“I didn’t realize I was being rude,” Bigsby said with a big fake stunned expression, bringing his hand to his chest. “My apologies—”
“You’re always a rude asshole, and you know it,” AJ said, taking a step forward and well aware that they were turning heads now.
“Hey, AJ.” Someone touched his arm, and only then did he realize Nathan had followed him, but he lifted a hand before his brother could attempt to talk him down. It was too late for that now.
AJ got even closer to Bigsby’s face. “If I ever see your arrogant ass get in my girl’s face like that again, I don’t give a shit what you’re asking her. I will knock you on your fucking ass. You hear me?”
Just like the many times he’d exploded on someone in middle and high school, they were already surrounded by nosey onlookers. Only in this case there were cameras flashing left and right. Bigsby started to say something, still smirking smugly, though AJ could see he’d not only embarrassed him, but AJ’s “my girl” comment had rattled him. For a moment, it rendered the guy who normally had too much to say speechless.
Coach Lara was there now with Nathan and Sabian stepping in between them and trying to disperse the crowd. Another man who appeared to be about coach’s age was talking to Bigsby now as the two were separated even further.
“Don’t say anything,” Coach said as AJ grudgingly accompanied him and Addison through the crowd. “Too many cameras are filming every bit of this.”
When they were finally far enough away from anyone who could hear them, the coach turned to AJ. “The guy’s been drinking,” he started to say.
“We all have,” AJ countered, unwilling to give that asshole even the slightest benefit of the doubt.
That short confrontation had AJ’s adrenaline and heart pumping so hard still he may well have buried his fist in the guy’s face like he’d felt like doing.
Lara nodded. “But you know he’s an ass even when he’s sober.”
AJ shook his head. “Doesn’t get him off. I see that shit again—”
“I think he knows that, son.” Lara smiled, tapping AJ’s arm. “Just calm down. It’s over now. I seriously doubt he’ll be doing that ever again.”
Between listening to Lara and then having to explain to his siblings why he’d nearly lost it with Bigsby, it was a while until he could get Addison alone. But first chance he did, he got right to it. “What else did he say to you?”
“Nothing else,” she assured him. “He’s being audited and I guess he’s worried.”
“You don’t know him like that, do you?” he asked, searching her eyes. “For him to just barge up to you like an idiot and get in your face the way he did?”
“Not really.” She shook her head. “I mean my dad did train him once upon a time, so I’ve known him for years, but he’s never done that. My dad’s right, babe. I smelled the alcohol on him the moment he was in front of me. He’s a jerk even when he’s sober. The alcohol just—”
“Promise me you’ll tell me if he ever does something like that again,” he said, taking a deep breath. “I don’t care how drunk he is. That’s no excuse. I put up with a lot of shit from his pretentious ass on the field, but I’ll be damned if I’ll let him disrespect you like that. So promise me you will if he ever does again.”
“I promise.” Her touch, as she caressed his face softly, once again had the power to settle his still-flustered insides.
The room had begun to empty as the commencement of the awards show approached. Addison said she wanted to use the ladies’ room before the show started. Emi was quick to say she’d go with her. They headed there slowly. AJ glanced around when he noticed Isaiah wasn’t with them but Lola was. “Where’s Isaiah?”
“Men’s room,” Lola replied with a smile.
It was only then that AJ noticed something else. He was almost afraid to ask, but he turned to Nathan anyway. “What happened to Kelli?”
“Ladies’ room,” Nathan said, noticeably irritated that AJ would be asking again.
Nathan didn’t bother looking at AJ either. Instead, he turned to Addison as they reached the hallway where the restrooms were. “Sweetness, can you do me a favor and see if she’s still in there?”
Addison nodded as she let go of AJ’s hand. “Sure.”
The moment she was far enough AJ turned to Nathan, even more annoyed with him now because he could’ve just as easily asked Emi for the favor. “Sweetness?’
His idiot brother smirked then laughed, sticking one hand in his pocket and scratching his chin with the other. “God, you’re easy.”
Chapter 18
Addison
Addison and Emi strolled down the hallway, chatting about their dresses and all the other celebrity athletes there. Addison tried to be as cheery as Emi, but she was still beyond annoyed about the scene that not just her dad had gotten dragged into but AJ’s entire family had been witness to. How dare that drunk jerk! She was so lost in her infuriating thoughts she didn’t notice Emi had stopped until Addison was a few steps ahead of her.
“Isaiah?”
Turning in the direction Emi was staring at the double door entrance to what looked like a banquet room of some kind, Addison saw Isaiah push himself away from the wall he’d been leaning against and grab his crutch. Kelli, who stood talking to him, had her back to them but turned to see who’d called Isaiah’s name.
“Nathan was looking for you, Kelli,” Emi said with that same chilly tone Addison had heard on AJ earlier and in the past when referring to Kelli. It was irritated, suspicious. “You’ve been gone a while.”
“Yeah, I had to use the ladies’ room then make a call,” Kelli said as she, too, started toward Emi and Addison. “After the call, I ran into Isaiah on the way back and got caught up talking.” She motioned in the direction where AJ and Nathan were waiting. “Is everyone still inside the cocktail party?”
“No,” Emi said, like AJ making no qualms about showing her distaste as she sized Kelli up. “They’re all just out in the hallway, waiting for us.”
Kelli nodded. “Okay, thanks,” she said then started on her way back alone.
Isaiah didn’t go with her. Instead, he waited until she was far enough before turning back to Emi and Addison with a frown. “Do me a favor,” he said more to Emi than Addison. “Don’t mention that to Nathan.”
“What?” Emi asked, glancing in Kelli’s direction then back at her brother. “Why? What’s going on, Isaiah?”
“Nothing’s going on.” Isaiah turned to Addison now.
Even the bruising and scratches on his face didn’t do much to take from his chiseled good looks. He and his brothers all shared that same intense stare when they were serious. The same one staring at her now. “As finicky as AJ’s been about her, I’d appreciate if you don’t tell him either. It’s nothing. She was just asking for advice. Her relationship with Nathan is a complicated one, but she asked me not to tell Nathan she’d come to me. Even that would irritate AJ.”
“If that’s all it is,” Emi said, before Addison could respond to his request, “I won’t, but I’m just gonna go on the record now. I’m with AJ on this. I don’t care for her either, Isaiah. There’s something about her that hasn’t sat right with me ever since that first day he brought her around.”
Addison wouldn’t comment on that. She felt bad that she knew a little more about Kelli than any of them, but this was beginning to feel weird, and she did not want to be in the middle of it when she still didn’t know enough. All she could hope was that tonight was just a one-night friends’ thing as Nathan had implied earlier. Then she’d never have to mention what she knew.
“I won’t say anything,” she said and smiled when Isaiah winked at her and mouthed the words thank you.