking along those lines. Plus, if you didn’t, you would have told me so I could be prepared when you inevitably hurt her feelings and she’ll need someone to pick her back up. So, youlikelike her, Captain.”

The evil woman grins like the cat who caught the canary as she wiggles her fingers at me in a goodbye wave. Jensen raises his hand to me, and I ignore his laughter when I flip him off.

Jesus, women are infuriating. Especially when they’re right.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

I decided to go ahead and just show up at her place to talk to her. Unfortunately, when I got here, I found that she wasn’t home. After sending a quick text to Jensen to see if Addie knew where she was, he informed me Haddie was doing some grocery shopping and should be back shortly.

It’s only a minute of debate on whether I should leave and try again later or stay and wait that I decide I want to wait. I don’t feel good about leaving her with negative feelings regarding that incredible kiss we shared. It fucking wrecked me; I really hope she felt the same connection.

Leaning against the wall next to her apartment door, I wait. And wait. Andwait.

Fuck, I can almost guarantee she’s using the bus system to shop.I’m beginning to feel like a creep when one of the other tenants left and came back half an hour later, eyeing me as I stand alone in the hallway.

I’m starting to question if it’s a good idea for me to keep waiting, not knowing how much longer she’s going to be, when I hear her unsure voice.

“Beau?” Jerking my head up, I see her holding half a dozen grocery bags at her sides while breathing heavily from the walk up the stairs. She looks around the hallway like it’ll give her an answer about why I’m here. Then she asks, “What are you doing here?”

Pushing away from the wall, I move toward her and reach out in an offer to take her bags. She doesn’t release them right away, but I think it’s more because her fingers are squeezing so tight that they’re cramped around the handles.

“I wanted to talk to you. Can I take these for you?” I’ve got my hands on them, and I wait until she slowly peels her fingers off of them, and stretches them out.

As she digs for her keys, then unlocks her door, she never once meets my eyes. “Why didn’t you just send a text? Do the boys need something? Our last meeting went well, and none of them called or messaged me that they were stuck.”

Internally groaning, I kick myself in the ass for turning Haddie into whatever this Haddie is. She’s not happy, nor is she acting likemyHappy. There are no teasing jokes or smiles, just a woman who’s reserved and probably exhausted now that it’s getting later in the evening.

“No, nothing like that,” I reassure her, following her into her apartment. It looks the same as the last time I was here, maybe only a few extra things strewn around the place. Normally messes make me uncomfortable, but I kind of like her version of messy. Her place is lived in, and I can clearly see the path she takes when she gets home by the pieces of clothing lying in piles next to her kitchen counter and her couch.

Setting the bags on the polished wooden table, she stares at them before finally glancing up at me. “Thanks for the help. Mind if I put these away while you let me know what you need?”

“Let me help you, then we can talk. If you’re good with that? Just tell me where to put stuff.” She gives me a jerky nod, and we make quick work putting everything away.

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