Page 88 of Slow Hands Cowboy

“Yes, please.”

Donna went to put the order in the kitchen, and Addison opened up the back end for her vacation rental. She had booked spots through the end of August, but after that, there was nothing right now. So she closed everything after that, leaving all the dates between now and then open, in case more people booked—nothing wrong with earning a little bit more cash ahead of her cutting herself off from that income.

“I haven’t seen Alan since the wedding,” Donna said, sidling over to the table.

“Oh,” Addison said, looking back at the computer screen for a moment, then up at Donna, who was standing there with her arms crossed.

“Which feels about right. Not able to show his face around here, I imagine.”

She smiled just a bit. “I think he’s pretty well liked in town.”

“You’re well liked.”

“I am?”

“Of course. You’ve supported all of these small businesses in town, you’re constantly promoting all of us. And you’re a treat to have around. He’s entitled, and honestly, he’s got that sort of nondescript face that you see on extras in a movie about suburban life. Very bland. Forgettable. I would never have learned his name if it weren’t for you.”

Addison almost couldn’t believe that. “He is a doctor.”

“Yeah, so what? My brother-in-law is a doctor, he’s an asshole. Being a doctor doesn’t make you a good person. Or an interesting one.”

“Well, thank you. I don’t need... I don’t need everyone to hate him, I promise. Because I don’t.”

“You’re a sweetheart. I’ll go grab your food, it’s up.”

Donna drifted back to the kitchen and returned a moment later with her food.

“I didn’t order a cheeseburger,” Addison said, as Donna set down sweet potato fries, a cheeseburger, and her salad.

“Wrap it up and take it home. For Walker Grayson.”

That should have thrilled her, because they were intentionally starting talk about their relationship, but right now, it felt a little bit exposing. “Okay. I will. What are people saying about him? I mean, his family and your family? Couldn’t be more different.”

“Except my mom, right?”

Donna looked at her, a little bit perplexed. “People don’t really talk about your mom.”

She looked at her, and blinked. She supposed they didn’t really anymore, but they had. And the idea that Donna didn’t immediately think of vile gossip and horrible things sort of blew Addison’s mind. She couldn’t really process it.

Addison scheduled a few posts across her socials and responded to some media requests that had come directly to her instead of Anna.

She did a written interview via email that only took about twenty minutes, and then she ate and felt scraped raw as she lied about the nature of her relationship with Walker, which wasn’t even really a lie anymore, except it still was, because all that had been was sex and they hadn’t even talked about it.

It was about 2:00 when she got into her car, and the morning felt like it was light years ago. He had wanted her to call her mom.

She let out a long sigh and looked up her mother’s number in her contacts.

The phone only rang once.

“Addison. I’m glad to hear from you,” she said.

“Jackson told me I should call.”

“He mentioned that.”

Oh, so they talked all the time.

“Yeah, I... I’m just kind of finding my bearings. I think I’ve been a little bit weird the last couple weeks. Or maybe off-grid is more accurate. How have you been? I saw pictures of you out at dinner with Walker.”