Page 129 of Broken Dreams
When I took him from Oklahoma, I vowed that I will sacrifice everything for him. I guess this is the first time I’m learning how hard keeping that promise is.
“Okay. If that’s what you think.” The words taste like acid on my tongue, burning down my throat and straight to my heart. “If we can at least try to keep this up until the deal with Mateo is done, that would be helpful.”
She nods. “Sure. We’ll just . . . be busy the next few days and he’ll never know.”
“There’s a dinner party on Saturday,” I remind her.
“Shit. Of course, I’ll still go with you.”
I force a thin-lipped smile, wanting to say something, but Addison’s front door opens and Elodie runs out. “Mommy! Grady!”
Addison looks to me, panic in her eyes, but I’ll never do anything to hurt her. “Come on, let’s see her and your mother-in-law, then I’ll go.”
“Thank you.”
I nod and exit the car, scooping up Elodie and hating that this could’ve been a future for us.
* * *
“Hello, Grady, don’t you look dapper this Tuesday morning,” Mrs. Cooke says from behind me as I’m paying for my coffee and bagel at the register at Sugarlips Diner.
“Thank you, and you look beautiful.”
She smiles, her head tipping to the side. “Aren’t you just like your brother, Rowan. He’s a sweet talker, that boy, but I’ve seen him with the ladies. A heartbreaker at the core of it all.”
Oh, she doesn’t know the half of it.
“Well, I’ll let him know you said that.” I slip my credit card in my wallet and start to move, but she places her hand on my chest.
“You know, I haven’t seen you with Addison since you got back two days ago,” Mrs. Cooke notes.
“She’s been busy and I’ve been flying, trying to catch up on things.” Not that it’s any of her business.
“Oh, I’m sure you’re both very busy, but love takes effort.”
My breathing stops for a second and I stare at her. I’m not sure what the hell she’s talking about. No one in the town thinks we’re in love. It’s only been over a month for heaven’s sake. “Of course it does, but Addison and I are just dating and taking things slow.”
I don’t know why I explained that to her . . .
“Yes, but I just see you both so happy together and Addison is a wonderful girl. A heart of gold, that one. I would hate to see you screw it up.”
Of course it’ll be my fault. No matter what she says about our breakup reason.
For two days, I’ve stayed away. The first day I took Jett to school late, knowing I would miss her. I had Brynn drop him off yesterday and then I picked him up at lunch just to avoid seeing her. Jett was none too happy since he wanted to play with his friends, but I let him ride the horse for an hour and that placated him.
It wasn’t until today, when I had to rearrange my schedule again to bring him first thing, that I realized just how much I’ve allowed Addison in my daily life. How much she’s penetrated my world and how hard it’s going to be going forward without her.
Instead of saying any of that to Mrs. Cooke, I just give her my best Whitlock smile and tip my head. “I appreciate the advice. Truly.”
“Addison!” Mrs. Cooke beams and my body locks when I hear her sweet voice.
“Hi, Mrs. Cooke. Hey, Grady, I missed you this morning.”
I turn to her, keeping my emotions in check, and smile. “Hey, I meant to call to tell you I’d be taking him early. I have a flight today and I wanted to get there to check on something.”
I’m a fucking liar. I have no flight today. Tomorrow I’m meeting Mateo to go over the paperwork, but today...nothing.
“Well, don’t let me hold you up.”
