I look at myself in the mirror and take a deep breath. I don’t know if that was the right thing to do or not. Especially with Cody. I might’ve been better off talking to Jesse or Mason, but he was here and things needed to be said.
I leave the bathroom and head straight for my truck. I don’t want to see Addison, I won’t be able to look at her. Whatever happens now is out of my hands and up to Cody to deal with it. I just hope he keeps me out of it.
Chapter 8
Wesley
I’m sitting around our kitchen table with my parents, my sister, Blake, Sierra, and Caden, having just finished a late dinner. We started working as soon as we got home from church. We usually try to take it easy on Sundays, just do what we absolutely have to, but I didn’t today. I kept myself busy; working helps clear my head.
The smell of warm chocolate chip cookies swirls in from the kitchen and Mom sets the tray down on the table in front of us. “They’re hot yet. Be careful,” she warns.
Just as I reach for one, my phone rings.
The screen lights up with a picture of Addison, onesheset as her profile three years ago. It’s a picture of her sitting with one of our calves in the barn, trying to give it a kiss but it had licked her face instead. I don’t think I’ll ever change it.
I get a lump in my throat, and my hands are a little clammy. She never calls, especially out of the blue like this. I hold my breath, it’s gotta be about what I told Cody. If I know him well enough, I know he didn’t waste a second bringing it up to her.
“Hey.” I keep my voice as casual as I can.
“Wesley Robert Stettler!” she shouts.
Yikes, she full-named me? I’m toast.
The legs of my chair scrape quickly across the floor, turning a few heads. I flash everyone a light smile in an attempt to act as though everything’s fine. But really, my stomach is churning.
“Addison Claire,” I say playfully. “What’s going on, my dear?”
“Oh, don’t play games! Why are you tattletaling to my brothers?!” she hollers.
Escaping out to the front porch, in my socks, the screen door slams behind me.
“It was just Cody. If he told the rest, that’s not my fault.”
“But why?! Why are you—”
“Addison,” I say as I feel my nerves tighten. “You don’t deserve a guy like that. He has zero respect for you, he doesn’t care, and he doesn’tknowyou like—” I bite my tongue. Because what’s on the end of that sentence is a can of worms I am not opening. I can’t bring myself and my feelings for her into this.
“Like what?”
“Nothing,” I lie.
I want to tell her. I want to point out so badly that he doesn’t know her likeIdo. I want to tell her he never will either. But…I can’t. I won’t put her in that situation, I won’t make her feel like she has to choose. I’ve carried this secret this long, I can deal.
“Nobody is perfect, Wes. I’m not just going to give up on a relationship because things get hard. He wants to work on things and so do I. And I need to work on things too…it’s not just him.”
“Okay. Well, then good. Great,” I force out.
“Don’t treat me like some immature little girl again,” she snaps and hangs up.
I’m dumbfounded, to say the least. I stare out across the fieldfor a second, replaying the conversation we just had and how harshly it ended. The muffled sound of Caden laughing pulls me from my thoughts. I didn’t realize the windows were open. There’s a good chance everyone just heard everything I said to her.
I slip my phone back in my pocket and walk back inside.
Sierra is the first to look my way. “She okay?” she asks, bouncing Caden on her knee. Everyone else looks now too, waiting.
I nod my head and sit back down. “Yeah, she’s fine. Just…having a day.” I let out a lighthearted laugh, knowing I’m not lying. I can’t tell if they actually buy it or not. As the conversations resume, I pick up a cookie that’s still warm, taking a bite like it’s going to fix the unsettled pit in my stomach.
I’m upset that she’s upset with me. Friends don’t get into fights like this. At least, I didn’t think they were supposed to. If she wasn’t in a relationship with this guy, everything between us would be fine. But lately it’s felt strained, as if there’s something standing in the way. Like a stupidboyfriend. I don’t even want to know what it would be like if roles were reversed. Addison would hate her, I know that.
