He stepped behind the counter and refilled his coffee, completely unconcerned that our baby sister was losing her shit. In Addisonland, that was just another Monday. “Was I supposed to put out a bulletin or something?”
She pressed her fingers to her temples. “Okay, I get the secrecy from Ford because ‘twin bond’ or whatever,” she said with a roll of her eyes, “butyou? Why the hell didn’t you tell me?”
He stared at her over the rim of his coffee cup, brows raised. “Guess it’ll forever remain a mystery.”
Addison huffed before turning to Aiden and pointing a finger at him. “What about you?”
He shrugged. “Didn’t know.”
“And you don’tcare?”
“Not particularly. I mean, great. Good for them.” He lifted his chin in my direction, the equivalent of a five-minute cuddle in Aiden’s world, and I accepted it with a nod.
She opened and closed her mouth as she split her gaze between the four of us, exasperation written on every inch of her face.
“Is there a reason you’re freaking out about Beck and Everly becoming Beverly?” Ford asked.
“Don’t ever say that again.” I shook my head, crossing my arms over my chest, and leaned against the counter.
“What? I thought it was catchy. Better than Evereck. That’s just stupid.”
“Are we about done here?” Brady asked, but he didn’t wait for a reply before he put a lid on his to-go cup and headed for the door.
“Yep,” Aiden said, gathering up his things before following closely behind Brady.
“I’m out, too,” Ford said. “And before you ask, Sergeant, yes, I’m working on the list.” With a salute, he strolled out the front door, bells jingling in his wake.
And then it was just the two of us. At least until a couple walked in and sat in the back booth. I greeted them, took their orders, made their breakfasts, and still, Addison hadn’t said a word. Sheneverkept quiet, as proven in great detail following the kiss. Something was up, and I was too intrigued to let it go.
Finally, after I’d dropped the check off at the couple’s table, I braced my hands on the counter and stared her down. “Seriously. What gives?”
“Nothing!” she answered too quickly, her gaze focused on her tablet, her fingers flying like she wasoh-so busy.
“Addison.”
“So Chuckanut is upstairs?”
“Yeah? I figured you’d lose your shit if I let her in here.”
“You can’t have a dog in a restaurant.”
I raised my brows as if to say,See?
“You think that’s a good idea?” she asked. “Getting her acclimated to your apartment when she’s probably not even staying there for long?”
My stomach clenched at the thought of Everly anywhere but there. Anywhere but my bed. It was way too early in this relationship to discuss living arrangements with her—we hadn’t even confirmed the boyfriend/girlfriend thing—but if I had it my way, her name would already be on the lease.
Even so, Addison wasn’t one to concern herself with the emotional stability of a dog.
“What’s this really about?” I asked.
“I’m worried about Chuck!”
“Addison. You’re not worried about Everly’s dog. And I’m really fucking confused as to why you’d suddenly have a problem with Everly and me together when you’ve been hinting at us hooking up for over a year. Now that we finally do, you’re suddenly freaking out about it? What gives?”
She finally lifted her gaze from her tablet and glanced my way. “Fine. I just…I’m worried, okay?”
“About?”
