He takes my phone and scrolls through. “This is good.”
“Excuse me?”
“Think about it.” He hands my phone back. “Everyone thinks I’m with Mila and that you’re rekindling things with Jameson. No one’s looking at us.”
He’s right, but the logic doesn’t make it sting less. “That leaves me pretending I’m back with your brother.”
“I know, but he kinda owes us.”
I pull the sheet up around my chest even though he’s seen every inch of me. “I don’t like this.”
He wraps his arm around me from behind, pulling me back against his chest. “For what it’s worth, I don’t like it either.”
Three loud knocks on my front door make us both freeze.
“Keke! I know you’re awake. I saw the lights on from the street. Open up. I brought doughnuts!”
Addison.
Patterson and I look at each other with panic.
“Bathroom,” I hiss, shoving him off the bed. “Now. Don’t make a sound.”
He’s already moving, grabbing his clothes and Jameson’s borrowed jacket from the floor. I watch him disappear into my bathroom as Addison knocks again.
“Coming!” I yell, yanking on a robe and kicking Patterson’s shoes under my bed. I scan the room for any other evidence and spot his watch on my nightstand. I shove it in my drawer and take a breath.
I open the door, and Addison breezes past me, holding a paper bag and two gigantic coffees. She’s wearing workout clothes, and her hair is in a messy bun, which means she came straight from the gym.
“You look like hell,” she says cheerfully, setting everything on my kitchen counter. “Rough night?”
“Wine. Lots of wine.”
She looks at the counter and sees the two empty bottles and notices the two glasses. “Wine with Jameson?” She waggles her eyebrows.
“Actually, yes. We had a heart-to-heart last night,” I tell her, and I’m happy none of it is a lie.
She pulls a doughnut out of the bag and takes a bite of it. “If you’re getting back together with Jamie, I support it. Patterson’s the one you should stay away from.”
I want to ask her why. When I get the courage, I hear the faintest creak of floorboards, and my heart stops.
Addison’s head turns toward the sound. “What was that?”
“Old building.” I grab an energy ring too. “The pipes areancient.”
She stares at the bathroom door for a long moment. I hold my breath.
“Is my brother here?”
My heart starts racing as she walks down the hallway and stands outside the bathroom door.
“Jamie, if you’re in there, please know, I totally support this. Okay?”
The door locks.
“Thanks, Addy. Now, please go away. Also, don’t tell Patterson about this.”
“Are you getting back together?” she asks quietly against the door.
