Page 11 of My First Mistake
I look to Addie for some support, so that she can confirm I’m not some creep who was hanging around her cabin in my birthday suit waiting for her arrival, but her eyes are sparkling with mischief and her lips are pressed together like she’s trying to stop herself from laughing.
And now I realize they’re all yanking my chain, because these people trust me, and they assume I would never take advantage of her like that. And I don’t even have the brain space to unpack any of the guilt I feel over that right now. “Like you could kick my ass,” I tell Brax.
He shrugs, like he doesn’t care that he can’t.
“I had just gotten out of the shower and I was wearing a towel,” I explain.
“What’s going on here?” Now Jack joins our little party.
“Chase was prowling around Addie’s cabin half naked earlier,” Maggie informs him, deadpan.
The man does not flinch at this revelation, not even a little. He just accepts that it cannot possibly be true or maybe that Addie was okay with it—at least I assume he does, because he once threatened one of his daughter’s dates with his shotgun after he made her cry. Jack simply gives Addie a kiss on the top of her head and tells her he’s happy to see her. Then he pats me on the back and ushers us all to a table.
Fuck, they really have no idea, do they? Addison never told any of them a thing about what happened between us, and clearly nothing about what a piece of shit I was after. And for that, I will be eternally grateful to her.
The look Addisonis giving me could melt steel, I’m sure of it. I can’t blame her though, as best man and maid of honor/onlybridesmaid, the two of us are almost like celebrities tonight. After she caught up with her family, she and I were accosted by Eva’s mom, who insisted on introducing us to every person here. And despite us repeatedly trying to put some distance between us, we seem to end up being drawn into the same conversations. The only saving grace is that half of the wedding party are yet to arrive, and so we’re only being told we make a really cute couple, or putting up with the best man hooking up with the bridesmaid jokes from fifty or so people, rather than a hundred.
“If one more person asks me if we’re going to hook up, I think I might vomit,” Addie says through clenched teeth.
“Just one more hour and then I’m sure we can call it a night,” I offer.
She groans, expertly dodging her handsy cousin, Kelvin, and diverting him toward her mom. “A whole hour.”
“Would bourbon help?”
“Yes. Very much.”
I give her a mock salute. “Then your wish is my command.”
She flips me the bird again, but she also smiles at me. And this time, there’s a hint of sincerity in it. It’s the kind that could knock a man on his ass if he’s not careful.
Chapter 7
Addison
# Always be humble—the universe is watching and she has a wicked sense of humor
“Are you sure you can walk in those shoes?” Chase asks, incredulous as we make our way along the path back to our cabin.
“I can walk in heels better than you can walk in your bare feet, Hunter,” I tell him.
He hums, staring at me, with either concern or awe before he admits, “Yeah, you can.”
I don’t know what that tone of voice is about, but it makes me feel a little wobbly inside, so I ignore it and I try to ignore him, but the annoying asshat keeps talking.
“You’ve loved ridiculously high heels for as long as I can remember. Why?”
Well, now I have to acknowledge him. “Why? Seriously?” I stop walking and lift my right foot. “Just look at this bad boy. It’s freaking beautiful.”
He smirks. “I can’t argue with that, but I mean, don’t they hurt your feet or something?”
I shake my head. “No. They fit like slippers,” I lie with ease. The truth is, these ones are pinching my toes like a mofo right now, but I’m accustomed to the discomfort. “I don’t wear them for comfort; I wear them because of how they make me feel.”
“Oh? And how is that?” He seems genuinely intrigued.
“Confident. Badass,” I tell him honestly, revealing far too much. But perhaps I’m a little more buzzed than I thought I was. “It doesn’t matter how crappy about myself I might be feeling, or how nervous about an event, or whatever, I slip these on and I feel like a different person.”
He’s staring at me, bemused.
