Page 104 of Just One of the Groomsmen
The waitress came out to take their order, then brought their food shortly after. Other than that, thanks to the unseasonably warm afternoon, they were alone, save the people who wandered past on the sidewalk, most of whom they exchanged a friendly nod or hello with.
But then a familiar figure strode down the sidewalk, and everything inside of Tucker turned to stone.
This was the perfect example of speak of the devil, a few hours late or not.
Addie cocked her head, obviously noticing the mood shift, and as soon as she saw his dad, he could see she’d pieced together why.
“There you are,” Dad said. Admittedly, Tucker had been ducking his calls ever since he’d returned to town. “I ran into Lottie, and she told me you two were here at the diner. Guess some things never change.”
Apparently the town busybody’s comment about wifi and smartphones hadn’t been a bluff—news traveled even faster than it used to, and that was almost as impressive as it was alarming.
Instead of bothering with going through the diner, Dad stepped over the short wrought-iron fence and pulled out one of the seats. “Mind if I join you?”
“Fair warning,” Addie said, “I have to get back to work in about five minutes, so don’t think I’m leavin’ on your account.”
Considering the reason Dad most likely showed up unannounced, Tucker might leave on his account.
Dad flashed her a wide smile, and Tucker wrapped his fingers tighter around her knee. “Good to see you, Addison.”
“You too, Mr. Crawford.” She did a good job of pretending she’d forgotten the past and that afternoon they’d recalled earlier today, but after Dad yelled at her, she was cautious around him, and she’d once sworn that if he moved Tucker away, she’d never—“and I mean never”—forgive him.
She covered Tucker’s hand with hers and gave it a reassuring squeeze, a silent way of telling him she was fine and—as usual—could take care of herself.
Dad made small talk, asking after her parents and grandmother and her job. Tucker would never say he and his dad were especially close, but they used to be closer before he was forever pushing him to make more money.
His constant attempts to get him to sell the houseboat and Grandpa’s shed and boat, including the rough plot of land they sat on, only widened the rift between them.
After he’d started his job at the law firm, it seemed like all Dad ever asked about was the salary and what he could do to move up the ladder faster.
Tucker had once asked if he needed money, figuring that was why he kept on mentioning it, but he’d said that now he was happily divorced, he could make it just fine.
Although Tucker had never made an official stance on which side he took in the divorce, he’d accidentally taken Dad’s the tiniest bit. Probably because he was the one left behind when Mom bounced back so quickly, and maybe even because the rumors made him wonder, too.
“I’d better get going,” Addie said, scooting out her chair. She twisted toward him, cutting Dad off from the conversation, and voice low, asked, “Will you be okay?”
Just her asking made the amount of trepidation he’d experienced since Dad took a seat across from him feel silly.
He was a grown man. He could make his own decisions.
He brushed his thumb across the top of her cheek, warmth winding through him that she knew him that well and that she cared enough to check on him.
“I’m fine. Have a good rest of the day, and I’ll call you later.” He wanted to kiss her, but now he was thinking once again about the town gossip and how corrosive it could be.
It’ll make it that much sweeter once we no longer have an audience.
Addie also forewent going through the diner, easily launching herself over the fence and then muttering, “Damn, I miss my yoga pants and sneakers.”
Tucker watched until she rounded the corner, and when he returned his attention to Dad, his expression hadgotcha!written across it.
“I guess I spoke too soon when I said some things never change. I’m surprised Lottie didn’t tell me you were dating Addison Murphy. Seems like big news.”
“We’re not…” Denying it didn’t settle right with him, although if they were going to make it official, there were a handful of people who needed to be told before it spread through town. “It’s no one’s business, but it’s new, and I’d appreciate if you kept it to yourself.”
“Is she the reason you came back?”
Now that he thought about it, he wondered if his subconscious knew something he hadn’t when he’d decided to quit his job after one amazing night in Uncertainty. “She’s one of them. Along with the rest of the guys, and the town. The people need me here, Dad. I can make a difference.”
“You’ll never make as much money here as you could pretty much anywhere else. Just pick a law firm, one in a closer city, and you can visit here on the weekends.”
