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I gasp and grab Aiden’s arm. “Give me your phone,” I demand. I hold out my hand, and he stares at me, motionless. “Now!” He takes out his phone and slowly puts it in my hand then pulls back quickly like he’s afraid I’m going to bite him. I scroll through his contacts to Ava’s number and hit send. I squeeze my eyes shut. Please be wrong. Each ring that she doesn’t answer I feel my heart skip a beat. On the fourth ring, she answers.
“Hi, Aiden.”
“It’s Addison. Please, please, tell me it’s wrong,” I plead. Aiden looks at me with his brows furrowed.
“I guess you heard,” she murmurs into the phone. I drop my head into my hand. This can’t be happening. Not now. “Addison, I’m working on getting it booked somewhere else. I will fix this.”
Tears start to burn my eyes. Words escape me. When Aiden asks me what’s wrong, I just shake my head. He grabs the phone from my hand and puts it to his ear.
“Ava, what’s going on?” I can’t hear what she’s saying, but I know. I saw it. That’s why I tripped. The Boathouse is closed. I knew something like this would happen.
“Okay, let us know what you find out. I’ll make a few calls, too.” They hang up and Aiden stands over me, running his hand through my hair.
“Sweetheart, we’ll find a different place.” I look up at him with tear-filled eyes.
“It’s two weeks away,” I whisper. My voice shudders. Aiden bends down and puts his hand on my thigh. “And now this…” I point to my foot.
“It’ll be okay, Addie. I’ll go get you some ice,” Lexi says, hopping out of my lap and being extra careful not to hit my leg.
“That’s a good idea, Tater Tot. Let’s take Addie upstairs.” He picks me up the same way Jake did and carries me to my apartment, setting me down on my couch. Lexi runs to the kitchen and fills up a bag with ice. She brings it to me and her bottom lip is out, pouting.
“I’m sorry you got hurt, Addie. I can kiss it and make it better,” she says. I chuckle.
“Thanks, sweet girl, but I’m all dirty. How about you just give me a kiss. It’ll still make me feel better.”
She leans over, kisses me on the cheek, and then hops up on the couch next to me, snuggling close. Aiden pulls the coffee table closer to the couch and props my foot on a pillow on top of it. When he puts the ice on it, I jerk at the coldness.
“Shit. That’s cold,” I snap. I feel Lexi giggle next to me.
“It’s okay…you’re hurt,” she says. Aiden and I laugh. She’s getting more lenient with the swear jar the longer she’s here. She’d never let me have a hall pass before.
“What did Ava say happened?” I look up to Aiden.
“The storm last night made the roof collapse. They’ll be closed for at least a month.” I lean back against the cushions and wonder how the hell we’re going to change everything last minute.
I squeeze my eyes shut. “Maybe we should postpone the wedding.” My stomach twists saying it, and I don’t want to open my eyes to see Aiden’s reaction.
“Hannah, can Lexi come over?” My eyes fly open when I hear Aiden’s voice. He’s obviously not talking to me. “Thanks,” he says and ends the call.
“Hey, Tater Tot. I need to talk to Addie. Hannah is going to come get you. I’ll come over and get you in a little bit.”
Her little lips twist, worrying about me. “Are you going to be okay, Addie?”
“I am, Lulu. You go have fun with Hannah. I’ll be here on the couch all day, so we can hang out later, okay?”
Her smile brightens and she jumps off the couch. She loves hanging out with Hannah, especially when they play makeup and hair. A knock at the door has Lexi running toward it. She hops on each foot, waiting for Aiden to open the door. As soon as she leaves, Aiden comes and sits on the couch where Lexi was.
“Do you trust me?”
I dart my head in his direction. “Of course, I do.”
He picks up my hand and traces his finger on the inside of my palm, remaining silent for a few moments. It tickles so I squeeze my hand into a fist around his finger. His gaze meets mine and his expression turns serious. “We’re getting married on April 29, Addison.”
I chew the inside of my cheek. “But—”
He puts his finger on my lips. “Trust me?” I nod. “Don’t worry about anything except getting that ankle better.” My chest rises with my deep inhale. I lean back and deflate, blowing it out.
Stupid ankle. Stupid rain.
