“Who?” I joke.
He starts laughing. “Okay, it’s cool. I think you two make a good couple. You and Addie.”
“Thanks.”
“Tori says she wants to go out with you guys sometime soon,” Dom says, his voice casual.
“Are you asking me on a date, dude?” I’m teasing him, and he makes a dismissive noise.
“You know you want it. But looks like I’m already taken.”
We chat a while longer before I end the call and check my notifications.
Still no response from Addie.
I decide to go against everything I’ve been taught when it comes to pursuing a girl and I text her again, versus waiting for her to reply.
Me: Did you tell anyone about us hooking up last night?
I collapse on my bed, thinking about all the math homework that’s due tomorrow night. I don’t care. I can’t concentrate. My brain is filled with reasons why Addie still hasn’t responded to me yet.
All of them bad.
I fall asleep with my phone clutched in my hand, waking up when it buzzes, startling me. I check the time—it’s already past five.
And I finally have a response.
Addie: Sorry I didn’t text you earlier! I’ve been at work, and I never get a chance to check my phone.
I’m anxious, wanting to respond, but I bide my time when I see the gray bubble, indicating she’s still typing. My heart is racing and I feel all twisted up inside.
All while waiting for a text.
Addie: I don’t remember telling anyone about us. Why?
I’m not about to tell her because Sasha’s talking shit about us. I don’t need to bring my ex into our relationship. What if Addie gets mad? Or worse, it freaks her out and scares her away? I did just break up with Sasha, not even a week ago.
I can’t wait for her to go away to college and get out of here.
Me: No reason. How was work?
Addie: Busy. There are still a lot of tourists at the lake. We’ll be busy until after Labor Day weekend.
Me: I bet you’re tired.
Addie: Yeah. I had to be at work at nine. And I had a late night staying up listening to Emma complain about Marcus.
Me: That sucks.
Addie: Yeah.
This conversation is going nowhere fast and I only have myself to blame. I decide to spice it up.
Me: What are you doing tonight?
Addie: Nothing. I think Emma wanted me to come over.
I start to respond when she sends another text.
Addie: But I don’t want to go over there.
Me: You should hang out with me.
Addie: And do what?
My mind drifts, filled with the many things I could do with Addie.
Me: Whatever you want.
Addie: You make it sound bad.
Me: What do you mean?
Addie: Like the good kind of bad.
I chew on my lower lip, wondering if I should be truthful.
Me: I can’t stop thinking about last night.
She’s quiet for a while, which leaves me in bigger knots. To the point I start pacing around my room, just to burn energy.
Addie: I can’t stop thinking about it either.
She sends a string of blushing emojis.
Okay, that’s it. I can just hear my brother’s voice right now, giving me advice on girls.
Take charge, little brother. Show her what you want—and what you want, is her.
Or maybe it was Eli who said that to me? He was always full of dating advice when he first got together with Ava and spent a lot of time at our house. And I ate up every word he said, believing it was true. Shit, I wanted to be him when I got older. Or at least a combo of Eli and Jake.
Me: Want me to come pick you up?
Addie: Yeah. I need to get home and take a shower first. Can you come by around seven?
Me: I’ll be there.
I toss my phone on my bed, barely able to contain my excitement. I glance to my right, catching my reflection in the mirror. I’m grinning from ear to ear. I don’t think I’ve ever looked this happy.
One thing is for sure—Sasha never made me feel like this. All giddy just at the mere thought of spending time with her. It wasn’t unpleasant, being with her. But nothing compares to this feeling bubbling inside of me at the promise tonight holds.
With Addie.
EIGHTEEN
ADDIE
By the time I get home, I’m rushing into the house and heading for my bedroom, shouting out a distracted, “I’m home,” to let my mom know I’ve arrived.
I hear her footsteps coming down the hall after me, can feel her presence lingering in my bedroom doorway as I push open the closet door and look through my clothes, trying to find something to wear tonight.
With Beck.
The secret smile that plays upon my lips feels naughty, because my brain is filled with images of all the things we did last night.
What we might do tonight.
Will I let him take it even further? Or do I have any say in the matter? Not that he’s pushing me into anything, but more like I can’t control my body when it comes to him. I just automatically want to touch him. Kiss him. Explore him.
Everywhere…
I pull out a cute top that exposes a lot of skin, yet still somehow covers me up. Wearing this shirt won’t be too obvious, will it? It was so hot today, and it’ll be hot tonight too. It’s only natural I’ll want to wear something that’s not so confining—
“What are you up to?”
I startle, a shriek leaving me when I hear my mom’s voice.
I forgot she followed me to my room.
Turning, I face her. She’s still standing in the doorway, her arms crossed as she watches me. “Oh. Hey.”
“Hi. How was work?”
“Okay.”
“You make good tip money today?”
We split the tip jar there at the end of every shift change. “Almost fifty bucks.”
“That’s great. You can put it toward college.”
“Uh huh.” I withhold the urge to roll my eyes. She always says stuff like that, as if I might forget that I’m saving money for my future college tuition. I want to go away to college somewhere far from my hometown, though I want to stay in California. My dad is a lawyer who practices family law and does pretty well for himself, but my parents fully expect me to help contribute to my future education and living expenses. They want me to have a good work ethic and don’t want to raise spoiled children.
A direct quote.
She nods toward the shirt on the hanger that I’m still clutching. “You going somewhere tonight? Hanging out with your friends?”
“Uh…” This is where it gets tricky between us.
Mom hated Jonah. Not that she hated him per se, more like she hated the idea of me having a boyfriend.
Okay, she really hates the idea of me having a boyfriend.
Having an older sister who was heavily involved with her boyfriend when she was so young terrified our mother. Jocelyn and Diego were serious. Madly in love. Everything was high passion all the time. The fights. The love. Having sex when they were really young—I think Jos lost her virginity to Diego when she was only fifteen? Or were they sixteen?
Whatever. It doesn’t matter. She got pregnant when she was a senior in high school and while my mom has been extremely supportive and she loves Diego with all her heart now, it was a tough time back then. Mom had to learn how to let go of her first baby—my sister—and let her be an adult. A mother. Dad was supportive too, as best as he could be. But he was busy working all the time, and still is. A lot of what unfolded with Jocelyn fell on Mom.