Change of Hart(84)

When we pulled onto Addison’s street, I was surprised to see only one camera in front of the house. That was gonna make it a lot less stressful once we got to the door. It was also going to make that one cameraman’s day when he was the only one in the country to get a shot of Sara and me entering Addison’s house together.

After pulling in the driveway, I took a deep breath and pulled on the car handle. “Let’s go.”

Sara followed behind me quickly, keeping her sunglasses on and her head low. Not that it would have made much of a difference right now.

I knocked and waited.

No answer.

So I knocked again. “Addison, open the door. It’s me.”

No answer again.

I knocked a third time. “Addison, I know you’re here, ok? Your car is parked in the driveway. Open the door, babe. I need to explain. It’s not what you think.”

Still no answer.

I was about to beat the door harder when it flew open and Jaxon yelled my name. “Jason!” he said, jumping into my arms. As soon as his arms wrapped around my neck, I felt my breath hitch and tears start to form behind my eyelids as I held him tight. I loved this little boy so much and the thought of losing him broke me.

“What are you doing here?” a calm voice asked from across the room. I looked up to see Mick glaring at me and clenching his hands into fists. To say he was pissed would be an understatement.

“Hey, Mick,” I said, not letting Jaxon go. “I didn’t see your car outside.”

“That’s because it’s at my house,” he said dryly. “I had to drive her home after the party last night when some of our guests started seeing pictures of you in some compromising positions with your lady friend here.” His head nodded toward Sara. If it were possible for him to be even madder, when he realized Sara was the woman in the pictures, that threw him over the edge.

“My mom’s been crying all day,” Jaxon said to me. I squeezed my eyes shut when he said that so he wouldn’t see my guilt. And so I wouldn’t see his accusing stare. In all actuality, he probably didn’t even realize what was going on. But I just couldn’t look at him. “She didn’t even cry this much when my dad died.” And I was officially gutted.

“I know, bud,” I said softly, finally opening my eyes to look at him. “But I’m gonna fix it, ok? Your mom thinks some things happened, but they didn’t. And I’m here to make sure she knows it and isn’t sad anymore, ok?”

“I don’t know what you think you need to say, Jason,” Addison said softly, standing next to Mick. “I get it, ok? It hurts, but I get it. I just don’t get why you had to bring her here.” She gestured toward Sara. “It’s hard enough seeing you right now. Did you really have to bring her to twist the knife in my heart more?”

Addison looked awful. It was painfully obvious that she had been crying for hours. Her eyes were red and puffy and her face was splotchy. She was wearing sweatpants and, ironically, one of my old practice jerseys. I don’t think I had ever loved her more than in this moment, when she was wearing her broken heart on her sleeve. She swiped away a few tears from her face as she tried to control her breathing.

“See, Jason?” Jax said in my ear. “I’ve never seen her this sad.”

I gave him a half-hearted smile and put him down while Sara closed the door behind us. “Hey bud, I really need to talk to your mom about some grown-up stuff so we can get this worked out, ok?” I said, bending at the waist and resting my hands on my knees. He nodded. “You can really help us out if you go hang out in your room and play until we come to get you. That way no one has to worry about ya. Can you do that for me?”

“Ok.” I ruffled his hair as he walked past Mick and Addison and down the hall.

“Babe, I need you to listen to me,” I said, taking a step forward. She took a step back. “It’s not what it looks like. It’s not the same thing.” I wanted to rush toward her but part of me was afraid she’d just run away. The other part of me was afraid Mick would make good on his promise to kick my ass if I ever hurt her.

“Answer me one question,” she said quietly.

“Anything, babe,” I said desperately. “Ask me anything and I’ll tell you the truth.”

“Did you spend the night at her house last night?”

I didn’t hesitate. “Well yes, but . . .”

“There’s no but. That’s all I needed to know,” she said, turning toward the hallway.

Mick or no Mick, I took off after her this time. “Wait, Addison,” I said, grabbing her by the shoulders and stopping her in motion. “Ask me if I had sex with her last night.”