8

ADDIE

Manic’s father never arrived.

He was supposed to fly down with another member of the Smith clan, but Hank told us Frank called and said he wasn’t coming, but not why, and he’d had no message for his only son.

I watched Manic with his cousins across the room. He was smiling, laughing at something Tucker said, but I could see the disappointment in his eyes. He’d come all this way to see his dad, and the guy hadn’t bothered to show up.

I was angry on his behalf.

Birdie and Riley stood beside me, and Freya handed us another round of beers and a juice for herself.

“Are you having a good time? You look awfully serious. We haven’t scared you off already, have we?” Riley asked.

“No, not at all. I’m having a great time.” I really liked these women. Hanging out and having a few drinks with them was a lot like being with my friends in Rocktown. They’d welcomed me with open arms. I’d been so nervous when we’d arrived that I hadn’t realized I’d been gripping hold of Manic’s shirt until he’d put his hand over mine. But being around families, especially happy ones like this, was usually a trigger for me. Thankfully, so far, I’d been okay.

I was positive Manic was the reason for that.

Still, I couldn’t help but feel guilty that we were lying to everyone. It didn’t matter that I’d never see any of them again after we left tomorrow.

Riley followed my gaze. “I can’t believe Frank didn’t show. He’s talked about it more than once since he knew Levi was coming home, and considering he’s a man ofveryfew words, that’s the equivalent of a normal person talking your ear off.”

“Levi’s disappointed,” I said. “He’s trying to hide it, but I can see it’s hurt him.”

“It sucks when family let you down,” Birdie said. “But he has you. You guys are great together.”

My belly fluttered. We were great together, but none of it was real. And he wasn’t mine. The music changed to a slow song. Beau came over and swept Freya onto the makeshift dance floor. Tucker picked up Beau and Freya’s three-year-old twins, Charlotte and Baxter, one on each bulging bicep, and they flung their arms around his neck and giggled as he spun around the dance floor.

Manic was still talking to Hank and Cash, and he was doing a good job of hiding how he felt, but I could see the truth. I knew what I wanted to do, and for once, I wasn’t going to second guess myself. I put down my beer, walked over to him, and slid my arms around his waist. No, he wasn’t mine, but everyone here thought he was, and comforting him felt like the most natural thing in the world.

He looked down at me, stare intense as he curled his arm around my shoulders. “Hey, baby.”

I smiled. “Dance with me?”

His lips curled, then he put his beer on the table and let me lead him out to the dance floor. He pulled me into his arms, and I hugged him to me tight, pressing my head to his wide chest, and we started swaying.

Manic gave amazing hugs. He was also wonderful to slow dance with. I was totally taking advantage of the whole fake relationship thing right now, and I didn’t feel bad about it.

He pressed his mouth to the top of my head. “Thanks for coming with me, Adds.”

I tilted my head back. “Surprisingly, I’m glad I came as well…not that I had much choice.” He said I’d agreed to come with him, but I wasn’t so sure. I’d started having a few flashbacks of us talking in his truck and had no memory of that particular conversation. Granted, my memory was still hazy, but surely, I would have remembered something like that. I should be mad, but I couldn’t muster the emotion. For whatever reason, he’d chosen me to be here with him while he tried to mend bridges with his dad, and I was glad.

Except his dad hadn’t shown.

His eyes danced. “So you admit it? You’re happy I kidnapped you.”

“It’s called Stockholm syndrome.”

He threw his head back and laughed.

I felt it rumble through his chest and I couldn’t look away. “I’m sorry he didn’t show.”

Manic’s grin slipped a little and he shrugged. “Didn’t get my hopes up. I know better.”

I didn’t believe that for a moment. “You’re a pretty awesome human being. He’s the one missing out.”

He gave me another of his quick, hard kisses, and I didn’t want him to pull away. I wanted to keep on kissing him. Nothing I said would make him feel better, but I could distract him from how he was feeling, and that’s exactly what I planned to do for the rest of our time away.

Tags: Sherilee Gray Romance
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