“Yeah, sounds good. What’s going on? You seem sad or pissed off, I can’t tell which.” He cocked his head to the side, assessing me.
I sighed heavily. “Probably a bit of both at this point. All this shit with Addison is fucking with my head.” I moved toward the fridge to grab everything to make the burgers and then laid it all out on the counter.
“What’s going on there? Anything change?” Archer asked while popping a chip into his mouth.
“Nah, I friend zoned her because I’m a dumbass that can’t get over my own bullshit.” I walked out to the back patio to turn the grill on. Archer followed behind me.
“I’ve gotta ask. Why did you friend zone her? You seem to really like her. Does any of this have to do with the Margot bullshit?”
“Of course it does. I can’t go through that shit again,” I snapped.
Archer held his hands up. “I got it. Chill. But Addison isn’t Margot, not even remotely close. You shouldn’t let something that happened years ago dictate your entire future, brother. I see the way you look at the girl. Are you seriously going to just let her go? Can you handle some other dude coming in anddating her? It’s a small town. You will see it soon enough, and right in front of your face, if you don’t do something about it.”
I stood there for a moment, taking it all in. “No, I’d probably fuck up any guy that goes near her.” I scrubbed a hand down my face with a sigh. “But I just don’t know that I can do a relationship again, Arch. It nearly killed me once.”
Archer nodded in understanding. “I get it. Trust me, I do. I’ve never been about getting close to a woman, and I understand that trusting other people’s intentions is difficult, given our family. But I think we both know that you trust Addison and don’t believe she’s into you for your name or money, so what else is stopping you from dating her?”
I sighed, feeling uncomfortable with what I was about to admit. “This town loves Addison and her family. What if we end in a bad breakup? It could mess up my entire reputation and hurt my practice. If I’m not successful here, I have no choice but to start over somewhere else or go back home. I don’t want to risk that, and I especially don’t want to hurt Addison.”
Archer took a pull from his beer before responding. “I know growing up how we did has created some trust issues for you. But, Dean, when are you going to realize you’re enough on your own? Not because of your money, or your name, or who you’re dating. You need to trust that your work ethic, knowledge, and skill set are what will keep your patients coming back, not your relationship with Addison. You are a damn good doctor.” He placed his hand on my shoulder and squeezed. “And sometimes you change everything, your plan, what you thought you knew, when a game changer comesalong.”
I studied him for a moment. “Are we talking about Addison or Harper?” I smirked.
Archer smiled and took another pull from his beer, ignoring my question. “I’m just saying, I think Addison could be a game changer for you.” And with that, he grabbed the spatula out of my hand and started flipping the burgers.
In true Archer fashion, instead of providing clarity, he just stirred up more questions, more doubts, and more reasons to wonder if walking away from Addison would be the biggest mistake of my life.
Chapter 10
Addison
Ava:
A little birdie told me that a certain someone was seen disappearing down the bathroom hallway with a certain veterinarian at Hops & Hills. Then those same two people left the bar together.
Weston:
For fuck’s sake, can we not talk about my little sister’s sex life?
Walker:
I. Am. Here. For. It.
Weston:
Of course you are, you gossip queen.
Walker:
Hey, at least someone in this family is getting laid.
Weston:
Is little Walk going through a dry spell?
Walker:
There ain’t nothing little about me. And yes, I am. We can’t all have the same ironclad willpower to abstain from sex as the eldest James brother.
