Page 23 of Just Another Chance

Clearing my throat, I try to keep the stilted conversation going. “So, you work here?” I ask.

“Today’s my first day.”

“You’re living in the city again?”

She shakes her head. “No. Right now I’m at my parents’ old house.”

I’m dying to know more, but I’m scared to push her and she’s not offering any information. So instead of drilling her, I nod and lean against a pillar, and do my best to keep things light. A part of me is still in disbelief that she’s here with me.

“South Grove?” She nods. “How’s your mom?”

Addie glances away and I instantly realize I asked the wrong question.Shit.A palpable sadness washes over her and I could smack my forehead.

“She just passed away,” she says quietly.

My shoulders sag. “I’m so sorry, Addie. Your mother was a really kind woman.”

Addie pulls in a deep, steadying breath. “She was and I miss her.”

Randy, her stepdad, on the other hand, was a first-class asshole. Just like my father. “My dad died, too,” I say. Not that I’m mourning him, but something in me feels the need to share.

“I’m sorry,” she says carefully.

“I wish I could say the same, but we both know he wasn’t the greatest guy.”

“Guess neither of us lucked out when it came to the father figures in our life.”

“No. But, luckily, we had a couple of amazing moms. At least for a little while.”

The conversation is turning depressing, and I need to change the subject fast. Before I can, though, Addie asks why I’m here and if there’s anything she can help me find. Do I tell her the truth? Probably not yet. It’s best if I play it cool and take things slowly.

“I came in to buy a bouquet of daisies.” I send her a meaningful look, but she only nods and walks toward the cooler.

“We have a few varieties,” she says stiffly.

Oh, shit.She thinks I’m buying them for some other woman. I move up beside her, ready to do damage control, and that enticing baby powder scent of hers fills my nose. “I buy a bouquet every week and keep them in the foyer of my apartment.”

She glances over at me. “You buy them for yourself?” She sends me a confused look.

“Not exactly,” I admit and prop my shoulder against the cool glass.

She frowns, not following me.

I sigh. “They were your favorite flower. I buy them because they remind me of you.”

Her pretty brown eyes widen. “Why would you do that?”

Okay, time to go for broke. So much for playing it cool.But I have never been the type to play games. Especially with Addie. “Because I never got over you, Addie.”

Her mouth drops open and she stares at me with a thunderstruck expression. Finally, she closes her mouth and shakes her head. “You’re the one who didn’t want me anymore, Tanner. It wasn’t the other way around.”

“That’s not true,” I insist. “You ran off before I could even explain what happened.”

“I can’t get into this right now,” she says, backing away from me. “My boss is coming back soon and it’s my first day. You need to leave.”

“Can I take you out?”

Addie frowns, looking so confused and torn that I suddenly feel bad.

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