“Addison, wait,” I call out.
“Who’s Addison?” my mother’s voice floats into the Oregon air.
Addison creeps closer. She points at the phone and whispers, “Is that Lennon?”
I hit the speaker button to turn it off, and with my eyes trained on Addison, I lift the phone to my ear. “Mom, it’s a friend I’ve made here.”
Addison’s chest expands with a big breath when she hears me saymom.Hmm. Interesting. Why is she relieved to know it’s not Lennon?
“Brady, put me on speaker,” my mom commands.
“You were on speaker,” I protest. I don’t like where this is going.
“Turn it back on.” Her voice is no-nonsense.
I can either fake a sudden case of poor reception or listen to my mom.
Ever the parent pleaser, I lower the phone to the railing and hit the speaker button. Now I’m really wishing I’d let the call go to voicemail.
“Am I on speaker, Brady?” My mom’s voice rings out into the open air.
Addison smiles, and I silence a groan.
“Yes, Mom.”
My mother wastes no time. “Hello, Addison.”
Addison’s eyes are an unlikely combination of apprehension and amusement as she looks at the phone. “Hi, Mrs. Sterling.”
Her gaze flies to me, and now she looks worried. “Is that her last name?” she mouths.
I nod. I’m less concerned with propriety and more worried about where my mother is going with this.
“Brady says you and he have become friends?”
“That’s correct,” Addison says, her shoulders relaxing. She stands on the other side of the porch and lifts her elbows onto the railing, resting her chin in an open palm.
“How old are you, Addison?”
I roll my eyes again, but Addison grins. “Twenty-seven.”
“The same age as Brady.” Her voice is smooth, approving. “And how did you two meet?”
“My grandmother owns the B&B where he’s staying. I came from Chicago to help her.”
“That’s nice of you. It’s always good to spend time with loved ones.” This time my eye roll stays on the inside. Her comment is a compliment to Addison, but a complaint for me.
Addison thanks her, then my mom says, “Well, Brady, I guess I can see now why you refused my offer.”
“Mom—” I start, but she cuts me off with a laugh.
“I wasn’t born yesterday, Brady.”
Addison laughs, and it joins up with the laughter coming from the phone.
“I’m glad everyone thinks I’m so funny.” I give Addison a playful stink-eye.
Picking up the phone, I tell my mom I need to go.
