Page 40
After seeing her change in attitude earlier when Mom asked about her mom, Liz, I have to wonder what’s going on there and is that the reason that she’s putting the brakes on things with us? I’ve thought about it most of the day and I can’t, for the life of me, think of a reason why anything going on with her mom would affect us.
Tucker closes the door and stomps over to where I’m sitting in the Adirondack rocking chairs Dad built for Mom a few years back and sits next to me. He hands me a soda and I take it from him, not bothering to open it. I’m getting anxious to get out of here and back to Addy.
“So, we just gonna sit here or you gonna tell me what the fuck you think you’re doing?”
“Come again?” I ask, looking over at him with a surprised look on my face.
He sighs and leans forward, propping his elbows on his knees as he levels a glare at me. “I love you, brother, you know that but you’re making a huge fucking mistake with Addy.”
How in the hell does he know about Addy and I? Although, I guess it makes sense since he hid a relationship from people for over a year. Hypocrite.
“You’re going to have to elaborate.”
“Look, if anyone understands, it’s me but you can’t do this. You can’t string a girl like Addy along. Trust me because I almost lost D forever because of my shit. You gotta give her everything.”
I blink in shock before laughing. I laugh so hard that my stomach aches, and Tucker just glares at me the entire time. Finally, fed up with me, he huffs and stands but I grab his arm to stop him.
“I’m sorry. It’s just you’ve got this all wrong.”
He eyes me for a second before sitting back down. “How ‘ya figure?”
“I’m not the one keeping things a secret, Tuck. In this scenario, Addy is you.”
Understanding crosses his face and he nods, looking across the yard as he takes a sip of soda, deep in thought. “I thought I recognized that look in her eyes but I convinced myself that I was seeing things.”
“What look is that?”
“The look of someone running like hell from shit they don’t want to deal with.”
I nod, releasing a heavy breath. I have to admit that not knowing what’s bothering her but fighting against this faceless enemy is starting to wear on me. “Yeah, that sounds about right.”
“You got any idea what’s hauntin’ her?” he asks, and I shake my head.
“Naw, no clue. You got any sage advice for me?”
He huffs out a laugh and shakes his head. “Sorry, man, I don’t. Other than just being there for her and hoping that she figures it out before it’s too late. That’s what Daisy did, and I hurt her for a really long time before I wised up. Just hope that Addy doesn’t take that long.”
I let out a tired sigh and scrub my hands over my face. “Yeah.”
“Is it worth it?” he asks, watching me carefully.
I nod, looking over at the man who has always been a brother to me. “She’s the one, man.”
He grins and slaps my back. “Then you fight for her. No one is more stubborn than us Harringtons when we want something. Poor girl doesn’t stand a chance.”
“Yeah,” I mutter, wondering just how I’m going to accomplish that.
“Speaking of… I’m going to ask Daisy to marry me.”
I sit back in my chair and grin at him. “Well, it’s about damn time.”
He scoffs and takes another sip of soda. “Shut the fuck up, man. You know better than anyone the shit I had to work through to be able to do this again.”
Damn right, I do. That was a dark time for Tucker, and I remember picking his limp, drunk body up off the floor more times than I care to admit.
“Well, at least you know Daisy’s a sure thing.”
His eyes widen, and he turns to me with an angry expression. “Are you trying to fucking jinx me?” he spits out, and I can’t help but laugh.
“Since when have you been so superstitious?”
“Since I have everything to lose,” he mutters, and I know all too well what he’s talking about.
