Текст книги "Rage"

Автор книги: Elizabeth Reyes

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Текущая страница: 17 (всего у книги 22 страниц)

Chapter 24

AJ

At least, Addison hadn’t cut him off completely. She was back to answering his calls and returning his texts. Though, she was obviously trying to keep to the topic of Clair. AJ decided as long as she didn’t cut him off he’d go along with this “friends” thing, at least until Clair fully recovered. Thankfully, Clair was improving every day. Addison had informed him she was even speaking now, a word here and there. She tired easily, but the doctors kept assuring Addison these were all good signs.

For someone who’d hardly ever cried in his life, AJ had been a fucking mess from day one. The thought of losing Clair was an unbearable one. So now the idea of losing them both was unacceptable. After what happened, he knew now without a doubt he couldn’t live without either one of his girls. He’d get Addison to agree one way or another, but he knew he needed to give her time. His only consolation now was that it appeared Clair was going to make a full recovery and Addison didn’t blame him for this, even though AJ would forever feel responsible.

Now that he wasn’t spending so much time with Addison or even on the phone with her, he’d dedicated his extra time to arming himself with information about food allergies. He felt like a complete idiot for not having done so sooner. It was beyond frightening to learn just how deadly allergies could be and how many people died or had severe reactions like Clair’s.

Never again.

He was jumping right on board with the overprotectiveness. The way he worried about his own siblings was proof that he’d have no issues being as overprotective about Clair’s allergies and anything else when it came to her and Addison.

Even what he was doing now was another reminder that he’d have no qualms about going above and beyond to make sure everything with his loved ones was okay. Nathan had since informed everyone that things between him and Kelli were over again. That was before AJ had even had a chance to talk to Isaiah about the odd behavior between him and Kelli.

But AJ had still wanted to ask Isaiah about it. He confirmed what AJ and Emi had suspected that, yes, Isaiah had met Kelli before Nathan ever started dating her. Yes, they’d had a “moment,” but Isaiah assured AJ that it was long before she started dating Nathan and she meant nothing to him. Of course, it’d been beyond annoying to know the bitch was clearly trying to play both brothers. Not only had she not broken things off with Nathan the minute she found out whose brother he was, but she was doing sneaky shit like going off with Isaiah at the restaurant in Los Angeles. The fact that Isaiah had lied to Emi about what they’d been discussing the night of the awards hadn’t sat well with AJ either.

Isaiah’s trying to make their moment sound as insignificant as he first had didn’t hold up for long either. After Isaiah admitted her leaving in tears that day in Los Angeles had nothing to do with her mother being in an accident and everything to do with his refusal to give her the time of day now that she was seeing Nathan, he had no choice but to admit the truth. AJ played back the conversation in his head, feeling just as annoyed as he did then.

“Why would she leave in tears if all you two ever had was a moment?”

Isaiah had breathed in a bit exasperated. “It was supposed to be a one-night thing. We didn’t even exchange last names. But it ended up being an entire weekend in a hotel room. By the time the weekend was over, I thought we were onto something, but then she never returned my calls or texts.”

“So what’s the bitch crying about now?”

Infuriatingly, Isaiah had actually come to her defense. “Slow down,” he’d said, sounding uncharacteristically annoyed with AJ. “She’s not a bitch.” Before AJ had been able to pounce back at that, Isaiah had held up a hand. “She’s got issues you wouldn’t understand, but regardless, you know I’d never hook up with any girl either of my brothers had ever been with. So relax; nothing’s happening between her and me. The day after I realized Nathan was seeing her when he brought her to Manny’s, she finally text me. She started to give me some bullshit about how busy she’d been and how she didn’t realize she had feelings for me until she saw me there, but I shot her down immediately, told her there was no way anything between her and me would ever happen again now that she’d dated my brother, and hung up. But she kept calling and texting. She claims she would’ve broken up with Nathan as soon as she found out, but only continued to see him because I wasn’t taking her calls and she really wanted to explain herself. I’ve listened to some of what she’s explained. Still doesn’t change the fact that I wouldn’t do that to Nate. She also claims she never slept with him.”

That snapped AJ out of his ready-to-cuss mood. He’d actually scoffed. Nathan date someone he wasn’t banging? It was absolutely laughable. Ironically, it seemed it was what AJ might be doing for a while now too.

Isaiah had gone on to explain that Kelli claimed she thought it was why Nathan was so infatuated with her. The fact that she wasn’t giving him any sex was a challenge. It was like he was determined to nail her yet. Despite her having broken things off with Nathan, he was still inviting her to go out with him.

Nathan had walked in on AJ and Isaiah’s conversation but didn’t catch any of it, only stared at them both and laughed, asking why they both looked so weird. Isaiah had changed the subject entirely and turned it into something about his broken leg and his meds. With Nathan being done with Kelli, the whole subject should be a moot one now. But AJ knew better. He wasn’t buying that Nathan was done trying to get in this girl’s pants. Moreover, from his reaction to AJ’s comments about her and the fact that he’d brought her around the family, it appeared he was feeling more for her than just something physical. The guy wasn’t going to give up on her so easily, and Isaiah knew better than anyone if Nathan brought her around AJ again, he was not going to keep his mouth shut. She was using Nathan to get to Isaiah, and AJ wasn’t having it.

“If you don’t tell him, I will.” AJ had warned before he left home for his next road trip.

With everything that’d happened with Clair, the situation with Kelli had been the furthest thing from AJ’s mind, and he only now remembered because he’d gotten a text from Isaiah about some other random subject. He’d been exiting his plane in Chicago where Clair was still in the hospital. So he took the time now in the backseat of the Town Car driving him to the hospital to call his brother.

“Did you tell him?” he asked as soon as Isaiah answered.

“Not yet.”

“I swear to God, Isaiah, if he brings her around again—”

“He’s not.”

“You don’t know that. Twice already—”

“She cut him off completely, AJ,” Isaiah said with just as much fervor as AJ, “sent him a good-bye text then changed her number, and moved out of her apartment without even telling him. When he went to say good-bye to her at the salon she supposedly owned and ran, they told him she was just an employee there who’d quit and moved out of state. She’s gone, man, and he was pretty broken up about it, let me tell you. He’s not like you, AJ. He holds his shit in real tight, but he got piss drunk right here in our patio and spilled his guts. The guy was hurting. I couldn’t do it.”

“Why the fuck is he so hung up on her?”

Isaiah was quiet for a moment as if maybe he understood why. It only irritated AJ further. AJ didn’t care what Isaiah said. Kelli was a lying sneaky bitch as far as he was concerned. “Alright, don’t tell him if you think it’s only gonna make him feel worse, but you better hope he never brings her around again, because I will tell that conniving little bitch exactly what I think of her.”

Isaiah knew better than to try and defend a girl that had one of AJ’s sibling’s hurting. He hadn’t said much, aside from asking AJ how he was doing, and they were off the phone soon enough. AJ’s heart was once again full of emotion as he reached the hospital. The moment he saw Addison, he knew it. She was out of her mind if she thought anything was going to change between them. The second she was close enough he pulled her into a crushing hug, and she began to cry. “She’s still okay, right?” he asked, fearing the worst.

“Yes, she’s still good.”

He pulled away to look at her. “Then why are you crying, baby?”

She shook her head, glancing down and away from him, but he lifted her chin, forcing her teary eyes to gaze into his. “Hey,” he asked, searching those beautiful eyes. “What’s the matter?”

Her brows pinched as she took a deep breath. “I just miss you so much already, but I can’t—”

“Shh,” he said softly, a mixture of hope and anxiousness washing over him.

All he needed to know was she missed him so much already she was in tears, despite the good news that Clair was doing better. He’d hold on to that, only he didn’t need to hear the additional “buts.” They’d get through this and be together—all three of them—in the end. For now, he’d just have to be patient and not push.

AJ kissed her forehead and hugged her even tighter. “I missed you too. Both of you. She’ll be out of here soon and back where she loves being: watching the team play. You’ll see. Don’t worry or think about anything else.”

For now.

She nodded then took another deep breath before pulling away. “Clair should be up soon. My parents will be here with Snickers soon too. He’s been staying at the doggy day care overnight but then is here all day.”

“Good. I’ve been looking forward to seeing Clair’s sweet eyes again.”

They quietly stepped into her room. To AJ’s relief, she didn’t appear so helpless anymore, and she wasn’t all tubed up anymore either. She slept peacefully but was beginning to stir just as they entered. AJ and Addison walked over and stood on either side of her bed. Without her glasses, she resembled Addison even more.

“Clair Bear,” Addison whispered, “ready to wake up, sleepy head?” Clair’s eyelids fluttered until she opened them slowly and glanced around. “Look who came to see you.”

AJ stared at her, feeling emotional all over again. “Hey, buddy,” he said, trying to hold it together.

Addison grabbed Clair’s glasses off the movable tray next to the bed and put them on her. It was an absolute relief because, before she’d put them on, Clair’s eyes were completely vacant—so not like the full-of-life eyes of the Clair he knew and loved. It’d scared the hell out of him, especially because of the warnings that she might have suffered brain damage. She still wasn’t out of the woods, but with the glasses on, she focused more on AJ; then the weak smile came and her eyes brightened. AJ had to wipe away the damn tear that escaped his eyes but smiled back.

Bending over a bit, he lifted her little hand and kissed it, unwilling to look up at her for a few moments. He didn’t want her to see him like that, but it was impossible to hold it in. He stared at her hand longer than he thought he’d have too, but the damn tears wouldn’t stop.

“I hear . . .” he started to say without looking up but had to stop when his voice betrayed him and gave out. AJ swallowed hard, clearing his throat before going on. “I hear you’re getting better every day.”

Wiping the tears away with his free hand, he finally looked up and met her eyes. Instantly, her brows pinched in an almost angry expression, and she shook her head, squeezing his hand. “There’s no crying in baseball.”

Addison gasped, a laugh bringing her hands to her mouth. AJ didn’t know whether to laugh or cry even more, so he did a weird combo of both. “Clair!” was all he could say.

“Talk to me, baby,” Addison said, lifting her other hand and kissing it too. “How do you feel?

Clair nodded at her mom then glanced back at AJ. “Groggy, otherwise good,” she said softly. “But I don’t like seeing you guys crying.”

Addison wiped her own tears and laughed softly. “We’ve just been so worried.”

“And now we’re so happy,” AJ added, still sniffling but thankfully way more composed.

“I’m calling the doctor,” Addison said, pushing the button on Clair’s bedside. “Don’t talk too much, Clair. As much as hearing you say full sentences is music to my ears, I’m not sure you should be exerting yourself.

Despite Clair nodding in apparent agreement to Addison’s request, she turned to AJ. “The only thing I remember is you carrying me out of the theater. My next memory after that is waking up here.”

AJ clenched his teeth but was glad she didn’t remember the horrific event. For him, it’d be something he’d never forget. “You stopped breathing, and the paramedics had to rush you to the hospital.” He felt his smile go flat as the memory replayed in his head. “They got you breathing, but you fell into a coma for a couple of days.”

“I couldn’t get my voice to work when I first woke up,” she said, touching her neck. “But it was the weirdest thing. I wasn’t worried at all. It’s like I knew just like moving my hands and understanding little by little why I was here—why I was sick—that I’d be able to talk soon too, and then I saw you crying.” Her expression went sullen suddenly. “Mom told me she’s pretty sure it was the ice cream. I hope you’re not blaming yourself, AJ.” Before AJ could respond to that, Clair turned to Addison suddenly. “It wasn’t his fault, Mom. I told him I’d be okay.”

“I know, honey.” Addison smoothed Clair’s hair. “It’s nobody’s fault. We just have to be more careful moving forward. We’re never taking chances like the one you did with the ice cream again.”

A knock sounded on the door; then the nurse entered. She spoke cheerfully to Clair as she took her vitals then assured Addison she didn’t think there was any danger of Clair overexerting herself. “The doctor’s on his way. You can ask him to be sure when he gets here.”

A few minutes later Addison’s parents arrived with Snickers, delighted to hear Clair talking. When they placed Snickers on her bed, he went crazy, whining and yelping at the sound of Clair’s voice as she coddled him affectionately. Once again, there wasn’t a dry eye in the room.

The doctor arrived soon afterward. He, too, was very pleased with Clair’s improvement. After he’d examined her and said everything looked great, Clair looked up at him with a hopeful smile. “Can I go home now?”

“We’ll have to run a few more tests just to be sure all the numbers are where they’re supposed to be,” Dr. Hiraki said as Clair’s smile faded. “I’d like to keep you here at least one more night for further observation, but you’ll certainly be going home a lot sooner than we anticipated you would.”

“She’s a numbers girl,” Coach Lara said with a proud smile then turned to Clair. “Those numbers will be spot on, Clair Bear. You’ll be out of here in no time.”

The doctor was in there for a little while longer, assuring Addison that, as long as Clair was up to it, she could speak as long and as freely as she wanted to. Once he’d covered Addison on everything they’d be testing Clair for, the doctor made his exit.

They brought Clair’s breakfast in, and AJ sat and chatted with all of them for a while. As expected, Clair wasted no time getting caught up on what she’d missed with the team, stats, and standings. They also spoke more about the upcoming playoffs, strategies, etc. It was so good to see how well she was doing.

Such an overwhelming relief.

Maybe now AJ could get some sleep. He’d hardly slept since this all went down, and it’d begun to affect his game. He was there for a couple of hours until Clair announced she needed to use the potty. Addison had told AJ that a couple of days prior when Clair had been coherent enough to realize she was wearing a diaper, even without being able to talk as much as she was doing now, she made it clear she did not want to be in a diaper. She’d been getting up and using the potty in her room ever since.

On that note, as much as he would’ve liked to stay longer, AJ thought he’d give them the privacy she needed. He had a plane to catch and some much-needed sleep to catch up with anyway.

Clair’s grandma offered to help Clair to the potty so Addison could walk AJ out. They were still afraid Clair might be too dizzy or weak to walk on her own. They stepped out into the hallway where, as soon as the door closed behind them, AJ took her into another crushing embrace. “Thank God,” he whispered, kissing her head.

Like when he first arrived, she seemed reluctant to give into the embrace completely, but then she did, hugging him tightly. When he finally pulled away and glanced down at her, her eyes glistened again. “I’ve no doubt,” she said, shaking her head, “that seeing you was the motivation it took to get her talking the way she is now.”

AJ smiled. “You heard her.” He laughed softly. “She wasn’t worried at all. She knew it was just a matter of time.” He let his head fall back, feeling the emotion and stress drain from his body. “I’m just so glad the doctor said she’s looking good and this is almost over.”

She shook her head adamantly. “That’s just it, AJ. It’s not over. It’ll never be over. This was just a devastating reminder of how not over this is and that I can never let my guard down again. It’s why—”

“First of all,” he said, pulling her back to him when she attempted to pull away. “You didn’t let your guard down. We both know whose fault this was, and trust me, now that I know . . .” He stopped when she began shaking her head again. “Look. I’ll respect your wishes and step back,” he said, peering at her with purpose, “for now.”

Addison shook her head again, and he took a deep breath, willing himself to not get too worked up. “Baby, you gotta know there is no way I’m just walking away from you guys. I understand you need time. You just went through something no parent should ever have to. I know you’re terrified and I don’t blame you. I am too. But you did nothing wrong. You made it absolutely clear how dangerous her allergies are. I’m the idiot who chose to believe maybe you were just being overprotective. Trust me. I will live to regret it, and after everything that’s happened, you know me and how much I care about you and that little girl. I swear to you it will never happen again.”

She stared at him, brows pinched, still appearing unsure, so he leaned in and kissed her nose then kissed her softly on the lips. “I don’t want you thinking or worrying about what should or shouldn’t happen with us. Focus on her. I’ll wait as long as I have to and do whatever it takes. I’m just letting you know right now you’re not getting rid of me that easily.”

This time she took a deep breath, but utter uncertainty lingered in her eyes. At least, it wasn’t a flat-out no. He’d take it. He said his final good-bye and kissed her one last time, this time a little longer than just a soft peck. She let him, but he didn’t want to push, so he forced himself to pull away.

Breathing in deep again, he let his head fall onto backseat of the Town Car that was bringing him straight back to the airport. Things weren’t settled yet, but this was a definite positive turn. Clair was talking and better now, and Addison hadn’t dismissed him with such finality again. It was a start.

Chapter 25

Addison

One of the other things Addison had been so afraid of when she decided to let Clair in on her relationship with AJ was her being hurt. Never in all of the short seven years of her little girl’s life had she seen such sadness in her eyes. Addison knew she’d be disappointed but nothing like this.

“It’s because you still blame him, isn’t it?”

“No, honey,” Addison said, bringing her arm around Clair’s shoulder and pulling her to her. “I don’t blame anyone but myself. As your mother, I should’ve been more alert, more careful, but it’s not why AJ and I broke up,” she lied, glancing away because Clair’s sad eyes were staring at her. “I just need to focus on you and your health right now. Work is also getting really busy, and I won’t have time for a social life for a while.”

They were in Clair’s bedroom, where Addison had sat down next to her on her bed, to do what she’d been dreading to do: explain why she and AJ were going to be just friends now. Just as she’d promised her from the beginning, she said, no matter what happened between Addison and AJ, he’d still be Clair’s best buddy. Addison could only pray that would be the case. The more she thought about giving into the temptation of continuing what she had with AJ, the more it scared her. AJ was a huge distraction, and she feared that once the fear lessened, as it had begun to when she’d been so caught up with him, she might slip again.

Nothing was worth reliving what she’d gone through when she wasn’t sure if Clair was going to make it. Nothing. Addison couldn’t even chance that something like that might happen again. Seeing AJ and feeling his arms and lips on her when she’d missed him so much had, momentarily, made her forget the suicidal thoughts that’d actually crossed her mind when, for a few horrific moments, she thought Clair was gone. She shook her head, feeling every hair on her body stand as the ugly memory resurfaced. Never again.

“What about when things slow down at your work? Will you and AJ get back together then?”

Addison pressed her lips together. She refused to give Clair false hope. “I don’t know, honey. That’s a big if. Work just seems to be getting busier and busier. It wouldn’t be fair to AJ, but like I said, we’ll still be friends.”

Reluctantly, Clair seemed to accept the confirmation of her suspicions. Today was the second day her papa and AJ were back in town for their home stand. Addison hadn’t attended either game, and AJ hadn’t come by like he normally did when he was in town and they were still together. She’d told Clair she had too much work to catch up on, so Clair had gone to the games with her grandparents. Today was also the first time Addison had allowed herself to watch a few minutes of one of AJ’s games on television, and she’d completely choked up at the sight of him.

Because of who he was and whose granddaughter Clair was, like when Isaiah had been hurt, Clair’s near fatal allergic reaction received national attention. It’d been on the news those whole first terrifying days. The news vans had lined up outside the hospital, likely waiting to be the first to report she’d passed.

There was no way AJ would know, and if he did, she was certain he would’ve said something, but Fred had been calling Addison nonstop since the news broke. She’d been so caught up with Clair at the hospital she hadn’t bothered to answer his calls or return his messages. It wasn’t until he threatened to show up at the hospital to see his daughter that she’d finally called him back.

She explained to him what had happened. In no way did she make it sound like it was AJ’s fault or that she blamed him. Yet the very next day a reporter outside the stadium in Baltimore asked AJ if it was true he was to blame for Clair’s allergic reaction. Impressively, AJ had kept his cool, ignoring the question until the reporter followed up by asking him if he planned on adopting Clair if she made it. AJ had reacted to the tactless comment as only he could. They had to pull him off the guy whom he nearly choked with one hand.

That, of course, made the headlines as well. The footage of it had been played over and over. Fred assured Addison he hadn’t said anything to anyone about AJ being the one who’d shared his possibly contaminated ice cream with Clair, but she knew better. Fred wasn’t nearly as upset about what happened to Clair as he was that AJ was being billed as her stepdad in some reports. Addison had smiled bittersweetly while listening to one radio’s broadcast announcing they’d have an update on AJ Romero’s stepdaughter after the commercial break. But like the reporter who questioned AJ, speculation ran rampant that perhaps AJ would be adopting her.

As usual, it was all Fred cared about. He was suspicious that maybe there was some truth to the reports. He was still talking about moving out to California, which worried Addison. But worse yet, he’d already made clear in not so many words that he wouldn’t be signing off his rights to Clair so that AJ could adopt her. Addison had assured him the topic had never once been discussed. She’d been so worried he might start with other threats that she’d let him in on something else: that she and AJ were no longer romantically involved.

Instead of that lessening the calls and texts from him like she’d hoped, he seemed to be getting more relentless. Though she didn’t answer or respond to them all, she did want to stay on his good side, so she responded every now and again. Today she’d responded to a message saying it was his travel day and he’d be in town. He wanted to see her. He said he needed to discuss something he thought would be better if they discussed in person. Clair had been an afterthought as usual.

“Maybe you could bring Clair too, and we can finally formally meet.”

Out of the question.

Addison was still holding out hope that it would never be necessary. For that reason, she agreed to meet him alone, using Clair’s still delicate condition as an excuse for why she couldn’t come along.

They were meeting at Lou and Mickey’s again. It just felt safe for the same reasons she’d explained to AJ when she’d had to come clean about meeting him the first time. It was the only good thing about not being with AJ anymore. She didn’t have to feel guilty about sneaking around, nor did she have to think about having that dreadful conversation with him again. The promise was that she’d keep him in the know if she planned on letting Fred into Clair’s life. So far it didn’t appear she’d need to. It’s why she was here tonight in hopes of negotiating.

The waitress had just dropped off her tea when Fred arrived. Addison had made her concern of being spotted very clear on the phone before meeting him. They were in one of the furthest-to-the-back and darkest booths in the place. She also made sure to get there earlier than she said she would so there’d be no danger of being seen arriving together. It had nothing to do with her not wanting this to get back to AJ.

Since the news broke about Clair being rushed to the hospital, the speculation of who her father might be started up again. It was another thing that had rubbed Fred the wrong way. AJ had since answered the question everyone was asking. His statement had been, “If that amazing little girl was my daughter, I’d be an idiot to keep it to myself. I’d want the whole world to know it.”

Fred had taken it as a jab. “That asshole’s calling me out,” he’d said in an angry message he’d left Addison.

Again, Addison had to scramble to assure him that wasn’t the case. He also suspected that AJ knew who he was. Addison assured him with all certainty that that wasn’t true either. Still, it was beginning to feel like she was losing the battle to have Fred keep his identity under wraps. She was hoping tonight she could regain some ground.

She glanced up at him and smiled as genuinely as she could. The evening was chilly and he wore a beanie, but she was sure it wasn’t because he was cold. It wasn’t that cold yet. He’d also dressed down in a black jeans and a black tight T-shirt. She’d asked him to be as inconspicuous as possible and, thankfully, he’d obliged.

The man wasn’t bad-looking by any means. Admittedly, aside from him being an up-and-coming ballplayer, it’d been initially what had attracted her to him. He’d only grown into his own over the years, filling out very nicely. She was sure it was why he’d worn the T-shirt that showed off every bit of his impressive physique.

He sat across from her and ordered a gin and tonic, making sure, as usual, it was top-shelf gin. “You look amazing,” he said as soon as the waitress walked away.

Addison took an extra-slow sip of her tea in lieu of a thank you. She’d dressed just as inconspicuously but purposely dressed down as much as she could in jeans and an old baseball T-shirt with her hair in a ponytail and baseball cap. There was nothing amazing about the way she looked tonight, and they both knew it.

“Can you please explain what it is you need to discuss with me that can’t be done over the phone?”

“There’s something I wanna show you, but I thought we could have a few drinks and talk a little first.”

“This is all I’m drinking,” she said, pointing at her cup of tea.

“That’s fine.”

“It’s not what I’m here for, Fred. I’m not here to socialize. You said you needed to talk to me. The only thing you and I have in common is Clair. She’s the only reason I’m here.”

“Why do you have to be like that?” he asked, sitting back in his seat and thanking the waitress when she dropped off his drink. “We have a kid together—”

Addison shushed him, glancing around completely annoyed. Fred laughed, picking up his drink. “You really think you’re gonna be able to keep my identity a secret forever?”

Feeling the panic sear through her, she toned down the annoyance in her words. “I’ve managed to this long, haven’t I? As long as you don’t say anything, no one will ever have to know. It’s what you’ve always wanted too, right? I’m not trying to be a bitch or anything. I just have a lot of work I need to get back to, and I need to be home for Clair. She’s still not a hundred percent, and I don’t like leaving her for too long.”

“All I’m saying is,” Fred said, sitting up, “can’t we just try being friends. Try being social? Don’t you remember you did like me once upon a time?”

He smiled at her, tilting his head sideways, the twinkle in his eyes reminiscent of the way he used to look at her so long ago. It was probably something that still worked for him with the girls, but at the moment, all Addison felt for him was disgust. Didn’t he get it? Clair was her world. She just mentioned needing to get back to her, and he still had yet to ask her so much as how Clair was doing. He was doing it again, showing exactly what the only thing he was interested in was. He’d use Clair to get Addison to agree to things like this—being here with him now—agreeing to be friends. Yet, he was too stupid to realize if he showed even an iota of interest in the most important thing in her life, his daughter, that maybe he’d have a better chance of getting in her good graces. Instead, it only made her hate him more and remind her how special AJ was.