Emi had already begun to head to the ladies’ room. Isaiah took off in the opposite direction and Addison followed Emi.
“I’m cornering that girl first chance I get her alone,” Emi said, once inside the ladies’ room. “I’ll be the first to admit relationships can start off complicated.” Before Addison could high five her and give her an Amen sister, Emi added, “You and AJ seem to be the exception, but I’ll give Kelli that much. Only Nathan has two sisters. Why is she asking Isaiah for advice? She must not know Nathan too well. Word of warning,” she said as the line to get into a stall moved slowly. “My husband is probably the only guy in this family now who might have the patience to hear his girl is secretly seeking the advice of another man, even if it were his own brother. The only reason I’ll be keeping this from Nathan is because I don’t want any tension between my brothers, especially not because of her.”
When they were finally done and on their way back to meet the rest of the gang, Addison was still pondering one part of Emi’s haughty little speech in the ladies’ room. Sure, her relationship with AJ had started off pretty much without a hitch, but it was far from uncomplicated. As much as she loved AJ now, one thing would never change. Clair came before anything for her.
She’d suspected, even before she met AJ and thought things might move forward with him, that any relationship she ever had would be complicated because there were certain things she was adamant about. While AJ accepted the fact well enough in the beginning that she’d never share about Clair’s dad with him, she was beginning to think otherwise as things got more serious.
Emi was absolutely right about one thing, and Addison had figured as much even before getting to know AJ. The longer she was with him, the clearer it was his patience was as short as his fuse, especially when it came to someone not being entirely forthcoming. It worried her because he’d made a few things all too clear. It was just a matter of time before his feelings of entitlement grew to him demanding to know everything about his girl. Addison was willing to tell him everything he needed to know, but there were some things she’d be drawing the line at.
That’s when she was certain things would get complicated.
~~~
The rest of the evening went beautifully well with no more drama. Kelli didn’t run off or anything as she had the last time they’d been in Los Angeles. AJ even won an award. He dedicated it to his siblings, to whom he attributed his getting where he was, adding that there was nothing he wouldn’t do for them because he owed them the world. He also thanked Addison’s dad—his mentor—also adding that he owed him for so much more than just what he’d taught him in the time he’d known him, and smiled at Addison.
“You know I would’ve thanked you too, but I figured there’s going to be enough hype about us arriving together, our holding hands all night, and the fact that I can’t stop doing this.” He leaned in and kissed her softly as they danced on the dance floor at the award-show after party. “Not to mention how much you know they’ll be blowing up the confrontation between that asshole Bigsby and me.” The sudden glare in his eyes softened as something else seemed to come to him. “You may have a lot of explaining to do already when you get back to Clair.”
“I’m sure she’s already guessed as much; she’s so sharp-eyed. I wouldn’t be surprised if she’s figured out that I’m holding out on her and just waiting for me to come clean.” Addison smiled at him, running a finger over his lips. “It’s probably time, anyway, to let her in on us. I get the feeling she won’t be against it at all.”
“Us,” he whispered against her lips. “Why does that excite me so much?”
Addison smiled big, feeling like she might burst. It was still so hard to believe that AJ Romero was in love with her, despite all her imperfections. She’d always known her being a single mom might be a deal breaker for a lot of men, but especially so for someone like AJ, who had such a vast choice of young single women with no baggage. Not only had it not been a deterrent for him, he acted as if Clair were a bonus. He loved his little Clair Bear, and there was nothing disingenuous about it. She saw it in his bright eyes when he was around Clair.
It almost scared Addison how quickly and perfectly everything had come together for them. “It excites me too, but it also scares me a little,” she said, her words making him pull back a bit.
“Why?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know. All of this just feels so perfect. Too perfect.”
AJ frowned for a second then smiled sweetly. “Aren’t you the one who’s always telling me to think positive?” She smiled back, nodding. “It feels perfect because it is perfect. Just go with it.” He must’ve seen the apprehension still, so he nodded. “Okay, I can understand how that might be easier said than done. I’ll admit I was a little scared in the beginning. I kept thinking getting involved with you was a risk for several reasons. It might ruin my friendship with your dad and Clair, and that would ultimately affect my career. I thought it in the beginning, but I know so now. There is no way”—he shook his head, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath—“no way I’d be able to continue to be around your dad or Clair if you and I weren’t together anymore and I might have to see or hear about you with someone else.”
Her eyes widened. This wasn’t helping. She didn’t want to worry about the possibility of him leaving the Padres or, worse, baseball because of her.
“I promise you, if that ever happened, I’d move back to—”
“It’s not gonna happen,” he insisted, kissing her nose. “Come here.”
The swanky Hollywood party they were attending was on one of the more famous rooftop bar/banquet halls in the area. They strolled around the side, taking in the spectacular views of the city’s skyline, until they found a private cozy sitting area overlooking West Hollywood.
“Wow,” she said, taking it all in as AJ pulled her closer to him.
Addison leaned against his firm body. She couldn’t remember when the last time was she’d felt this safe—loved. At the moment, she felt truly blessed, and she hated the lingering troubling thoughts that still plagued her. Too good to be true.
“I have a confession I’m gonna make to you that feels wrong in so many ways,” he said, instantly grabbing her attention. “But at the same time, it finally has me believing in Fate.”
One of the young ladies walking around with trays of wine and champagne glasses stopped by their sitting area to offer them some. They each took a glass, thanking her. Addison turned back to AJ, beyond curious about his confession.
He took a sip of his wine then continued. “I don’t know what it is, Addison, but it’s like everything I’ve done in life led me to you and Clair. I was thinking about this one of the nights I was alone in my hotel room, watching television. Some guy being interviewed said something that made me think of something I heard often several years back. That everything happens for a reason. The guy on TV was asked if he could go back and change anything in his life what would it be? He said he wouldn’t change a single thing about his past, good or bad, because everything he’d gone through in life was part of his destiny. He was content with how everything turned out, and if he went back and changed even the bad, he might not be where he’s at now.”
He stopped and looked out at the view again, but Addison could see he wasn’t admiring it. He was pondering what he’d just said. Then he turned back to her, his expression almost a remorseful one.
“If my mother hadn’t been murdered, I might not be here with you tonight.” He shook his head. “No, I know I wouldn’t be here because I would’ve never moved here from Dallas, and you would’ve never seen the local news article about the brawl I’d had during my finals in high school.”