“It’syourheart now.”
“No, it’s not!” She snapped and pointed to her chest. “It will always be his.”
Hannah dropped her gaze to the floor. The tension was beyond thick in her small bedroom. They were never going to agree on this. But she couldn’t leave with this much animosity between them. She once again reminded herself of where this was coming from. Hannah was worried about her little sister.
“Hannah.” Addison waited for her sister to glance up. “You said yourself those are things, the tattoo and skydiving? They were things he wanted to do, right?”
“Yes,” she muttered.
“And you’re right. But this?” She waved her hand toward the suitcase. “Thisis somethingIwant to do. You may not agree with the decision, but you don’t get a say, Hannah. Not with this. I’m going.” Addison inhaled a breath. “We can stand here and go back and forth for the next fifteen minutes before I leave, but nothing you say is going to change how I feel or what I’m doing.”
Hannah stepped forward and parted her lips, huffing. Addison waited for the next round. Her sister shook her head and once again, opened her mouth to speak. She had more to say, but in a surprising move she clamped her lips, glanced across the room, and muttered, “Okay.”
Finally.Addison grabbed her suitcase from the bed and rolled it out into the living room next to her carryon bag. She hiked her pocketbook over her shoulder and grabbed her jacket from the hook. She’d checked the weather. It was still slightly chilly in Iowa. Her new destination would be a little warmer.
She heard Hannah’s light footsteps emerging from the bedroom.
“Is Cleo picking you up from the airport?”
Her sister knew of the trip but not the details. Addison wasn’t looking for round two and hoped simple answers would avert further discussion. This was a touchy subject, walking the line into a shaded gray area. Even Addison had her reservations about how she was handling this part.
“I’m renting a car.”
Good answer, and not a lie.
“Oh, well, when are you meeting up with her?”
Addison fidgeted with her jacket, glancing over at the stove, taking in the time. “Um, we haven’t finalized plans yet.”
“Why not?”
Gear up, sister.
Addison looked over at her sister and smiled. “Because I thought it would be more fun to surprise her.”
Hannah’s reaction was immediate. Her eyes widened, and her jaw dropped. “She doesn’t know you’re coming?” She drove her fingers through her hair. “Jesus, Addy, this isn’t something you spring on people without a warning.”
In her heart, Knox’s heart, she knew Cleo wanted to meet her. There were things she wrote, words she said during their calls. Down to her gut, Addison knew Cleo wanted this as much as she did. But there were other things Addison found disturbing. Every time they spoke on the phone, Cleo mentioned her boyfriend, Wraith, was there. A few times Addison had said hello through Cleo. It was never reciprocated. If she had to guess, he wasn’t keen on their budding friendship. He could’ve convinced Cleo not to meet her. She was just removing outsider influence from the equation.
It was selfish.I’m not proud of it.But…she wasn’t ashamed enoughnotto do it. That would be her next battle. For now? She needed to get through this war with Hannah.
“Well” —she cleared her throat— “Cleo always talks about how pretty the area is and how she’d love for me to see it.”
“That’s not an invitation, and you know it.”
Technicality.
“Look, I’m going to go and tell her I’m in the area. If she wants to meet up, great. And if not, that’s okay.”
Hannah squinted. “Is it?”
It was a concern she hadn’t voiced to anyone, including her sister. There was a possibility Cleo wouldn’t want to meet up with her. After all, she could’ve misread Cleo’s desires. Seeing Addison in person was very different from writing letters. If she got there and Cleo wasn’t ready to meet her, she’d respect that decision and wait.
“Yes.”
“Addy, I just think…”
I’m done!She grabbed her keys from the counter.
