Page 26 of Walkoff Wedding

“So? That asshole’s any better? At least we know each other, Addie. Really know each other. I think you knew me better than anyone in my life. You knew the real me when it felt like no one else did. Not a single person. Do you realize what that meant to me?”

She shakes her head, pulling away again as she pushes her hair out of her eyes. The rain seems to be falling harder, and we probably look like two idiots standing in the middle of a storm having this conversation, but ask me if I give a single shit. “Do you even understand what you’re offering to do? Why would you want to do that… for anyone, let alone me? You saw how Dixon was… my stepfather is even worse. I don’t want you getting into this mess. I can’t do that to you. I won’t. We’re talking actual marriage, Grant.”

“We were there for each other last year… let me help you and be there for you now too. I wouldn’t offer if I wasn’t willing to do it.” I duck my head to look her straight in the eyes so she sees I’m serious. Rain begins to fall harder around us, and as I reach for her hand to keep her close, I feel her trembling beneath my touch. I can already tell she’s getting ready to deny my offer again, so I add, “Besides, it could be beneficial for us both.”

“What do you mean?” she asks with a serious expression.

“You need someone to marry to save the bakery who isn’t that prick… and I need help cleaning up my image a bit. I’m on the cusp of signing a huge sponsorship with a national athletic wear company. They’re nervous that I’m viewed by the public as a careless playboy, and settling down could clear up that problem. Show them I’m not a risk to their brand. That I’m not this party guy that I’ve been perceived to be, and even if I was, those days are over. We could do this, Addie. Do it for both of us.”

For a moment, she stares up at me silently, chewing on her lip. I can practically see the wheels turning in her head.

“This is…” She blinks, a look of hesitation and confusion evident on her face.

“Genius, maybe. The answer to both of our problems.” I pause, taking her in for a moment. Water sticks to her thick, dark eyelashes, her blonde hair drenched and sticking to her face. She’s shivering, either from the rain or the shock about everything that happened tonight. Either way, I don’t think this is the place for this conversation.

“Look, we’re kinda standing in the middle of a hurricane right now. If you’re comfortable with it, let’s go back to my apartment and talk about it further? Get out of the rain?”

Her eyes are as stormy as the one we’re standing in, questions flickering within the depths. “Okay. Yeah,” she whispers finally, and I nod, taking her hand in mine and leading her toward my truck and out of the rain.

Thank fuck I was so nervous about meeting her tonight that I anxious-cleaned the shit out of my apartment just to keep my mind busy. It was a wreck, and though I truly had no intention of bringing her back here tonight, I’m thankful for the first time in my life that I clean when I’m stressed.

She’s hesitantly standing by the front door, shivering with her arms wrapped around her torso, when I walk back into the living room with a fresh towel and some clothes in my hands.

“I brought you an old hoodie and a pair of sweats for you to put on too. I’m sure they’ll be way too big, but at least you can get out of your wet clothes.”

“Ye-s-s, please. I’m f-freezing,” she says between chattering teeth as she takes the clothes and then wraps the towel around herself like a blanket.

Pointing toward the door at the end of the hallway, I say, “Bathroom’s right there. I’m gonna change too, but if you need anything, let me know, okay?”

She nods. “Thank you.”

When she disappears into the bathroom, I head to my bedroom and grab a towel to dry off before I throw on a pair of clean gym shorts and a hoodie. When I walk back out into the living room, I find her sitting on the couch with her legs pulled up to her chest.

Of course, my clothes swallow her tiny frame, but something strangely primal flares in my chest at the sight of her wearing them.

Fuck, I can’t even believe ArtGirl… Addie is in my apartment right now.

I feel like I’ve been trying to convince myself that she’s actually real all night and that I’m not caught in a fever dream.

“Better?” I ask as I sink down on the cushion next to her.

“Yes. Much.” She nods her head, giving me a small but genuine smile before her dainty features turn more serious again. “Grant… I’m so, so sorry about tonight. About Dixon showing up. That you had to even be involved in that. Honestly, I’m just completely mortified, and I can’t stop thinking about it,” she says quietly, her eyes holding mine intently. I can see the shame in her expression, and I hate that she’s feeling embarrassed over that fuckwad’s behavior. I rein in the sudden urge I have to pull her into my arms to comfort her.

“Hey, don’t apologize for him. You have nothing to be sorry for, Addie. He’s the one who acted like a dick, not you. You have absolutely nothing to feel embarrassed about,” I reply lightly.

The crease in her brow deepens as her eyes flicker with emotion. “I know. It just… that was so crazy, and he’s never done anything like that before. I mean, we’ve never really been alone, though, without our parents. I knew he was kind of a jerk, but nothing like this. Not until tonight… I guess I saw what’s been hiding in plain view all this time.”

As she speaks, my gaze travels along the delicate slope of her nose, which is scattered with faint freckles, then to her cheeks, which seem to finally have some color back in them now that she’s warm. Thick, dark lashes frame her pale blue eyes, and her pouty pink lips are pulled downward into a frown. A frown that for some reason I would give anything to erase.

I probably shouldn’t be staring at her, drinking every inch of her in, but I can’t stop myself. I’ve waited so long for this moment, to see her face-to-face, and now that she’s here… I’m memorizing everything about her, committing it directly to memory. That way, I’ll never forget.

“You should never be alone with him. Never. No man who puts his hands on a woman is worth a fuck. He’s dangerous, Addie. He could really hurt you.”

She sighs raggedly, her entire body deflating. “I know. I don’t want to. Trust me, I wish that I wasn’t in this… mess with him to begin with. He gives me the creeps.”

Reaching out, I grasp her chin between my fingers gently, turning her gaze to me. Her eyes widen, and I watch as her throat bobs. “You don’t have to be around him ever again if you don’t want to, Addie. I meant what I said?—”

“About marrying me,” she interrupts, and I nod.

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