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.
Chapter 16
AJ
Since the day Clair first mentioned overhearing Addison talking to her dad, AJ had casually asked her a few times if she had again. It’d been over a month now, and each time, to his relief, she’d said no.
The fact that Addison had now let her parents in on their relationship made accepting the fact that she might still be in touch with her ex occasionally a little easier. He didn’t like it, and he certainly didn’t like her keeping anything from him, especially something like this. But for Clair’s sake and because of Addison’s obvious abhorrence of the guy, it made her keeping in touch with him less maddening.
Clair was right. Addison was also one of the smartest people he’d ever met. If she was, in fact, still talking to him on occasion, she probably had good reason. Whether or not this guy had never wanted anything to do with Clair, the guy was still her father. He did have rights. It worried AJ to think maybe after all these years he’d changed his mind about wanting to be in her life. From the short description of the chat Clair had overheard her mother having with this guy, it sounded like he was trying to convince Addison that Clair might need him in her life after all.
It was as alarming as it was frustrating. He hated to think this guy might start harassing Addison. Maybe it was her reason for staying in touch and not just telling him to go to helclass="underline" to avoid the guy getting spiteful. She had mentioned on more than one occasion that she’d do anything to protect Clair. Her reasoning for not wanting anyone to know the identity of Clair’s dad seemed mostly out of pride. But it did make sense that, just like she still wasn’t ready to tell Clair about their relationship, whatever she might be keeping from everyone could be to protect Clair as well. Protect her little heart from her deadbeat dad possibly blowing into Clair’s life and getting her all excited about finally having a daddy, only to have him change his mind and disappear on them again.
AJ hadn’t even considered something until just then. The idea of Clair’s dad blowing into their lives again terrified him now, not just because he’d hate to have to deal with him in Addison’s life again, but because, like with Addison, AJ’s heart had since claimed little Clair too. He had often daydreamed now of how nice it would be when they were finally a family for all the world to see. Clair would someday be his stepdaughter, only he’d never use the word step when introducing her to anyone. Not once had it occurred to him that he might have to feel possessive about Clair. But he sure as hell did. He’d be damned if he’d stand around and have some deadbeat asshole who never wanted anything to do with her show up one day and make any claims on his little buddy. AJ hadn’t thought it possible that he could hate the idea of Addison still talking to her ex more than he already did, but damn it, this just shot it up a few major notches.
It’d been a long hot day, and they’d had double header in Houston, coupled with an extended evening of lovemaking. Now that Addison’s parents knew about the relationship, they were doing their part to give them more time together. Addison’s uncle and aunt lived in Houston, and they’d brought their granddaughters to the second game. Then they’d taken the kids to another Galaxy Pizza-type restaurant. Addison had opted out, using her work again as an excuse for needing to get back to the hotel. As usual, she’d been nervous about Clair going to a restaurant she wasn’t familiar with because of her food allergies.
She’d checked and double-checked with her parents and Clair that they had an extra EpiPen handy just in case. She’d even called the restaurant ahead of time and spoken with the manager to make sure they didn’t use peanut oil and few other things Clair was allergic to.
After their first round of fabulously exhausting lovemaking, when they were both lying there still basking in the glow and catching their breath, she’d practically jumped off the bed when her phone rang. Later she’d texted her parents several times to make sure Clair was still okay. So when AJ woke to an empty bed, it didn’t surprise him to hear her in the other room on the phone.
He sat up, smiling when he looked down at his ready-to-go cock, despite how spent they’d both been when they passed out earlier. The instant recall of what had them so spent had everything to do with the further rise of what was already at attention.
AJ got off the bed, anxious to be near Addison again, but at the same time slightly concerned that everything might not be okay with Clair. He picked up his own phone to check for any missed messages as he sauntered out into the front room of his suite.
Addison’s anxious whispered words, “Because I can’t talk to you right now,” had only begun to register when he did a double take at the text message from Nathan.
We’ve been trying to get a hold of you. Isaiah was rushed to the hospital. He’s in the ICU. We’re all at the hospital now. Call me ASAP.
His heart was pounding instantly as he quickly scrolled through his other messages from both his sisters. All they knew was that his brother had been out on a call at work—a fire—when the roof of the structure caved in and Isaiah was caught in it. That news only furthered the panic of what he was already feeling.
Rushing back into the bedroom to start packing his bag, he hit speed dial. “How is he?” he asked as soon as Nathan answered.
“We don’t know anything yet,” Nathan said, but he was clearly as anxious as AJ felt. “The captain said he was one of the guys on the roof when it caved in. It took them a few minutes to get in, find them under the rubble, and pull them out. He was unconscious when they found him.”
Addison set foot in the room just as AJ pulled his pants on with Nathan still on the phone. She watched, the alarm in her eyes growing, as he rushed to put the rest of his clothes on, still getting information from Nathan.
“I gotta go,” he said as soon as he was off the phone. “I won’t make tomorrow’s game. Isaiah was hurt on the job. He was rushed to the ER. I don’t know if he’s gonna be okay. I gotta go home. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be” was her immediate response as she brought her hands to her face.
He was still rushing around the room, his heart going a mile a minute as he threw his things in a bag, the dread of his brother not being okay building with each moment. “Fuck!” he muttered as he zipped the bag. “Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!”
Flinching at Addison’s unexpected touch, he turned to face her, wrapping his arms around her the moment she caressed his face, and burying his face in her neck. She hugged him tight, surprising him with her words. “I’m coming with you,” she whispered in his ear. “It’s gonna be okay.”
He inhaled deeply, even more surprised at the emotion he felt just from her touch. “He’s gotta be okay.”
“He will be,” she assured him. “Think positive, okay?”
AJ nodded, pulling away to look at her. “What about Clair? What are you telling her?”
“The truth,” she said with a weak smile. “That you have a family emergency and I’m coming with you for support.” She smiled a little bigger. “I think she’ll be glad I’m going with you. She knows how close you are to your siblings.”
He wrapped his arms around her again, amazed at how just holding her could bring him such comfort. Her coming with him would absolutely make the nerve-wracking trip so much better. The reality sunk in just then. Addison and Clair had slowly seeped into his heart and soul in a way no one ever had. Everything in his life seemed so much brighter now with them in it. Addison had a way of making him feel calm even at a moment like this. He needed her in his life now. It was as frightening a thought as it should’ve been exhilarating. Only it wasn’t quite so because of the emotion he was feeling about his brother being hurt. Still he breathed in even deeper, so glad she’d be there with him.