Page 56 of Driven to Love

It had been so long she’d totally forgotten the words. She dropped her head into her hands.

Her mom always told her to talk to Jesus when she needed him. He’d be there. Well, here goes nothing.

“Jesus. Hi, it’s me. Addison.” She shook her head. “Shit, like he doesn’t know it’s me.”

She slapped a hand over her mouth. “Sorry about the swearing. Let me start over.”

She cleared her throat and focused on the cross. “It’s been a while. And I don’t have a right to ask you for help, but I was running by and” —she rolled her eyes— “sorry. Let’s start again.”

She ran a hand through her hair, pushing back the strands that had escaped her ponytail, and exhaled. “It’s been a rough couple of weeks. I lost my job. Partly my fault. I see that now. But at least I stopped things with Mark before they went too far.”

Did she get brownie points for that? She sucked in a breath before continuing, “I’ve had some crank calls. Hangups. Those didn’t bother me so much, but they’ve gotten worse. And you know…” She blinked back the mist clouding her vision. “I’m scared. Not just because of the weirdo trying to freak me out. No, it’s Nash.”

There. She’d said it out loud, and the roof didn’t collapse. “After waking in his arms… My feelings for Nash Steele scare the ever-living shit out of me.”

She slapped her hand over her mouth. “Sorry. I need to stop swearing.”

“That’s okay. Jesus has heard worse, and so have I.” A figure moved from the shadows. Betty from the diner stepped into the light.

Addison almost peed her pants. “Were you there the whole time?”

“Yes and no. I was in the choir loft, practicing. When I heard you praying, I didn’t want to disturb you.”

“I should be going.” Addison stood and rushed from the pew into the welcome area.

“See you later. By the way, today’s lunch special is pulled pork and slaw. It’s Nash’s favorite.” The woman winked.

“Thanks.” Addison bolted from the church. She’d be lucky to get back to Nash’s and pick up her cat before Betty spread the new gossip to half the town.

Her phone rang. This time, she clenched her jaw before opening the message. Her breath whooshed out at the sight of Marti’s name.

She tapped a reply. Girls’ night tonight?

“You have a lot of explaining to do.” Marti stood on the doorstep, one hand on her hip, the other holding a bottle of wine.

Well, shit. The news was out. All of Gray Duck Grove probably knew by now that she’d spent the night with Nash. She flagged her friend inside and closed the door. She peered through the shiny new windowpane. Nash had demanded her key at lunch so he and Cade could replace the pane. It was his stipulation to her moving back home.

“I heard from Mr. Wilson at the Farm and Fleet.” With her free arm, she pulled Addison in for a big hug. “I want all the details, but not yet. Laney texted. She’s on her way.”

“Mr. Wilson knows?” News traveled fast and wide in town. Addison shook her head as she took the wine to the kitchen. The doorbell rang as she popped the cork free from the bottle.

“I got it. I hope she brought cookies.” Marti sprinted to the door and was back a moment later. Her brows elevated. “You have a guest.”

“Hey, nice house.”

“Corey? What are you doing here?” And how do you know where I live? She’d been careful to meet him in a public place. Addison made it a rule never to share her address until the third date.

Except for Nash. But it wasn’t really a date. She’d been blowing off steam.

Just keep telling yourself that.

“I texted earlier to see if you wanted to catch the game down at the bar?”

“I must have missed it. So, you tracked me down?”

One jersey-clad shoulder shrugged. “It wasn’t too hard. My mama’s bestie lives two doors down. She knew you.”

He told his mom about me after one date? Well, shit. Sometimes Addison forgot how small Gray Duck Grove really was.