You give him a chance.
You take the risk.
You quit being a chicken.
You do the brave thing and face your fears to see if what youwant—and I dowant—can turn out to be better than it’s been before.
I swallow hard. “I’ve never wanted a relationship, but he makes me want to give it a real chance. Not because something’s missing. But because he makes everything better.”
“Will you regret it if you don’t?”
“Yes,” I whisper, unable to squash the truth from coming out.
“Then go for it. And call me if you need anything.Please. My friend Aspen is about the only person in my life who believes me when I say that, but I mean it. You, Addie Bloom, are freaking awesome, and I like being your friend. Okay?”
I’ve trained myself not to be a hugger, but I hug Waverly.
She squeezes me back.
And I realize how much I miss hugging.
How much I say I love my job, but how much of myself I’m sacrificing for it every day too.
And that’s why I like Duncan so much.
He caught me with my defenses down, but he’s never used it against me. At my request, he kept our situationship a secret four years ago. He’s reading all of the silent cues I didn’t even realize I was giving him that have him moving slowly as he’s working his way back into my life. The manwashed my hairwith a raging hard-on,hugged me, and didn’t make a single innuendo.
I know the sex is good.
He knows the sex is good.
And he’s waiting for me to tell him I’m ready.
Who does that?
Someone who loves you.
That’s who does that. Someone who loves you.
“I have to go,” I tell Waverly. “I need to send a text message.”
“Calls are better.”
“Text is where I’m at.”
“Good luck then.” She smiles. “And I hope you hitphone calllevel soon. Those are way more fun.”
17
Duncan
It’stwo in the morning when my phone dings with a text message notification. I lunge for it since I know Paisley’s at a party and I told her I’d come get her, no questions asked, if she needs me.
But it’s not Paisley.
It’s Addie.
My heart trips, then races even harder than when I thought my niece was in trouble.
