Текст книги "Rage"

Автор книги: Elizabeth Reyes

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Текущая страница: 11 (всего у книги 22 страниц)

Chapter 15

Addison

Addison tried to shake the strange unease she felt about AJ’s plan to get her out and away from her parents for the entire day. Even when he’d first told her about it, she’d been unable to hide her unease because he immediately followed up with another apology about his calling her Kelli that first day in St. Louis.

AJ’s brothers were driving out to Los Angeles for the series against the Dodgers that weekend. When AJ arrived in Los Angeles, he found out Nathan’s girlfriend, Kelli, had met them out there at the last minute.

“You can tell your parents and Clair you two hit it off and she’s out in Los Angeles so you want to hang out with her.”

He’d smiled excitedly even as Addison had stared at him full of apprehension. After he’d apologized once again and said he knew because of his stupid flub he totally understood why she might not be comfortable, he once again assured her his calling her Kelli had been a total fluke. He was in no way attracted to Kelli and would never even consider looking at or thinking of any girls his brothers dated in that way.

The latter was easier to believe. She knew how close he was to his siblings, and just from what she already knew about his character, she’d never believe he’d disrespect his brother that way.

But the former was a little harder for her insecure ass to buy. Kelli was nothing short of a beauty queen, the kind of girl that back in high school Addison could only dream of just being friends with. She wasn’t delusional to ever think she could pull off being the “it” girl. Addison was certain of that much. Kelli had either been the “it” girl or at least part of the “it” crowd. No surprise she’d landed a guy like Nathan. The Romero clan had no shortage of good looks.

Hearing her boyfriend refer to her as Kelli, after she’d just pleasured him orally, had been a slap in the face to say the least. Of course, the first thing that flew into her mind was that he’d been thinking of Kelli the entire time Addison had been down on her knees deep-throating him!

But, alas, she was done questioning it. One of the things she found most endearing about AJ was his in-your-face honesty. He held nothing back. Just like his reaction to Danny. Most guys would’ve at least tried to tone down any jealousy over something that petty.

Addison had been watching AJ’s on-field explosions for years. She’d seen that same familiar flicker in his eyes just before he spun around in the room that day and walked away from her. He’d been that close to detonating—over her conversation with Danny. If that weren’t reason enough, it wasn’t just the way he touched her and made love to her with such unabashed passion. The way he looked at and spoke to Addison with such genuine affection, not just for her but for Clair, was more than enough to prove that his feelings for her were for more than her looks alone.

Old habits die hard, but her habit of inwardly self-deprecating herself was one she’d thought she’d killed years ago. If the attention she’d been getting from men ever since she’d come out of her shell and put more effort into her appearance wasn’t proof that she could give someone like Kelli a run for her money, the fact that AJ Romero seemed as crazy for her as she was for him should be.

It was why she agreed to go along with AJ’s plan. Addison’s new friend picked her up at their hotel but didn’t come up to get her. Addison met her outside by the valet. Since their Saturday game had been a morning one, AJ and Addison had the rest of the afternoon and evening to be together.

Her parents had often commented, sometimes troubled, about how Addison sacrificed her social life too much. Ever since having Clair, she’d barely had one, and they knew, when she’d lived Chicago, she had no one she trusted to leave Clair with, just so she could go out. They knew it’d been a long time since she’d enjoyed a social life. So, of course, they’d graciously agreed to take Clair to Universal Studios for the rest of the day and then to dinner and a movie after. They seemed pleased about her spending time with a friend and encouraged Addison to go out and have fun. “Don’t rush back on our account,” her mother had added when Addison left.

Addison didn’t even have to worry about getting back before Clair’s bedtime. They were staying in a two-room suite so Clair could go to the room she shared with Addison whenever she was ready for bed.

Except for the time they were spending with his brothers and Kelli, this would be the most time all at once Addison and AJ would spend together yet. Addison was looking forward to it, so she decided to focus on that instead. The excitement was already whirling away inside her.

Kelli met her downstairs in her car. “Hello,” Kelli said, smiling as Addison got in her car. “Nice to see you again. Don’t worry; your secret is safe with me.”

Addison nodded, smiling pleasantly and feeling silly that at her age she was technically sneaking off with her boyfriend. “Thanks. It probably won’t be too much longer before I tell my parents. It’s my daughter I want to hold off telling for a bit longer.”

To Addison’s surprise, Kelli reached over and patted her leg. “You have no idea how much respect I have for you because of that.” She brought her hand back to the wheel as they came to a stop. “Most women would be dying to flaunt the fact that they’re dating AJ Romero. I’m glad you’re thinking of your daughter first. It’s how it should be. Sadly, most parents don’t. I know my dad didn’t. He brought every single bimbo he dated around my brothers and me when we were younger. I hated it.” She turned and smiled genuinely at Addison. “In your case, I can tell your daughter already loves AJ. But it’s good that you’re still being cautious. I commend you for that.”

“Thanks,” Addison said, not sure if that was the right response. “What about you and Nathan?” she asked, wanting to get off the subject of her and AJ’s relationship. “AJ said it’s been a couple of months. Are you two getting serious?”

“It hasn’t been that long,” Kelli said, staring straight ahead as she drove. “I’ve known him for a couple of months, but I didn’t actually start going out with him until just a few weeks ago. I wasn’t even gonna come out here this weekend because I didn’t want him to get the idea that things are that serious.” She shrugged, glancing at Addison. “I’ve been burned before, you know? I’m trying to play it safe and take things slow.” She stared ahead again. “I, uh . . . was coming out this way anyway for a little thing my brother’s having tomorrow, so when I was able to get the day off today at the last minute, I decided to meet Nathan today after all.”

Addison nodded, a bit curious. “You work on the weekends? What do you do?”

“Cosmetology.” She turned and smiled at Addison proudly. “I own and run my own salon. Two actually.”

“Oh, wow,” Addison said, completely impressed. “You look too young to own your own business much less two.”

Kelli explained about her dad pretty much buying her the first salon to make up to her for a lot of the “shitty” things she had to deal with growing up. It did so well she opened up another just a year later.

“So did you just close them for the weekend?” Addison asked, confused about her getting the day off at the last minute.

“Oh, no”—Kelli shook her head—“I have plenty of other stylists who run the place when I’m not around. We stay really busy.”

“You said it’s in La Jolla?”

“Yes,” Kelli said, smiling brightly. “Right in La Jolla Village. Pinks with the big pink P.”

Addison’s eyes widened. “Oh, yeah, I’ve seen the place. Driven by it many times actually.”

“Yep, that’s it.” Kelli said as they drove slowly through traffic. “The first one anyway. The second one is a little further north in Carmel.”

Ringing interrupted the music that had been playing softly over the speakers. The words “Incoming call from Gilbert” popped up on the screen of Kelli’s dashboard. Kelli frowned, turning into a smaller street off to the side of the main one they were on. She hit the transfer to handset button as she pulled over and stopped the car.

“Sorry, I have to take this,” she said, bringing her phone to her ear. “Hey,” she said into her phone as Addison glanced out the window at the Korean restaurant they’d parked in front of.

“No, I can’t.”

Addison did her best to not eavesdrop or at least appear to not be following every word of Kelli’s conversation with Gilbert, but it was hard not to. She could even hear the voice of the guy on the phone; though she couldn’t make out what he was saying. Still, based on all of Kelli’s responses, it was easy enough to figure it out.

“Because I’m in Los Angeles. I’m out here for the Dodger-Padres series . . . with a friend . . . you don’t know her . . . because it’s none of your business, Gilbert.”

Kelli glanced at Addison and smiled nervously. Addison wondered if she should pretend she needed to make a phone call and step out of the car to give Kelli some privacy. Instead, she glanced down, pretending to busy herself on her phone.

“Addison.” Addison glanced up at Kelli in response to hearing her name, but Kelli shook her head, pointing to the phone then continued. “That’s because you’ve never met her. I went to school with her . . . no high school . . . uh huh . . . What? Well, what did he say?” Kelli paused for a moment then noticeably lowered her voice. “Tell him I’ll call him but I can’t now. Tell him to please give me an hour or so. Tell him he’ll also see me tomorrow. I’ll book the first flight I can get on. But it probably won’t be until first thing in the morning. Okay . . . okay, I will. I promise.”

Addison smiled just as timidly as Kelli did when she hung up. Halfway through the call she wondered why Kelli hadn’t just taken the call via her speakers and spoken as she drove.

Even if there was something Kelli was trying to avoid Addison hearing, it’s not like she hadn’t gotten the entire gist of the conversation. Though that wasn’t the only thing she was curious about now.

The first of her curiosities was satisfied as soon as Kelli hung up and started back on the road. “Overbearing brothers,” she’d said with a nervous chuckle. “I haven’t told my family about Nathan yet, so if I’d told him I was out here with a guy, he would’ve followed up with a million questions. But my lying skills are seriously lacking, so, of course, when he insisted on knowing the name of my friend, I couldn’t come up with a single one but yours. Sorry.”

“No worries,” Addison assured her.

She was still curious about a few other things such as what was that thing at her brother’s tomorrow she said made her decide to come out to Los Angeles last minute and where was she flying out to tomorrow, which she apparently decided to do just now? But it was none of her business, and Addison had made such an effort to appear to not be listening, if she asked, it’d all be for nothing.

“I think this is the place,” Kelli said as they drove into the valet area of a swanky-looking steakhouse. She glanced down at her phone before unlocking the door for the valet attendant. “Yeah, this is it,” she said, hitting the unlock button.

Both doors were opened by attendants, and the girls headed around the corner to the front entrance. The catcalling and whistles made them look up, and AJ and Nathan were looking down from the patio where they were leaning over the rail with big smiles.

Addison breathed in deeply, just seeing the huge smile on AJ’s face. “We got a table up here. It’s under Romero. They’ll escort you up.”

Kelli turned to Addison, her brows furrowing. “Wasn’t Isaiah supposed to be here too? I hope Nathan didn’t ditch him on account of me showing up.”

“AJ specifically said we were having an early dinner with his brothers,” Addison explained.

That seemed to soften the troubled expression on Kelli’s face. AJ’s lips were on Addison’s the moment she entered the private patio area where their table was located. As it turned out, Isaiah was there with them.

When AJ first told her about the plan to use Kelli as her escape for the day, he’d explained how he’d originally had his reservations about Kelli even knowing about the relationship. Then he’d gone on to explain, almost annoyed, that Nathan had confessed to accidently spilling the beans. “The only good thing about it,” he’d told her with an evil grin, “is I’m done being discreet, at least around my family and friends.”

The man wasn’t kidding either. The entire time they were at the restaurant his hands were on her—holding her hand, rubbing her thighs, shoulders, or neck—and his lips never stopped kissing or pecking for too long. Isaiah even teased AJ that he’d hardly touched any of the appetizers because his lips were too busy on Addison.

“Don’t hate just ’cause you’re solo today, Sai,” AJ had retorted with a smirk. “Why didn’t you bring Lola?”

Isaiah immediately rolled his eyes and returned the smirk. “’Cause I didn’t even know I was coming this weekend until someone traded shifts with me at the last minute.”

“I hope I didn’t interrupt your brother-bonding weekend,” Kelli said, sipping her cocktail.

Isaiah shook his head, taking a long swig of his drink. “Nope,” he said without turning to her then stood up. “I spend enough time with this guy at home.”

“Where you going? Nathan asked.

“The bathroom.” Isaiah pushed his chair back.

“It’s downstairs,” AJ informed him.

“Really? They don’t have one up here?”

“Nope,” AJ said with a frown. “I know. Kind of stupid.”

“I better go too,” Kelli said, grabbing her purse and standing up.

Addison thought about it. She didn’t have to go too badly, but since it was downstairs, she’d prefer to go with Kelli than alone later. “I’ll go too,” Addison said, pushing her seat back.

Kelli turned to look at Addison then smiled, glancing back at Nathan as they all walked out quietly.

“Is Lola your girlfriend?” Kelli asked Isaiah as all three made their way down the stairs.

Addison turned to Isaiah curiously. AJ had never mentioned a Lola to her, and Isaiah had been solo at the gathering at their house too.

“Nope,” Isaiah said, clearing his throat. “Her name just happened to come up not long ago. I’m sure the only reason he even remembers it is because he ribbed me enough about her name.”

They were quiet the rest of the way as they made their way to the back of the restaurant where the single restrooms were. Addison let Kelli go first since she didn’t have to go that badly. AJ’s equally handsome brother exited the men’s room before Kelli was out and smiled at Addison.

“I hate to break it to you, sweetheart, but there’s no way your parents and Clair don’t know about you and AJ.”

Isaiah’s comment made Addison’s eyes widen. “Why do you say that?”

“It’s so ridiculously obvious how crazy he is about you.”

She smiled timidly, feeling her face warm, and her heart practically skipped a beat. “Oh, he’s nothing like that in front of them. There’s absolutely no kissing or even touching.”

“I’m not just talking about the physical contact.” Isaiah laughed. “It’s that goofy expression on his face the whole time he’s around you. Hell, he wore it even before you got here when he told Nate and me more about you and Clair.” He shook his head with a smile as perfect at AJ’s and Nathan’s. “I’ve never seen him like this. The guy’s got it bad.”

Thankfully, Kelli walked out of the ladies’ room just then because Isaiah’s comments, while exciting, were embarrassing her, and she had no idea how to respond to his last one. “All yours,” Kelli said, pointing at the restroom door.

“I won’t be long,” she said, deciding to take the cowardly way and not respond at all.

Knowing she had them waiting on her, Addison tried to be quick about it. But, of course, in her haste as she washed her hands, she splashed water all over the front of her blouse and ended up having to dry it on the hand dryer, making her stay in there much longer than she’d hoped. To her surprise, they weren’t outside waiting when she finally made it out. How embarrassing! Had she really taken so long they got tired of waiting? She glanced around in both directions of the small hallway the restrooms were in. One side of the darkened hallway led into the back where she assumed the unmarked doors were for employees only. The other direction led back into the restaurant.

Unsure if she should wait, she peeked out into the restaurant and glanced around and up at the staircase that led to their private patio, hoping to at least spot them going up.

“Hmm.” She craned her neck to check the bar area.

Maybe they’d decided to grab another drink while they waited for her? She strolled over to the bar area to double-check. Nothing. Dumbfounded, she headed back to the restroom area to see if, by chance, they’d gone back to search for her. She was still hopeful that they hadn’t gone back to the patio and announced to AJ and Nathan that she’d taken so long they left her behind. But they weren’t there either, so she headed back up to the patio.

Pleasantly surprised but at the same time feeling bad when she reached the patio because they weren’t there either, she stopped. She hesitated to walk all the way in when she realized they were obviously still downstairs.

“Where’s Kelli and Sai?” AJ asked.

Nathan, who’d been looking down at his phone, glanced up now too, looking as curious as AJ.

“I don’t know,” she admitted, walking back out and checking the stairwell again. “They were gone when I got out of the restroom. I checked the bar area, but they weren’t there either, so I just assumed they’d come back up.”

Nathan’s brows furrowed. “That’s weird.” He turned to AJ, already tapping at his phone screen. “Does this place have another area they might’ve gone to check out?”

“Not that I know of,” AJ said, reaching for Addison’s hand as she sat down next to him.

“I hope they’re not looking for me,” Addison said, feeling apprehensive.

“Nah.” AJ pecked her. “And if they are, like you did, they’ll figure it out soon enough and head back up.”

Nathan sent what Addison assumed was a text. He picked his phone right up again and sent another, only Isaiah’s phone went off at the table where he’d left it.

Nathan cursed under his breath when he realized Isaiah didn’t even have his phone on him. About ten minutes later and still no response to Nathan’s text, AJ’s brother was on his feet. “I’m gonna go look for them,” he said, sounding almost annoyed.

“Relax,” AJ said. “They’re probably already on their way up.”

“Yeah, like you’d relax,” Nathan said as he rushed around the table.

AJ turned to Addison with a smirk. “Yeah, he has me there.”

Isaiah walked in just before Nathan reached the door leading back into their private patio. When Kelli didn’t enter behind him, Nathan asked the very thing she knew they were all wondering. “Where’s Kelli?”

“She left,” Isaiah said then explained quickly. “She said to tell you she’d explain later but to say she was sorry she had to leave so unexpectedly.” Before Nathan could interrupt, like he looked ready to, Isaiah lifted his hand. “She got a phone call while we were waiting for Addison. When she got upset, I walked out back with her into the parking lot. All she said as she rushed to the valet was that her mom had been in an accident.”

“Her mom?” Nathan asked with his phone already at his ear. “Her mom’s dead.”

Isaiah’s face nearly blanched, and he appeared as flabbergasted as Addison was sure the rest of them were feeling. “I don’t know, man. Stepmom maybe?”

“That’s weird,” Nathan said. “Her dad has a new girlfriend every few months. From what she’s told me, she’s hated every single one of them. And she was upset?”

Isaiah had ambled over to where he’d been sitting and downed his entire drink. “Yeah, she was,” he said when he was done.

“Kelli, call or text me as soon as you can, babe. Just let me know if you’re okay.” Nathan came back to Isaiah, still noticeably concerned. “Who called her? One of her brothers?”

“I don’t know. She didn’t say,” Isaiah said then asked for another drink from the waitress who came in to take their empty glasses.

Nathan cancelled Kelli’s plate, letting the waitress know she had to leave and wasn’t coming back. Then he turned to Isaiah again. “Was she like crying upset?”

Isaiah nodded, distracted momentarily by something on his phone. “Yeah, she cried,” he muttered as he tapped away on his phone then set it down.

Their food came and talk of Kelli ceased until Nathan’s phone rang about twenty minutes later and he answered immediately.

“Kelli, what happened?” They all waited quietly as he listened to whatever she was saying. “Wait, wait. Slow down. Why?” he said as his face hardened, and he stood up and walked out the patio area for some privacy.

AJ and Addison exchanged equally blank looks; then he turned to Isaiah. “Did he sound mad to you?” AJ asked.

Isaiah shrugged, staring at the doorway Nathan had just exited. He took another sip of his drink. “Maybe.”

A few minutes later Nathan re-entered the patio area and addressed Isaiah. “Did she say anything else to you before she left?”

Isaiah stared at him for a moment before answering then shook his head. “Just to tell you she’d explain later. Why?”

“She broke things off,” Nathan said, dropping his phone on the table. The waitress walked in just then. “Can I get a shot of tequila?” he asked then turned to the rest of them, his expression still as hard as ever. “Any of you guys want one?”

“I’ll take one,” Isaiah said immediately.

“Nah,” AJ said, but you go ahead. I’ll drive you guys back to your hotel room. Addison and I will take a cab from there back to ours.” AJ shook his head, still looking confused but also annoyed as only AJ could get. “So she drove all the way here to spend the weekend with you then broke things off?”

“Yeah,” Nathan said with a humorless chuckle as he sat down. “She’s been hot and cold almost from the beginning, but she’d been different lately.”

His phone rang again, and Nathan took one look at the screen and was on his feet again.

“That her?” AJ asked, his face already souring.

Nathan nodded but rushed out of the patio area.

“What the fuck?” AJ said, turning back to Isaiah as soon as Nathan was out the doorway. “What? Is she playing games now? I knew there was something I didn’t like about her ever since that day at the house with her stepping away every fifteen minutes to take calls.”

Isaiah shook his head. “Yeah, well maybe it’s best if you don’t tell him that,” he warned. “For all we know, they’ll be back together again, and you’ll have to swallow your words.”

“I ain’t swallowing shit,” AJ said, turning in the direction of the doorway.

“Be cool, AJ,” Isaiah insisted, even more firmly. “You know he’s more pissed than he’s letting on.”

A few minutes later Nathan walked back in with a smirk. “Don’t tell me?” AJ asked, as disgusted as he’d been earlier. “You’re back together.”

“No,” Nathan said. “But she did say she made a hasty decision because she was upset about her mom.”

“I thought her mom was dead?” AJ countered.

“It’s her grandma, but she’s always called her mom.” He turned to Isaiah and picked up the shot the waitress had brought in while he was on the phone. “I didn’t know that. She wants to talk but can’t for a few days. She can’t take time off from the salon until at least Tuesday. After she got the call about her grandma, she got another from the salon. She says she’s also dealing with issues there this weekend—that she shouldn’t have been here at all today—and drove up on a whim. So it all just added up and she panicked, thinking she should just concentrate on her business, and that’s why she’d made the hasty decision. What?” He asked with a frown when he saw the scowl on AJ’s face.

“What was with all those calls she got that day at the house?”

“Same thing,” Nathan said, looking as annoyed as AJ now. “Calls from the salon.”

“Didn’t some dude call her that day too?”

“Raymond’s one of her brothers,” Nathan said, his face souring further. “I didn’t know you were taking notes. She has two others, Ron and Rick. Write that shit down so you don’t forget.”

“I’m just saying she seems wishy-washy and full of—”

“How ’bout a toast,” Isaiah said, putting his phone down and lifting his shot glass in the air. “We don’t get together nearly as often as we used to. So, to getting to spend this weekend together . . .”

Isaiah motioned for AJ to use his beer bottle. Addison lifted her glass too, even if technically the toast had nothing to do with her. She hoped it’d persuade AJ and Nathan, who were still glaring at each other, to do the same.

“That’s a very sweet toast,” she said.

Isaiah gave her an appreciative smile, and AJ lifted his bottle. Nathan joined the toast a bit grudgingly, but at least the subject of Kelli was dropped.

Hours later back in AJ’s hotel suite, after a few rounds of mind-blowing sex, Addison was still trying to decide whether she should get involved in AJ’s brother’s business. Should she mention the phone call from Kelli’s other brother Gilbert? One Nathan apparently didn’t know about. Either that or Kelli had lied about more than one thing that day. Clearly, she hadn’t mentioned needing to get back to Gilbert and someone else to Nathan when she told him she needed to stay put at the salon for a few days. Then she remembered something else that would only make AJ’s already distrusting impression of the girl worsen. Gilbert was someone she didn’t want to mention anything to about Nathan—her boyfriend.

Then AJ said something that helped her decide. “I hope I didn’t come across as a dick today when I questioned Kelli’s motives.”

They’d been lying in bed, rehydrating on a couple of bottles of Gatorade. She’d noticed he’d gone a little pensive. “I’d never think that of you,” she assured him, tracing his beautiful lips with her fingers.

He smiled, leaning over, and kissed her. “I just can’t stand shady people. It’s why I’m upfront and honest about everything.” His tone and expression were a bit foreboding, but he eased up and smiled sweetly again. “And I don’t care what Isaiah says. I never keep my mouth shut if I think someone’s doing anyone I care about wrong.”

Addison nodded, caressing his face with empathy. “I don’t have siblings, but I can say with all certainty that I understand what it’s like to feel protective over your loved ones. I live for Clair and would stop at nothing to protect her.” She smiled, kissing him softly. “I get it. The day Clair brings home someone, I know I’ll scrutinize every last little detail about him and worry sick that he might hurt her in some way. Trust me. I totally understand your concern. I don’t think I could keep my mouth shut either.”

“Do you know I’ve offered both my brothers jobs to run the multiple businesses I have going with my brand and online merchandising so they’ll stop being firefighters?” He shook his head. “I know it’s a noble occupation. They’ve worked hard to get where they are, and from what they’ve both told me, it’s totally rewarding, but it’s dangerous. It’s not necessary for them to put themselves in harm’s way, not with the money I bring in.” He frowned, noticeably troubled. “Of course, they’re both so damn stubborn. Neither wants their little brother supporting them.”

“They’ll be okay,” she assured him, her heart swelling over as he once again confirmed what a heart of gold he had. “Maybe when they get a little older and they’re tired of the work, they’ll take you up on the offer.”

AJ wrapped his arms around her, inhaling deeply as if her words alone were enough to quiet his worry about his siblings. Addison hugged him just as tightly, making note of two things.

A) She would not be sharing what she knew about Kelli with AJ because she didn’t know enough and AJ would without a doubt call his brother immediately to warn him.

B) AJ hated shady dishonest women.

Note taken loud and clear.