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Jessica smiled. “I do know. And Mr. H? How’s all that going?”
Addie hesitated before leaning in close and resting her chin in her hand. “It’s going—oh my God—beautifully. He’s just—I don’t know—everything I’ve ever wanted. It was rough after it all happened, you know. I mean I wasn’t sure whether I was making the right decision, starting a relationship with such a complicated man, especially because it’s all so different—being with him, I mean. But then while I was recovering, I realized that I made the best decision of my life, besides my children. These past few weeks have been incredibly hard and, still, somehow beautiful at the same time. He lost a real friend in Carl and he’s hurting. Plus, he’s dealing with his own recovery as well as mine too. Well, it’s just been a lot, but he really took care of me, and I let him. I guess I just gave into it. It’s crazy, but we’ve learned so much about each other in the past few weeks. And, fuck, the sex is amazing. I mean considering our injuries, both physically and emotionally, it’s been a little tricky but so beautiful. I mean it has always been amazing with him, but damn. There. Are. No. Words. For. It. He’s like a bad addiction, and I just can’t get enough.”
“Damn, girl, you’ve got it bad.” Jess winked. “I told you from the beginning that you were in so much trouble with that one.”
Addie beamed. “I know you did. And I am. But, you know, I think the key is to not completely lose myself the way I did in my marriage. It would be so easy to do it with him too. I just won’t let it happen though. He either loves me for me, or he doesn’t and that’s it. I’m not giving up what it is that I want any longer. And so far he seems to get that. I mean coming with me on this trip was all his idea. I thought he was crazy, but he really wanted it. He’s so goddamned smart about it all too. The way he thinks . . . His business acumen . . . I mean I never get tired of finding new things to love about him. It’s funny too because, well, obviously he’s been ultra-successful, but he doesn’t make me feel inferior about any of it. He asks my opinion about things, and he listens. He doesn’t shove opinions down my throat, either. He lets me come to my own conclusions about things. I don’t know. It’s all just so different. And the boys . . . They really like him. He’s so good with them. I mean so, so good. It’s a little scary though because I watch him with them, and I think about what a great father he’d make. I mean we haven’t talked about it or anything, but I just don’t think I want any more children.”
“You might change your mind.”
Addie sipped her coffee. “I don’t know. I’m not so sure.”
Jess shifted and lowered her voice. “What about his issues and your issues? How are you guys handling that? I can’t imagine giving him what he needs is easy.”
“You know we’re kind of handling it our way. I give him what he needs, and somehow, he just senses what it is I need. It’s a pretty adventurous learning curve; I’ll just say that. We’re vanilla when we want to be, but there’s not much that’s off limits, and it’s nice. I think the way we see one another is somehow making us able, or at least teaching us, to finally see the truth about ourselves. Kind of like a mirror, I guess.”
Jess furrowed her brow and downed the last of her coffee. “So you think you’ll ever marry him?
Addie snorted, choking on her coffee. “No. I don’t think so. I’m not sure getting married again is in the cards for me. Right now I’m just taking things one day at a time. We’ve . . . Well, he’s talked about it. He’s asked, but I keep saying no, and although he keeps asking and I keep saying no, I think he’s content with that. I’m not going anywhere, and I don’t think he is either.”
“Well, you’re going somewhere.”
Addie leaned back and took her friend in. “I’m going to miss you so much, Jess. I’m gonna miss our little dates. Sure, maybe we’ll Skype them from now on, but it won’t be the same.”
“No. It won’t.”
Addie raised her cup and pointed it in her friend’s direction. “I love you, Jessica. Here’s to friendship, to us, and to going somewhere and nowhere all at the same time.”
Twenty
