Page 5 of Driven to Love

Addison ignored the urge to spend the day wallowing in a tub of ice cream. Not on Laney and Cade’s first joint event. She couldn’t miss it. She wouldn’t.

Flipping down the visor, she checked her makeup. Flawless as usual. She flashed her most radiant smile and smoothed any flyaway strands of hair that dared not submit to her sleek style. She locked eyes with the image in the mirror. “Game face on. And remember… it’s not the day for bad news.”

The last thing she wanted was to be a downer at her friend’s barbecue. She picked up her fruit tray, climbed out of the car, and ran a hand down her red sundress. Time to party.

She reached for the front door handle, then paused, pulling her hand back. It wasn’t only her bestie’s house anymore. For years, she’d had free rein to come and go as she pleased. But now, Cade lived here as well. No more walking in unannounced. Not that they would tell her not to, but Addison respected the lovebirds’ privacy.

She rang the bell.

Music radiated from the backyard. It grew louder as the door opened.

“Hey, come on in.” Cade smiled at her. He waved a hand at her outfit. “Love the festive look.”

Addison swung her hair, shaking her flag earrings. “Thanks. You too.”

He ran a hand down his fireworks print shirt. “Laney got it for me. She’s in the kitchen.”

She followed the sound of the blender. Laney was mixing a salad, and their friend, Marti, was adding some tequila to the blender.

“Is this where the food goes?” Addison set her stars-and-stripes fruit tray down on the counter and hugged her friends.

“Right out there.” Laney pointed to the table on the patio. Addison slipped out the back, waved to a couple of people, then made room for her tray on the food table before going back into the kitchen.

“Who wants one of my famous margaritas?” Marti poured the slushy drink into red plastic cups.

“Me. It’s been a week.” Addison took a sip. Oh, so good. She sucked down another gulp. Her eyelids dipped as she savored the flavor.

She looked up, and both her besties were watching her, concern in their eyes. Uh oh. “What?”

“I know they’re delish, but damn, girl.” Marti took a sip of her own drink. “It’s good, but not take-me-away good. At least not until the third one.”

Shoot. Her pageant face slipped. She forced a bright, toothy smile. “It’s been a day. Week, really. That’s all.”

“Isn’t it mandated that the week of the Fourth everyone slacks off in the office? If not, it should be.” Marti cut up a strawberry and dropped it into her drink.

“I’ve got plenty of slack time now,” Addison mumbled under her breath as she brought her drink to her lips.

“What? You quit?” The salad bowl clanked as Laney shifted her attention to her friend.

“No. I got laid off.” Shit. So much for not peeing on their party. She took another drink before setting the glass on the napkin.

“You’re shitting me.” Marti’s mouth dropped open.

“Sorry. Today isn’t the day for my crappy news. Forget I said anything.” She could be stone-faced if she were talking to anyone else, but not to these two. Laney and Marti were her rocks, had been since junior high. They could see through her fake smiles and glossy veneer like no other.

“Were other people laid off too?” Laney reached across the counter and gave Addison’s hand a squeeze. That one action had Addison’s chest swelling. Her friends were there for her.

“Nope, just me. They cited cutbacks, but that’s bullshit. I ran the office. I know the finances and everything else going on in that business, and it wasn’t for any financial gain.” She paced back and forth in Laney’s tiny kitchen. Anger coursed through her as she spoke. “Mr. Louis can’t tie his shoes without me. No way he can run that office on his own.”

“Maybe it’s because you helped him with more articles of clothing than just his shoes?” Marti sipped her drink.

Addison shot her friend a sideways glare. “No. I didn’t. Not anything that mattered, anyway.”

“They can’t do that, can they? Isn’t that wrongful termination or sexual harassment or something?” Laney shook her head in disbelief.

“Well, it’s not harassment since our dating was consensual. I can’t believe I thought he was a good guy.” She’d been a fool.

“Can’t you sue or something?” Laney took the glass Marti offered.