“Before you almost fell into the pool.” My hand squeezed her hip reflexively. “You said I was right. What was I right about?”
Her shoulders sagged. “It was a mistake,” she admitted, dropping her gaze.
My whole body tensed, and I silently vowed to make that prick pay for hurting her.
Her eyes flashed to mine. “Todd didn’t hurt me,” she clarified. “You don’t have to kill him. I just…It wasn’t?—”
Tears filled her eyes. She turned her face away, fixing her stare on the edge of the pool.
Her next words came out so quietly, I knew exactly how much they cost her.
“I wanted to believe it didn’t matter, but I was wrong.”
Her voice broke, and I tightened my hold on her. Pulling her into my chest, I tucked her head under my chin. As she buried her face, I pressed a kiss to the crown of her head.
She hiccupped a quiet sob, her tears seeping into my white dress shirt as she fought to hide them.
“Hey, it’s okay,” I whispered into her hair, the words heavy on my tongue as I hugged her tightly. “I’ve got you, Addie. You’re going to be just fine.”
Her fists tightened their grip on my shirt, and the urge to find Todd Weebly and beat the snot out of him anyway coursed through me.
Regardless of what she’d said, she was here, upset. He hadn’t given her what she deserved. He hadn’t seen?—
Guilt prickled beneath my skin.
I tipped her chin up, searching her blue-green eyes for license to pummel the little shit. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find it.
And on some level, I recognized that my anger wasn’t about him. I just didn’t care. That idiot hadn’t realized what he held in his hands, and he fumbled it like a bad pass.
Just like I’d called it.
Fucking tool.
But our argument before prom forced me to draw a steadying breath.
Addie didn’t need my misdirected anger at Todd right now. That hadn’t protected her from this. I wouldn’t let it keep me from giving her what she needed right now.
“Do you want me to take you home?”
Her brow furrowed. “But…your date. Your entire night. I don’t want to ruin it.”
“Not possible.” I waved off the concern. “I was ready to go anyway.”
She didn’t seem entirely convinced, but after a quick glance at the hotel, she nodded, resting her head back against my chest. “Yes, Blake. I want—Take me home, please.”
My heartbeat raced over her words, and I took a deep breath to settle it, holding onto that thought and her for one more minute.
Once I got to my feet, I pulled her up with me. We grabbed our shoes, and I led her to my truck in silence. With one hand on the small of her back, I unlocked the cab and helped her climb inside, making sure her dress wasn’t caught before I shut the door.
As I walked around to the driver’s side, I shot a quick text to Adam.
Addie stared out the window the entire drive home, her mind racing over how her night had turned out. Every fleeting and painful emotion etched into her expression, as if she’d written each one there for me.
I wanted to ease them all, especially her sadness. As I stole careful glances at her out of the corner of my eye, I hated that I couldn’t.
When we pulled up to the house, Adam waited under the porch light. Addie waved at him before turning back to face me.
“Not tonight.” I answered the question in her eyes. “I’m expected at the house tomorrow, and if I stay over, I—” My grip tightened on the steering wheel reflexively, but I forced a smile, not wanting to add my worries over the time between now and then to her plate. “I’ll see you all soon for the big day.”
