“And you just couldn’t resist.” She smirks, dramatically tossing some of her hair back behind her shoulder.
“I guess I couldn’t.” I laugh, heat rising in my cheeks. “I just…I needed you to know. Before you let a guy like that completely break your heart, I’ve been right here this entire time. And I will continue to hope and pray that you’ll give me the chance to show you what love’s actually supposed to be like.” I pause. “Becausethatguy, Addie…that guy doesn’t know you like I do. He doesn’t know how to love you like I think I do.”
She untucks her lips and smiles, looking down at her hands. I want to reach for her, touch her back or hold her hand, but I don’t want to overwhelm her. So I don’t.
* * *
Once we get back to her house, I help her with her bags. I don’t go inside or anything. The lights are on in the house, and her Mom waves from the window.
“Thanks for coming along. I hope it wasn’t the worst trip you’ve ever been on.”
She laughs. “No, it was fun.”
Her gaze lingers for a second longer than I anticipated. Like she wants to say something, or maybe she’s waiting for me to say something.
“Text me later?” she asks.
“Mm-hmm,” I hum.
She flashes one more smile at me before she heads up into the house. I get back in my truck, a whiff of her lingering scent bringing me comfort. It’s weird she’s not in here. That trip felt like it lasted an entire lifetime. In the best possible way.
Chapter 21
Addison
I find my parents downstairs, getting ready to head out the door for church. I’m definitely not going to be able to make it. I need a shower and I’m still pretty tired. I didn’t sleep well last night. It was freezing, the truck seat was not ideal, and although Wesley’s arms kept me comfortable, I was heavily distracted with thinking about everything.
“Quite the trip, huh?” Dad says, seeing me first.
“Yeah. It was going fine and then the snow sorta put a stop to that.”
“I’m just glad you were able to pull off somewhere.” Mom sighs, likeshewas barely able to sleep last night because she was too busy worrying.
“You look tired,” Dad says.
“Well, being on a bench seat in a single cab with no heat most of the night…can’t say I slept great.” I laugh.
I follow them to the door, watching them get their coats and shoes on. I think about the breakup between Brantley and I that they know nothing about. I want to tell them, but they don’t have time to talk about it right now. Maybe that’s okay though. I don’t want to unpack it all right now anyway. I’mtoo physically and mentally exhausted.
After they leave, I lie in my bed, tossing and turning. I can’t fall asleep. My mind is spinning and thinking about everything that happened. Thinking about what a future would be like with Wesley, things that would change, things that wouldn’t. It’s a big deal, a big decision.
But the last thing I think about before I finally doze off is his kiss. The weight of it. The way it felt—deep, real, intense. And the fact that I want to feel it again? That tells me everything I need to know moving forward.
* * *
I’m woken by the sound of the front door opening and footsteps traipsing through the house. I can hear voices mumbling—my parents, Jesse, Cody, and Ella.
I sit up and give myself a minute to wake up. I feel better after some rest. My eyes don’t feel as heavy. My body’s still a little stiff as I head downstairs though.
Once we all sit down for lunch, pray, and dish the food out, I have this unsettling feeling. No one knows Brantley dumped me, and as much as it still hurts, I feel like the longer I sit it on, the harder and more awkward it’s going to be to bring up.
My dad’s at the head of the table. I’m on his left, Mason beside me, and then Jesse’s at the other end, followed by Ella, Cody, and then my mom across from me.
In the split second of there being no conversation, I straighten and look at Mom. “So…Brantley broke up with me yesterday.”
The silverware tapping the plates all come to a halt. The words escaping my mouth for the first time have me feeling slightly emotional. Mom’s eyes soften, turning glassy almost instantly. I feel everyone else staring at me and then looking at one another.
Cody mutters anohand Dad reaches his hand over and rubs my shoulder.
