Page 48 of Worth the Wait

It made perfect sense. And my stupid brother was too oblivious to see it. He seemed to have really great vision when it came to me and Thomas, but he couldn’t see his own love life for shit.

Matthew hopped out of his barstool and whistled, drawing even more attention toward us. I blocked out everyone else in the bar and pretended like they weren’t watching our every move. When Matthew reached Addi, he picked her up and spun her around as she smiled, her face filled with pure joy. The two of them had always been close. After I’d graduated high school, they spent most of their time together since they were in the same grade. I’d always appreciated the bond they’d formed back then. I sort of hated it right now.

“God, I’ve missed you so much,” he said as he kissed the side of her head, and I clenched my jaw.

“I missed you too,” she said before wiping her eyes and glancing around the bar, her cheeks turning pink in response.

“Why did you leave us? Why won’t you come back? He’s no fun without you.” Matthew gave a head nod in my direction, and I groaned out loud, taking another sip of my drink, relishing in the way it burned on the way down.

“Was he ever fun?” Sarina asked sarcastically but with a grin, so I knew she was teasing, but it still stung a little. I didn’t even know her, yet she was making assumptions about me… out loud.

“Hey,” I fired back.

“You’re fine. You’re fun. Whatever. Hi. I’m Sarina.”

Sarina shoved her way between Matthew and Addi, sticking her hand out toward my brother for him to shake. He moved it away and pulled her in for a hug instead.

“I know. I’ve seen your picture online,” he flirted.

I glanced over toward Bella, who was still firmly rooted at the opposite end of the bar, watching the interaction with an unreadable expression on her face.

If she was hurt or upset by Matthew’s current actions, she was definitely trying to hide it. But when her eyes met mine and I waved one hand in the air, she shrugged, as if to say that she was used to Matthew’s flirtatious behavior.

Addi made her way to my side, and I had to stop my hands from wrapping around her waist and pulling her onto my lap, where she belonged. It was so natural, touching her, holding her, having her be an extension of my body.

“Bella!” she shouted as soon as she saw her in the far corner, drying off a glass.

Bella’s face lit up, and it warmed my heart to see. I loved knowing that Addi was so well liked. Hoped that it might help bring her back home. A part of me felt like she needed the reminder that all of Sugar Mountain adored her, not just me.

“Hi, Addison. It’s so good to see you.” Bella grinned as they reached across the bar and squeezed each other’s hands. “You look incredible,” Bella added, and some sort of sound of agreement slipped out of me.

“Thank you. So do you. The last time I saw you, you were just a teenager. You’re all grown up now.” Addi grinned, and Bella twirled, her hair floating around her. “I heard you were working here. And that you might have a stalker.” She gave a nod toward Matthew, who was still being chatted up by Sarina, whose hand was currently down the length of his biceps as he flexed.

“I heard that, Addison. And it’s not stalking. It’s called keeping her company,” Matthew chimed in, surprising the three of us.

I’d assumed he wasn’t listening. At least not to our conversation.

“She didn’t ask for your company,” Bella shouted in response, an annoyed look on her face as her eyes zeroed in on where Sarina’s hand was touching him.

I thought she might start breathing fire with how jealous she seemed.

“But she likes it,” Matthew shouted back.

Bella rolled her eyes as she frowned. “Keep telling yourself that, Romeo.”

“You know I will, Bells.” He gave her a wink, and she turned her back to him and faced us.

“He’s the worst,” she whispered toward both me and Addi as we leaned toward her, the massive bar separating us.

“It’s ’cause he likes you,” Addi said, and Bella reared her head back in disbelief.

“He likes everyone. Case in point.” She waved toward Matthew and Sarina. “No offense, Addison. I’m sure your sister’s great.”

“She is, but she just likes the attention,” Addi said, clearly trying to give Bella some peace of mind. “That”—Addi glanced at the two of them—“doesn’t mean a thing. To either of them. I promise.”

I knew what she was trying to do, but I also knew that it wasn’t helping. Whether it was serious or not, Bella cared. And she didn’t like it. I put a hand on Addi’s arm, encouraging her to sit in the empty stool next to mine.

“Sit,” I said, and she dropped onto it.

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