Page 2 of One Night Rebellion
There’s something in his tone that cuts through my anger. It’s awkward. Vulnerable. Something I don’t know that I’ve seen from JT in all the years I’ve known him. “Because of your injury?”
He nods. “In a roundabout way, I guess… It was just weird. Some people pitied me and others acted like I had somehow blown out my knee just to disappoint them—like I fucking did it on purpose.”
I get that. Probably more than anyone else. You can’t be Kyle Stevens's kid in Bellehaven and not have people giving you the side-eye. Never mind that I barely remember the asshole and he’s been in prison for almost my entire life. It doesn’t even matter that Lucas adopted me and I got to change my last name. I’m still Addie Stevens to most people even though I’ve been a Hartford for damn near a decade. “I get that. But they’re not the only ones here. Malcolm would have liked to hear from you. Hell, JT, my mom would have been over the moon to just get a Christmas card!”
“I don’t send Christmas cards!”
“That’s your takeaway?” I ask. “Seriously?”
He sighs. “Look, I know a lot of people are disappointed or pissed because I took off, but I had to figure some shit out.”
“Did you?... Did you figure shit out?”
He glances over at me. “I thought I had. Now, I’m not so sure… I expected Bellehaven to be the same as it was. Like if I moved on, it would just stand still. And you, Addison Stevens, are living proof that did not happen.”
“Hartford. Addie Hartford. Lucas adopted me formally when Kyle got an extra ten years on his sentence.”
He nods. “That’s good. I’m glad you don’t have to deal with that ass ever again.”
That’s something we can agree on. If I never have to deal with Kyle Stevens ever again, that’ll be just fine by me.
2
JT
"What are your plans now that you're back?" Dad asks as we both sit at the table, drinking our coffee. My little sister huffs as she looks up the stairs from where she sits with us. "She'll be down in a minute, hold your horses," he tells her. "Your mom was running late this morning."
Judging by the shit-eating grin on my dad's face, he's the reason for that.
"I gotta be there early," she whines. "They're picking the choir for next year."
Jesus. She sounds like a cat dying. There's no way they're going to pick Sierra for any kind of choir, but I'm interested in getting away from our parental units right now, so I offer. "If she's not down in five minutes, I'll take you."
"In your car?" Her eyes lift with surprise. "You never let me ride in your car."
She's not wrong, but a '65 Mustang isn't just any car. For a long time, I was worried she'd spill something, but as a tween, she's grown up a lot. It was the one thing I bought my senior year of college before I knew I was going to declare for the draft.
For the last few years, I've worked in Nashville for one of the top investment firms to pay off the bills I made in anticipation of being a millionaire. Two months ago, I got recruited by a Lexington firm, and I made the decision to move home.
"Mooommmmm..."
I grin, laughing at how dramatic Sierra is before turning to my dad. "They gave me money to rent for a year, but they gave it to me in Lexington dollars, if you know what I mean. I'm looking for a house to buy here in Bellehaven."
"You're finally gonna set down roots, huh?"
I take a drink of my coffee. "Looks that way."
"You know Malcolm has his real estate license. Him and his fiancée are doing really well for themselves."
"Yeah." I fork a bite of eggs. "I messaged him on Facebook earlier, and we're going to meet at his office at eleven."
"Want me to come with you?" Dad asks. "I don't have practice until this afternoon."
For a moment I think about it, interested in spending time with him, but then I realize I haven't talked to what was once my best friend, other than social media comments and likes, for the better part of eight years. He deserves to have my undivided attention when I'm really the one looking for his help.
"Nah, I think I need to do this one solo. Thanks, though."
Dad nods, understanding in his eyes. "Malcolm's a good man. You two were really good friends back in the day."
