At least the Paisley side.
I’ll be having a talk with the basketball coach myself very, very, very soon.
Possibly within the next two hours. I don’t give a fuck what time it is.
I’m having a talk with the hockey coach, football coach, baseball coach, soccer coach, and any other coach I can find on this campus too.
I can wait until the sun’s up for those though.
Just like I’m sitting here hoping that that sad smile from Addie is allI hate parts of this worldand notwe fucked up so badly that this is a sign we can’t be together.
It’sI hate parts of this world.
It has to be.
The night is lying in trying to make me think otherwise.
“Can I stay with you tonight?” Paisley’s voice is muffled against Addie’s shoulder.
“Of course.”
“I have a class at ten.”
“We’ll get you back to campus before then.”
We. Again with thewe.
She’s not bailing on me. I hold onto that thought as hard as I can.
“I’m sor—thank you,” Paisley says.
I look back at the house.
Party’s still raging inside.
“Is he still there?” I ask.
She shakes her head. “He left with friends. I saw them right before you called me back. Uncle Duncan, please don’t make a scene. I just—I just want to go home.”
I glance at Addie.
She’s still straight-faced, but there’s a tic in her jaw.
Betting she doesn’t likedon’t make a sceneany more than I do.
She nods to me. “Let’s go home.”
I circle the SUV, climb into the driver’s seat, and fire up the engine.
We’re going to my house.
Paisley will get a bed.
Addie will have to call a ride if she wants to tell me this is a sign we can’t be together.
But I hope she doesn’t.
I hope this is all just my own irrational fears.
