Addicted to You

by Renita Pizzitola

  “Yeah, I’ll be there. No matter what, I’ll get there.”

  I bit my lip to avoid blurting the only question pounding through my mind: Why don’t you love me? Mostly because it was pathetic, but also because I worried what his answer would be.

  So instead I said, “Okay.” Which was equally lame. I could have said that I was glad we’d get to talk or I looked forward to seeing him, but, no, I decided to basically grunt a one-word reply.

  I turned and walked to my car, needing to put space between us before I started rambling in an attempt to save face, which would probably just embarrass me more because once I gave my mouth free rein to speak, it never seemed to know when to stop.

  When I got to my car, I glanced back. I wasn’t surprised to see Colby still watching. He always made sure I was safely in my car, not that anything bad would happen in Senior Citizen Cove, but it was just the way he was. Always thoughtful.

  With one last wave, I hopped in my car, and headed home. I’d gotten my Colby fix but somehow that had only made me crave it more. It was like each little taste only fueled the need.

  But truth be told, I’d never get enough of Colby, because I was completely and hopelessly addicted to him.

  Chapter 11

  Just as I pulled into the parking lot of Eddie’s my phone chimed with a message.

  Colby: Thanks for bringing soup over.

  Me: You’re welcome!

  Colby: Hope you didn’t catch whatever we had.

  Me: I feel fine. No worries. How are you feeling today?

  Colby: Much better. Just in time to head out on the boat with Dad this weekend.

  Me: You excited?

  Colby: Yeah.

  Me: Well, that’s good. I’ve missed seeing you pull into the dock every day.

  Colby: Oh, has Eddie’s been slow without the boat bringing in the day’s catch?

  Me: It’s slow either way this time of year.

  Me: I just miss the summer. Felicity and me at the restaurant, You and Mason on the boat. It was a good summer, wasn’t it?

  Colby: It was. We had a lot of fun.

  Me: It was our last.

  Colby: What do you mean?

  Me: She’s moved away, and in a few months, I will too.

  My chest tightened as I glanced at my previous message. It was our last. Our time was running out. We’d already had our last summer together. My stomach sank.

  Colby: You don’t think you’ll move back after you finish?

  Me: I’d love to come home but it just depends where I can find a job. Port Lucia isn’t exactly full of nursing positions.

  Which was an understatement. We had one medical complex that housed a handful of doctors and a tiny hospital.

  Colby: Guess that’s true. It’s weird to think you won’t be here next summer.

  Me: I know.

  It was quiet for a moment. No response or follow-up text came through. I stared at the phone, hoping for more but not sure what to say that would continue the conversation. But then it dinged in my hand, and my mouth tugged into an involuntary smile when I saw the message.

  Colby: I’ll miss you.

  Me: I’ll miss you too, Colby.

  Colby: We’ll still hang out. You’ll visit your grandma and I’ll make a trip up there. It’ll be fun to get away and visit.

  Me: Yeah. That would be fun.

  Though I didn’t want to end our conversation, I’d be late if I didn’t.

  Me: Well, I’m heading into work now.

  Colby: Okay. Have a good day.

  Me: Thanks.

  I stared at the phone for a few seconds more, not really waiting for anything in particular but hoping for a little more of something, just the same. Finally, with a sigh, I dropped my phone into my bag and started heading inside. Just as I reached the door, my phone chimed. I dug it out while my mouth tugged into a hopeful smile, only to quickly be smothered by a very unexpected message.

  Luis: Coming to town for Grandma’s birthday.

  I stared at the message. Then typed the only reply that came to mind.

  Me: Why?

  Luis: Don’t need a reason or your permission.

  Me: Just wondered why considering you’ve missed the last three.

  Luis: It’s her 70th.

  While that was true, it didn’t mean any of the birthdays leading up to this one had been any less important. Nor Christmas nor Thanksgiving nor any other occasion he’d missed that he could’ve spent with Grandma…and with me.

  Me: Okay, when will you be in town?

  Luis: A few days before. Dad’s already made all the party arrangements so don’t worry about it.

  My shoulders tensed and I stared at the message, the words getting blurry behind the rage filling me. How dare they think they could swoop in and plan a party for someone they’d ignored for years? The occasional phone call didn’t earn them the right to pretend they cared. And to top it off, they didn’t know her interests or her friends, or hell, anything about Port Lucia anymore.

  Me: It’s two weeks away. When were you going to tell me? And Dad’s coming?

  Luis: He’s traveling and won’t make it. And I’m telling you now.

  Me: But I would’ve liked to help with the plans.

  Luis: As you said, it’s two weeks away. If you haven’t made them yet, you weren’t intending to.

  I stared at the phone, anger making it impossible to even formulate a decent response. Of course, I would have made plans; they just would’ve included a nice dinner with friends. Nothing that took months of preparations.

  But before I could even attempt a coherent response, my phone buzzed again.

  Luis: It’s taken care of. More details to follow.

  Luis: And please don’t go into one of your childish fits.

  My steam dissipated as I reined in my emotions, now embarrassed like a reprimanded child. He’d called me out and like always, it had silenced me. What Colby referred to as feisty, Luis referred to as childish. With nothing left to say, I typed a one-word response: Okay.

  What more could I say? Dad had made plans. Luis intended to oversee them. And if I complained, I’d be reminded that I was the baby of the family. Hotheaded, impulsive, and the source of our family’s problems…as Luis liked to remind me.

  Luis wouldn’t have more to say, and though I had a ton of questions about the party details, I didn’t ask. Like Dad, he enjoyed controlling things and I knew he’d tell me what I needed to know when he felt like it. There was no point in asking now.

  And here I’d thought my Colby-drama was actually worth stressing over. Leave it to my family to swoop in and really flip things on their head, which was the absolute last thing I needed to happen before work today. I was filling in for a server on vacation, but when it came down to it playing hostess was the only place I flourished.

  Most of my coworkers felt as if I’d only been hired for two reasons: my best friend gave a recommendation for me, and Eddie thought I looked good greeting diners. Thanks to those not-so-quietly-whispered rumors, it never failed that when I had to cover for someone on the floor, I screwed up. It was almost like I’d set myself up for failure, trying to prove them wrong and probably just ultimately overdoing it. I’d spend half my shift apologizing for something I’d screwed up.

  It only took an hour into my work shift to know that today was no different. God forbid I made it through one shift as a server without living up to the “all looks and no brains” stereotype. Which was just that, a stereotype, because not only did I have the G.P.A. to prove otherwise, I was also the only one here working and going to school, which was no easy task.

  “Hey, Eddie,” I called to him as he passed with a tray of drinking glasses effortlessly balanced on one hand, a skill I couldn’t even pretend to have. “I’m sure you’re getting complaints, and— well, I’m sorry.” I mean what more could I say? I didn’t have a good excuse, so all I could do was offer an apology. Wasn’t like I would or could blame stress, considering this was prett
y much how every shift as server went for me.

  His mouth tugged up in this effortlessly lazy grin he’d mastered. For a business owner, he had the most laissez-faire attitude of anyone I’d ever known. And if given the moment to chat—which he did frequently and enthusiastically—he’d talk all about his life “before.” The one where he lived in a big city and worked some boring corporate job. Then he’d tell you all about cashing in his retirement to start his own restaurant. And his story always finished with his famous last line: Who needs money in the bank for tomorrow, when there is so much life to be lived today? And that was Eddie, the man who existed in the moment and somehow made it all work. Grandma thought he was smart. Colby’s dad thought he was insane. Yet they both loved him. Everyone in town did.

  “Haven’t had one all day. You’re doing a great job.” He hiked the tray over his shoulder. “Keep it up.” Then he headed off to deliver the drinks…to one of my tables?

  Yeah. Such a great job he was covering for me. Dammit. I turned to the computer to print the check for table seven just as a customer entered. Since Eddie was off filling in for me, the least I could do was cover the hostess stand for him.

  “Hi, welcome to—Oh, hey Landon.”

  He smiled and lifted a white bakery box. “Got something for you.”

  “Oh? What’s this?” I reached for the box. “Lucy’s?”

  “Yep.”

  I opened the lid just enough to peek inside. “Oh my god, chocolate croissants. These are my favorite.”

  “Yeah.” He chuckled. “Just wanted to say thanks for the soup and stopping by the other day.”

  “Oh, no problem.” Which it really hadn’t been, considering it served completely selfish purposes. “Glad I could help a little.”

  “Well, I really appreciated it and I hope you enjoy those half as much as I enjoyed the soup.” He grinned.

  “Oh, I will. Trust me. I’ll be sure to tell Grandma and, oh my god, I can’t wait to eat one.” I practically salivated over the box.

  “Yeah, I know how much you love them.”

  I did love these croissants…and he knew that? Why did that come as a surprise? Landon was always there, almost like background noise to Colby. Had he been paying attention to me while I was preoccupied with his brother? First the flowers, which he’d totally nailed. Now my favorite treat?

  I smiled, appreciating the unexpected treat on such a crappy day.

  He returned my smile and his eyes sort of lit up. I’d always considered them a dull shade of blue, but I realized right then it was actually just that they had a lot more gray than Colby’s. They weren’t a muted blue, but instead almost a slate color, and kind of intense. Huh. Crazy—after all these years, I’d just then noticed.

  “Well, I’ll let you get back to work.” He scratched at the facial scruff he’d acquired over the last few days and added, “You should come by the bar sometime. I’m back at work tonight through the weekend. Stop by. You can keep me company.”

  “Like you need it.” I shook my head and grinned. “You’re like the epitome of hot bartender.”

  His eyes focused on me, his head cocked a bit then he looked down. “Well, yours is company I’d actually enjoy. If you want to hang out, that is.”

  “Of course! I’ll see if maybe Taylor wants to stop by with me.”

  “Cool.” He glanced up then looked away again. “I’ll see you around.”

  I gestured to the box. “Thanks again.”

  He nodded and ran his hand through his hair, looking as if he’d considered saying something more, but then changed his mind.

  He mumbled a quick bye, then disappeared out the door.

  Someone cleared their throat from inside the dining area. “Um, miss?”

  Crap. I stashed the box under the hostess stand and hurried to grab the check I’d printed. My table was probably annoyed I’d taken so long.

  I rushed over, sliding the paper into the black tray as I went. With a smile plastered on my face, I slid it onto the table. “Sorry for the wait. Is there anything else I can get you?”

  One of the two elderly women smiled up at me. “Oh, don’t you worry. I just needed a refill, but we’re in no rush.” She smiled, her eyes slightly unfocused as if lost in thought. “I remember when I was your age and my boyfriend would visit me at work. Those were the days, weren’t they, Betty?” She sighed. “Of course, he never brought gifts, yet I still married him.” She laughed.

  “Oh, he’s not my boyfriend.”

  The other woman smiled. “Well, that explains the gifts.”

  The first nodded. “I should have made him work for it.”

  “Oh, he’s not.” I offered a polite smile. “It was just a thank-you gift.”

  The women exchanged a glance, then the first one tilted her head and patted my arm. “Honey, he is most definitely working for it. Now whether or not he is successful is up to you, but trust me, the effort was there.”

  I glanced back at the entrance as if Landon would magically reappear, then shook my head. “We’re just friends…” My words trailed off for two reasons: I had no business arguing with my future tipper, and second, it was an argument I clearly wasn’t going to win. Everything in her expression was set. From her slightly raised eyebrow, to her pursued lips, to the creases pressing into her forehead, her expression screamed “Don’t be stupid.” So I did the smart thing and shut my mouth.

  Sensing my defeat, her expression softened.

  “Well, I hope you enjoyed your lunch. I’ll get you another iced tea and if you need anything else, just wave me down.” I gave them both a big smile, then darted back to the kitchen to check on my orders and grab her a refill.

  Of course, I knew she’d been wrong. Landon really just wanted to thank me for my kind gesture with one of his own. No big deal. And the invite to see him at the bar? That was just him being friendly as well. An open invitation to suggest I was always welcome. I’d done something nice; now he had too. No big deal. Right? But what was that feeling creeping through my stomach? Dread? Or butterflies?

  Regardless of which, they’d both need to be stifled since neither one had a place in my life when it came to Landon. He was just Colby’s brother…one who seemed to know an awful lot about me.

  My gaze traveled to the door again and I yanked it back to the order slips hanging above the prep window. What was wrong with me? I couldn’t even entertain the idea of Landon having feelings for me, or vice versa. That’d be…wrong. Very wrong. The Callahan boys were all off limits. Colby because he chose to be, and the other two because they’d never be Colby. And he was the only one I’d ever want…right?

  Chapter 12

  Over the next few days, I’d decided to focus on getting ahead on school assignments. Not because I had any exciting plans for, well, the rest of ever, but I had nothing better to do at the moment. Colby and I finally seemed to be back on track friendship-wise. I was trying hard not to overthink the Landon situation. And I didn’t want to dwell on the Luis and Dad party takeover either. The best thing to do was keep my mind busy with school. After all, the semester would wrap up in a few weeks and finals would be here before I knew it.

  As I sat on my bed with my laptop, working my way through a review, my phone rang, and considering work was the only place that didn’t just text, I reluctantly picked it up, having no desire to fill in for someone again. But to my surprise it was Felicity.

  “Hey!”

  “You called,” I blurted, and she laughed.

  “I know I’m the world’s worst friend lately, but the studio expansion has become a full-time job. Add in school…well, you know how it goes.”

  “That I do.”

  “So I want to catch up and hear about everything that’s been going on, but before that I wanted to say I’m so sorry I won’t be able to make it to your grandma’s party.”

  “Wait, what?”

  “Um, the invitation? Nice, by the way. A text would’ve sufficed,” she teased, “but this is very impressi
ve.”

  “I didn’t send it.”

  “Oh. Um, was I not…”

  “No, I mean of course I want you there, but I’m not the one who planned the party.”

  “Oh, that makes sense, your grandma has so many friends—”

  “My dad.”

  “Your dad?”

  “Yep. Out of nowhere. Decided to plan it all. And, to be honest, I have no idea how he even got your address.”

  “Wow. So will that be weird, considering you haven’t seen him in what…two years?”

  “He’s actually not coming. Off on business. He’s sending Luis.”

  “Oh.” She got quiet, knowing my relationship with my brother was even more strained than the one with my dad.

  “So you mind filling me on the details of the party? Because I don’t know any of them.”

  “Isla…I’m so sorry. And I’m sorry I haven’t been around more for you. Here you’ve been going through all this—”

  “I slept with Colby.”

  “Wait, what?”

  “As in sex.”

  “Yeah, I figured as much, but why don’t you sound happier about it?”

  “I thought it was good but it completely screwed up our friendship and it took weeks to repair and it’s still a little awkward and now Landon keeps giving me gifts.”

  “Okay, Landon? You kinda lost me.”

  “Welcome to my world.” I sighed and stared up at the ceiling. “I feel like my life is playing out in front of me and I have no control over where it’s going next and it all started with the night I slept with Colby.”

  “Well, let’s start there. How did that go?”

  “It was amazing. Great. Hot. Everything I’d hoped for. I can’t stop replaying it in my mind. And call me crazy but I think he might have felt the same way, but he’s so damn hot and cold. I don’t know what he wants.”

  “Typical Colby. Never really one to take charge.” She made a little sound of annoyance then asked, “And what’s this about Landon giving you gifts?”

  “He bought me flowers one day, chocolate croissants from Lucy’s another. He’s always had a good justification, but, well, some customers thought he was my boyfriend. Or trying to be.”