Page 84 of Walkoff Wedding

After everything that happened this morning, I wanted to put a whole goddamn city between Addie and the asshole who I’m fairly sure I’ll end up killing with my bare hands. I’ve never thought myself as a violent person, but when I think about Dixon and all of the fucked-up shit he’s put her through, I see red.

The call that I got this morning… changed my fucking brain chemistry. Hearing her panicked voice sobbing through the phone so hard that she could hardly speak was something that I’ll never forget. I’ll hear it in my nightmares with the same feeling of fear that slithered down my spine and took me hostage.

I’ve never been so fucking scared in my entire life. I had no idea what I was walking into. I didn’t know if she was hurt or if she had been threatened, and the entire ride was the worst form of torture.

The moment I saw her in a shaking, huddled heap outside the bakery, I nearly lost it, holding on to her so tightly that she probably couldn’t breathe. It still wasn’t enough to calm my pounding heart or lessen the feeling of dread weighing down my gut.

It was at that moment that I realized there’s nothing on this planet I wouldn’t do to protect Addie. No line I wouldn’t cross, no fucking law I wouldn’t break, no sacrifice I wouldn’t make if that’s what it took to keep her safe.

Because I love her.

And the thought of anything happening to her, or worse, losing her, is something I can’t even fathom.

I won’t.

From the very first conversation, I knew there was something about her that I would never be able to forget. She saw me more clearly than anyone in my life ever had, and I think I loved her even then. I’m pretty sure I never stopped.

I was a fool to think that I could pretend. It was never pretending for me, and today made that crystal fucking clear.

“Hey,” her soft voice calls from the passenger seat, pulling me from my thoughts and out of my head.

My fingers tighten on the wheel until my knuckles are white, and I exhale the breath I had been holding for so long my lungs burn.

“Are you okay?”

I drag my gaze from the road for a second to look over at her. Her normally bright eyes are dull, and her face is etched with worry and exhaustion, and it does nothing for the storm brewing inside of me.

I fucking hate that she’s hurt and that there’s nothing I can do to take it away.

She should never have to bear the weight of something like this. She’s too good. Too pure.

“I’m okay,” I breathe, even though the last thing I feel right now is okay. I lie, for her. Because I’m not going to be another thing she has to worry about.

Which is why I’m going to keep that I realized I’m in love with her to myself for now. She has so much shit happening in her life, and I refuse to be another complication. I promised all this would go at her pace.

And there’s always the chance that she doesn’t feel the way that I do. I’ve never been in love before, so this is all new to me.

“Are you okay?”

I glance from the road to her and see her nod, sinking further into the seat.

“I’m okay. I’m just tired. Not just physically but emotionally. Mentally. I feel like I could sleep for a week.” She laughs half-heartedly. “And also nervous because now I have to meet your mother, and I look like a zombie.”

“You do not look like a zombie. You look beautiful, as always.” When I quickly flick my gaze to her, her pouty lips curve into a shy smile. A smile that hits me directly in the chest, and for a second, I want to pull over and pull her into my lap and just fucking hold her. And not let her go. “Don’t worry about meeting Mama. You’ll love her. I’m actually worried she’s going to love you more than me, and I’m a mama’s boy. I need the love.”

Her giggle floats airily around the cab of my truck, and I revel in it. After the morning we’ve had, I think hearing her laugh is exactly the medicine I need.

“I’m just worried because… well, you got married and…” She trails off.

“She knows everything, so you don’t have to worry about anything. Trust me, she’s the best person you’ll ever meet. I promise it’ll be great, and when we get there, you can go straight to bed if you want. It’s been a long-as-fuck day. You need rest.”

Addie hums in agreement but sits quietly, fidgeting with the string of the hoodie I gave her to wear. As much as I love seeing her in all of her cute, quirky outfits with her signature Mary Janes, I love seeing her in my clothes even more.

It makes the caveman part of me that I never knew existed until her rear its head.

Since I spent most of the ride to Belle Chasse lost in my thoughts, trying to work through everything, we’re only a few minutes away. We ride in a comfortable silence until I pull into the driveway in front of a small, cream-colored Victorian that has been my childhood home since I was born. Despite the fact that it’s been a while since I visited home and it’s generally my job, Mama’s got the flower beds looking great.

“Oh, Grant, this is the most precious house I’ve ever seen. The porch swing!” Addie murmurs excitedly as her eyes roam over the house. “Oh gosh, the windchimes. My mom loved them so much. It was her favorite thing to do. Sit on the back porch when a storm was coming, listening to her chimes going crazy.”

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