That killed my laugh. I chewed my bite and swallowed it. “I just got out of jail. Can we please discuss my complete and total lack of game later?” Like never. I was so over this topic, I would cut my tongue out if Ithought it would get me out of rehashing it.
“Seriously, Dylan, how long do you expect him to wait for you?”
Nope, we were clearly doing this now. I took a drink, buying myself time to think. “I don’t expect him to wait for me, Addison. But I don’t expect him to be my sugar daddy either.”
“Nobody thinks that but you. Why are you so hung up on money?”
“I’m not!” I defended. And I definitelywasn’t the only one who thought he’d be my sugar daddy. “I don’t even have any money to be hung up on, Addison.”
“And nobody cares about that, but you. Seriously, who cares that you’re broke?”
“Yep, I’m broke. Thanks for pointing that out, Addison. Like I didn’t already know. Super sweet of you.”
She laughed. “You’re doing it again.”
“Doing what, Addison?”
“Using my name after every frickin’sentence because you’re mad at me.”
I glared at her, going over the entire conversation in my mind. Yep, she was right.
“You know Asher bailed you out of jail, right?” she asked.
“I knew it was one of you, but it’s not like I’m going to run or anything, so he’ll get most of it back, and I’ll find a way to pay him back for the fees they keep.”
Addison frowned. She got up and poured herselfa glass of wine, offering me one. I shook my head, unsure if my stomach could handle it. When she sat back down, she asked, “How?”
“How what?”
“How will you pay him back? You have no job. Your apartment is trashed. You have nothing of value to sell. What will you do?” She sipped her wine, watching me.
I kind of wanted to grab her glass and dump the damn wine over her head. Why was she beingso mean? “I don’t know. I’ll find another job, and in the meanwhile I’ll go sell plasma or eggs or something.”
“I’m so sure.” She sighed. “Don’t look at me like that. I’m not trying to be a bitch, I’m trying to point out that you have people who love you and want to help you. It’s not a bad thing. Do you know why the judge let you out on bail?”
“Yeah, I get it, already, Addison.” I threw myhands in the air. “Asher’s a great lawyer and he worked hard and then paid the bail.”
“And... when I went to your apartment to get your stuff, two thugs broke in and were looking for something. I hid in the kitchen and recorded their bizarre conversation. They didn’t come out and say who killed Kirk, but they did give away enough for the judge to let you out on bail.”
“You did that?” I asked,my blood pressure spiking. “The recording Asher played during bond court was from you? I thought it was police surveillance or something. Addison, what the hell were you thinking?” I stood, thinking of all the ways they could have hurt her. “You could have been killed! You shouldn’t have gone there alone.”
She snorted. “Andyoushouldn’tlivethere alone. If you were living here, they never couldhave framed you. They wouldn’t have made it past my security system. But you’re too damn stubborn to accept anyone’s help.” She stood, taking her glass of wine with her. “Asher and I have both humored you, waiting for you to pull your head out of your ass, but apparently it’s stuck so far up there not even jail could dislodge it.”
Addison always spoke her mind. It was one of the things I lovedmost about her. Usually. But right then it hurt... a lot. Shock and outrage coursed through my veins, but I was too beaten and tired to defend myself. Besides, I knew she was right.
Her eyes glistened, making me feel even more like crap. “Dylan, you’re my best friend. I can help you... and it hurts that you won’t let me.”
I lowered my head. “Iamletting you help me.”
“Now. And only becauseyou’re out of options and have no choice.” She set her wine on the table and walked around to hug me. “But you need to let Ash help you, too.”
“I know, I know. I’m sorry. I’m just...”
“Crazy-stubborn-independent?” she provided.
My lips tugged up into a smile. “Something like that.”
“Well that shit has to stop because if my brother gets tired of waiting for you and marries some money-chasingharpy, I’m going to cut you. I love you, but I’ll make you bleed.”
