“We’re great,” Kevin replies kindly. “It’s good to see you, Addie.”
“You too.” I smile again. “I need to check on an order from the bar.” I need to get away from them. It’s too soon to see people that I’d come to really care about who I don’t get to keep in my life. Just as I reach the back of the room, Jake begins to talk.
“This next song is for someone special.” That’s all he says before he begins to sing a cover of “Thinking Out Loud.”
Darling I will be loving you till we’re seventy.
I can’t do this.
My heart literally aches as it beats out of control. I march straight back to the bar, where Kat and Cami are filling drink orders.
“I can’t.”
“Addie—” Cami’s eyes are worried.
“No. I can’t do this. I thought I was strong enough, but I’m not. This is his last night. I’ll find someone else.” I take a deep breath, trying to keep my tears at bay. “I have to go.”
“Go.” Kat tips her chin toward the back door as she pours a beer from tap. “You shouldn’t be here anyway.”
I nod and fetch my purse, then walk straight out the door without looking in Jake’s direction.
I consider that a win.
I’VE HAD “THINKING OUT LOUD” on repeat in my condo all damn day. It’s my one day off, and I’m doing exactly what I want to do: housework and laundry. I have a green mask on my face, my hair in a towel, letting the deep conditioner do its job.
I might shave my legs later, just to make me feel better.
I mean, my heart may be broken, but that’s no reason for a girl to let herself go.
Cami and I met for breakfast this morning, and she told me that before they could tell Jake that he was fired, he quit after his set. That made me sad, which I don’t understand at all.
But really, I don’t understand many of my feelings this week.
Just as I’m about to go rinse my face and my hair, there’s a knock on the door.
“Ms. Wade?” a young woman asks. She’s holding a big white box with a red ribbon around it.
“Yes.”
“This is for you.” She’s smiling widely as she hands it to me. The bottom of it is warm.
“Is it going to explode?”
“No, ma’am,” she replies with a laugh. “Enjoy.”
“Thanks.”
I carry the box to my kitchen counter, pull the red ribbon apart, and open the box, frowning at the contents.
There’s another white box with a red ribbon and a brown paper bag with the most delicious smells coming from it.
I pull everything out, toss the big box aside, and open the bag first. A burger and fries from the lodge at Multnomah Falls.
They deliver?
Inside the smaller box is a framed photo of the selfie that Jake and I took at the falls. He’s kissing my cheek.
On the frame is engraved ALWAYS KISS ME GOOD NIGHT.
And there’s a note.
A—
This was at my second favorite place with my very favorite person. I miss you.
—J
I miss him too, but I’m completely confused. Is he trying to get me back? Or is he just playing with my emotions?
I set the photo on the windowsill above the kitchen sink and lean against the countertop, eating the burger. And how did he get this to me still piping hot? Did he helicopter it in?
And how did he know that I’d be home?
“I HAVE A delivery for Addison Wade.”
I frown at the flower delivery boy who just walked into Seduction. We aren’t even open yet for the day.
“That’s me.”
“Oh, look how beautiful those are,” Daisy says beside me. She’s all heart-eyed as I take the bouquet of yellow roses.
They smell so damn good.
What is he doing?
“There’s a card,” Daisy says as Riley joins us.
“Got flowers?” Riley asks.
“No, I got chicken pox,” I mutter and pull the card from its envelope.
A—
Sixty-three yellow roses. One for every day our friendship grew. I miss you.
—J
“Damn, that’s the sweetest thing I’ve ever read,” Cami says from behind me, startling me.
“Where did you come from?”
“I heard Riley say that you got flowers. That’s very sweet of him, Addie.”
I shrug and carry the beautiful roses back to our office, Cami, Riley, and Daisy following me like little ducklings.
“He’s sending me things,” I mutter with a frown.
“This isn’t your first delivery?” Cami asks, trading glances with Riley.
“No.” I tell them about the photo and the food from yesterday.
“He’s obviously trying to woo you,” Cami says with a romantic sigh.
“Well, it’s not going to work,” I say, not with nearly as much conviction as I’d like.
“Why?” Daisy asks. “He’s hot and, like, totally into you.”
I shake my head. No way.
“You could just talk to him,” Riley says.
“I’ll pass. Kat said it best the other night. The more I talk to him, the more it’ll keep hurting. It hurts enough already. He’ll give up and go away.” I shrug, as though it’s no big deal, but I want to curl up and cry.
And I refuse to give him even one more tear. I have a life to get on with.
“SO, HOW ARE you really?” Cici asks the next day as she takes my nail polish off.