Page 44 of Just One of the Groomsmen
With Shep it was different, because they’d only shared a handful of kisses practically a lifetime ago. Horrible kisses, evidently. Not that they’d blown her away, but she was starting to get a complex about her wooing and kissing skills.
But the fact of the matter was, she and Shep had been different people back then, so unsure of who they were and their place in the world.
If she gave in to temptation, wrapped her arms around Tucker’s waist, and pressed her lips to his now, things would never be the same, whether he rejected her or kissed her back.
If he rejects me, I don’t know if I could face him again, and with things surrounding the wedding so rough right now, I really need him on my team.
He pressed his hand to her lower back, and she nearly forgot she’d just resolved not to feel anything beyond friendly feelings for him. “While I don’t wanna fight, I think we could pull off a conversation.”
She tried to smile, but her vulnerabilities got the best of her. “Our friendship is important to me, Tuck. When you moved away, it sucked, and I don’t want to lose you again.”
He reached up and cupped her cheek. “You won’t.”
Swallowing became impossible, and her lungs stopped taking in oxygen.
She opened her mouth, planning on saying something about wanting things to stay the same, and how sheneededthem to stay them—Addie and Tucker, troublesome twosome and best of friends—granted she could get her voice to cooperate.
He’d probably have no clue what she was talking about, but she had to put it out there. Just for her peace of mind.
“Addison! Tucker!”
She winced at the sound of her mom’s voice. Normally she’d be fine with it; right now she was dealing with a storm of confusing emotions that weren’t listening to reason.
She quickly took a step back and worked to plaster on a smile, and still she worried Mom would take one look at her and ask what was going on.
Not only did she not want anyone to witness her in this raw emotional state, she also refused to be one more thing Mom worried about, and she knew her family already worried she’d end up alone.
“Afternoon, Mrs. Murphy,” Tucker said, and he sounded totally unaffected and normal, which made her question everything all over again.
“Why, butter my butt and call me a biscuit, it actually is you!” Mom wrapped him in a hug. “It’s so good to see you! Why haven’t you been by for Sunday dinner?” Before Tucker could answer, she said, “How’s this Sunday? We can watch the game afterward, just like old times.”
“Are you sure a Saints fan will be welcome in a Falcons household this Sunday?”
“No,” Addie said.
“Addison! We try to be acceptin’ of all people, even if they have questionable taste in football teams. Unless they go on and on about that Crimson Tide nonsense—I’ve gotta draw the line somewhere.” Mom petted Flash, cooing something about him being “cute as a button,” then returned her attention to Tucker. “Shall I set you a place?”
Tucker raised an eyebrow, silently asking if Addie would be okay with it.
Why wouldn’t she be? Just because she was having trouble keeping her hormones in check didn’t mean she should deprive her family of Tucker’s hard-to-ignore presence.
She nodded, and he asked, “Are you makin’ pie?”
Mom beamed at him. He’d stroked her point of pride. Fully intentional, no doubt. “Course I am!”
“Then I’m there.” Ever the charmer, Tucker added, “For the record, I’d be there, pie or not.”
“Lucky for you, you never have to choose one over the other.” Mom turned to Addie. “Would you mind picking up Nonna from her doctor’s appointment? I already dropped her off, but I need to do the grocery shopping, and it’s probably gonna take me a while.”
“No problem.”
Mom patted her cheek. “Thank you, sugar. Oh, and can you also water the neighbors’ flowers while you’re at the house? She’s fixin’ to catch heat stroke runnin’ back and forth to water the plants without them noticing—yesterday she came back limping after rolling her ankle in the dark.”
“I didn’t realize you knew about the plants. Do the neighbors know yet?”
“Not sure. They haven’t dug ’em up or called the cops, at least.”
“If they do, call Tucker.” Addie jerked a thumb at him. “Nonna’s got him on retainer.”
