Addison wasn’t sure how it would play out, but clearly they had not been happy with her being there. It was best to keep her distance if she wanted to maintain her relationship with Cleo.
As promised, they were getting together again today. She checked the time. She had about forty-five minutes until Cleo arrived. She’d taken a shower and gotten dressed by the time she walked out to her kitchen for coffee. Addison still had to run out to grab breakfast for the two of them before Cleo arrived. Plenty of time.
Cleo had invited Addison to her house again, but after last night’s scene, she’d texted Cleo asking if she wouldn’t mind coming over to Addison’s rental. Cleo eagerly obliged without question. Addison got the distinct feeling that aside from being a natural people-pleaser, Cleo would do anything to make Addison comfortable.
She was taking her first sip of coffee when the doorbell rang. It caught her off guard, and she glanced up at the clock on the stove. It was way too early to be Cleo. She placed her mug on the counter and walked to the door, opening it slightly.
Um, I guess it’s not too early for Cleo.
Addison widened the door.
“Good morning!” Cleo’s smile was unsure. “I know I’m early, but I didn’t want to be late. As I pulled up, I realized that Birch is only a twenty-five-minute ride from Killcreek, and I was very early. I would’ve waited in the car until ten, but” —She sucked in a breath and lifted a cooler bag— “The casserole has to stay warm, otherwise it gets soggy. But if you want to take it and pop it in the oven at three hundred, I’ll go wait in my car until ten.”
By the time Cleo stopped talking, Addison’s mind was spinning. The woman had barely taken a breath. Cleo was unlike anyone she’d ever met. Addison had a lot of acquaintances, but not many close friends. It was her own doing. She’d always had a large group of people she’d hang with, but once she got her diagnosis, the number declined significantly. It wasn’t on them. Everyone had been very supportive, but Addison needed herspace, and in the end alienated most of her friends. Even now almost three years after the transplant, she kept to herself a lot.
Cleo offered her the bag. “Do you want to take it?”
Addison blinked, realizing she’d been in a daze for the last minute, and quickly snapped out of it. She grabbed Cleo’s wrist, chuckling.
“I’m not going to make you wait in the car for the next half hour.” Addison tugged on her arm, and Cleo followed her inside.
“I don’t mind.”
Addison closed the door, smiling at Cleo. “Well, I do.” She eyed the cooler bag and led her into the kitchen, setting the oven at three hundred. “It smells amazing. I feel bad I was only going to run out and get bagels.”
“Oh, I brought bagels too. And donuts. I didn’t know what you’d like, so I brought some of everything.”
God, this woman is too sweet.
“Well, for future reference, I like everything.”
And thanks to you, Cleo, I even like sushi now.It had been on the list she’d given Addison nine months ago. It wasn’t necessarily on Knox’s, but Cleo mentioned she’d pleaded with him to try it, and he’d agreed. But he never got the chance. Addison was in a similar boat. While she wasn’t a picky eater, sushi had never appealed to her. Until now.
Addison grabbed another mug from the cabinet for Cleo’s coffee while she unloaded the bag of food. How many people did she think would be here? There was enough to feed ten hungry adults.Should I be expecting more visitors?Her mind went straight to the encounter from the night before.
“So um, everything work out okay last night?” Addison grabbed her coffee, eyeing Cleo at the table. Cleo’s body stiffened, but when she turned around, she had a huge smile. Too big. It was suspicious.
“Oh yeah, everything’s fine.”
Liar.
Addison slowly nodded, waiting on Cleo to elaborate. She didn’t. After Addison made Cleo coffee, they sat in the living room. Cleo dominated the conversation with small talk while Addison silently took everything in. She was still curious about what happened after she left Cleo’s. But she couldn’t blatantly ask. She’d wait for an opening to segue to that subject.
“The rental is nice.”
Addison glanced around the room. “Yeah, it’s decent. Originally, I was looking for something in Killcreek to be closer.”
Cleo snorted. “Not much happens in Killcreek and they definitely don’t rent out houses.”
Addison cocked her head. “But you rent, right?”
“Oh yeah, but that’s different. I live on Grizz’s property.”
Addison assumed Grizz lived in the big house.
“Is Grizz part of the club?”
“No, but he’s like a” —she looked up at the ceiling— “close friend.”
