Addicted

by Claire Adams

  "That's a lucky guy you're with. He knows that right?" He moved closer.

  I released him and pushed at his chest. "He knows. Get out of here before I have to pull out some of my self-defense moves on you."

  "Yeah, cause that makes me want to leave," he laughed.

  "Night, Kade. See you tomorrow at the wedding." I turned and jogged up the stairs feeling good. I dropped down on my sister's bed and let out a long, girly sigh. "That was fun."

  "You seemed to really enjoy Kade. Why are you so dead set on being with this other guy? Because it pisses Mom and Dad off?" She moved up beside me and propped her head up on her hand.

  "No." I looked over at her. "Because I like him a lot. I want him in my future."

  "Really? Maybe you should borrow my dress and get married tomorrow. That would be a win-win, for me and you." She tried to smile, but her expression saddened. "I want to love someone like that."

  "Like what?" I reached over and brushed her hair back from her face.

  "In a way that I didn't care about what it meant to be together or what it cost. That strong bond between two people that nothing could break, least of all the pressure of their parents." She rolled onto her back. "I don't know if I can do this tomorrow."

  "Then don't." I moved onto my side. "You'll miss out on the greatest adventure you could ever have."

  "Fending off Mom and Dad?" She smirked.

  "No, silly. Being in love."

  Chapter 29

  Tate

  I'm not sure I could have been any more nervous about going out to meet up with Val at her parents’ place. I was a grown man, and yet felt like a wayward teenage kid as Sam and I walked through the department store at the mall.

  "Dude, I can't thank you enough for saying you'd go with me out there today. I honestly feel like I'm going to barf." I reached for a white button down shirt and held it up to my chest. "Yeah? No?"

  "No worries, man. You know that I'd never leave you out to dry. Besides, I almost want to see if these rich bastards are going to act like trash in front of their wedding guests. I can't imagine that Val's father is going to be able to hold back his anger at seeing you."

  "Yeah, you're not helping, at all." I put the shirt back on the rack and growled before tugging at my hair. "Maybe I should just tell her that I can't make it."

  "Tate, you know she needs you out there. Stop acting like that. We need to get your clothes and get over to the Gamma house soon, though. We have about two hours before we need to be in our seats at the wedding. Hurry up." He leaned against a rack of jackets and gave me a look.

  "Alright, well help me find something. I've never worn one of these monkey suits before." I checked the price tag and almost passed out. "What the fuck? This is insane. I'm not spending that much on an outfit I'm going to wear once."

  "You'll wear it a lot more than you think you will." He pulled out his wallet as I lifted my hand.

  "No, I'm paying for whatever we end up getting." I shook my head and moved away from him.

  "Fine, but my mother sent this hundred dollar gift card to this place. She got it at Christmas from my grandma and doesn't want it. They won't give her anything but store credit, which does no one any good, right?" He laughed and moved up beside me, pressing the card to my chest. "Take it. I have plenty of suits."

  "Alright, fine, but tell her that I said thanks. I'll come over and tell her myself soon." I found a black suit that didn't look too terribly bad. "What about this one?"

  "They're all the same. Just get one, try it on, and let's get the fuck out of here." He picked up a dark gray shirt and handed it to me. "This would look good, and that black tie over there."

  "Shouldn't I wear white?" I walked over to the tie rack and grabbed the tie as a stiff-looking guy glanced up from the register and gave us a look of open annoyance.

  "Can I help you two?" His voice was almost as condescending as his glare.

  "Nope. We're just looking, but when we start buying, you can take our money. That sound good?" I lifted my eyebrow and tilted my head just a little.

  The guy swallowed hard and glanced back down, mumbling his agreement.

  "How do you do that?" Sam whispered as we walked to the dressing room.

  "Do what?" I walked into the hallway, trying to ignore the anger that fluttered in my chest over the clerk's attitude.

  "Make other guys almost shit themselves."

  "It's the tats," I called behind me before walking into a dressing room. "You should get some."

  "Fuck, no."

  I laughed and tried on the suit, liking it quite a bit. I walked out and Sam glanced up and gave me two thumbs up.

  "You riding with us over to the wedding or taking your bike?" He stood after I changed back into my jeans and sweater.

  "My bike. I'd almost feel naked without it." I shrugged and put the clothes on the counter. "Besides, I need to make a good first impression, right?"

  He chuckled. "And, what message are you hoping to make by riding your bike up to their fancy house with all their friends around?"

  I glanced over at him. "The one that says, 'fuck you,’ big and loud. The bastard threatened me and my mother. Just me being there is enough to tell him Val's mine. Period."

  "Okay." Sam lifted his hands in the air as if surrendering and backed up a little. "I should call ahead and tell them that Billy Bad Assis headed their way."

  I laughed. "Keep it up, funny boy, and I'll tell the pretty girl whose panties you're trying to get into that you sleep with the closet light on."

  "She already knows." He poked my side. "She sleeps with it on, too. Ask me how I know."

  "Oh Lord." I rolled my eyes, paid for my stuff and walked out next to my best friend as he dove into every intimate detail of having slept with Lucinda. Some part of me wanted to shut him up, but I couldn't. He felt like he'd found his match in life. I understood his excitement all too well.

  *

  I changed at home and walked into the living room about thirty minutes before I needed to get on the road.

  My mom glanced up from the couch where she was reading and smiled.

  "Wow. Don't you look incredible?" She got up and fixed the collar of my shirt before brushing her hands down the front of my chest. "You're going to be okay, right? They're not going to hurt you?”

  "Mom. They're rich people with a chip on their shoulders, not axe murderers." I smirked and pulled her in to a hug. "I love you. Don't wait up."

  "Okay, but please text me and let me know how you're doing throughout the night. I know you're a grown-ass man and all, but please...or have Val do it. She won't mind." She touched the side of my face. "I love you, too. Be safe."

  "Will do. Lock up and don't answer the door." I walked to the door and glanced back at her. "See you tomorrow."

  "Get out of here and stop stalling." She dropped back down on the couch, and I left her cuddled up with her book as I jogged through the freezing cold. It seemed like winter was never going to relent.

  Val's sister had to have an indoor wedding. There was no way anyone would be able to stand out in the cold for more than a few minutes without having icy fingers and toes.

  I started the bike and pulled on my helmet, suddenly worrying about my own extremities. I tugged a pair of gloves from my pocket and zipped up my jacket before taking off to Val's parents’ place. I had the address on my phone, but I'd seen the beautiful mansion a few times on some of my long rides through the city and surrounding countryside.

  There was a comfort in knowing that Sam and Val's closest friends would be out at the wedding before me. It was like being welcomed into a crowd of people that I sort of already knew without having to stand alone and pray for the night to be over.

  I drove a little slower than I normally would, but I couldn't help it. Trepidation sat heavy on me as I pulled up and parked my bike beside a large line of overpriced cars. I locked it down and glanced up to see Val's father standing on the front porch, staring at me with malice on his face.
/>   "Fuck," I mumbled under my breath and pulled my helmet off. "Time to get this shit over with."

  I walked toward him with my chin held high and my eyes locked onto his. "Mr. Scott."

  "Tate. I'm a little surprised to see you here today, and yet I realize that men like yourself cling tightly to any hope for a better day tomorrow than you've had today. You're not getting a penny of my money. Not a dime." He shrugged and crossed his arms over his chest.

  "Why in the world would you think I want your money? I've never had money. I wouldn't know what to do with it in the first place." I smirked and moved past him into the house.

  That went much better than I thought it would.

  I heard Valentine laughing before I laid eyes on her, but when I did, my heart almost stopped in my chest. Her dress shimmered slightly and fit her beautifully. She was in the middle of her friends, and one of them must have alerted her to my presence, because she turned around.

  "Damn," I mumbled and let my eyes run down the length of her. The dress was tight around her narrow waist and accentuated her breasts beautifully – almost too much.

  "Tate." She walked toward me and reached for me.

  "Hi, baby." I slid my arms around her and pulled her in for a quick kiss. "Your dad was waiting for me at the door, but hopefully that was the only run-in we have to have tonight."

  "Doubtful, but I'm glad to see you alive and not bloody." She nipped at my lips before rubbing her nose by mine. "You look so good."

  "Me? Naw. You look incredible. Tell me that we can have some fun later in that dress. It's not rented, is it?" I raised my eyebrows and worked hard to keep my hands on her waist. I wanted to touch every part of her and crawl up under her dress to see what color her panties were.

  She laughed. "It's mine. We can do anything you want to do. There's a cabin about ten minutes north of here on my father's extended property. I went up there this morning and got it ready for us. Don’t tell anyone, though… My parents would die if they knew we were using it."

  "Oh, yeah? I like it already." I stiffened as someone behind me cleared their throat.

  "Valentine, did you want to introduce me to your friend? The two of you seem to be quite close, seeing that you're pawing at each other in the middle of my living room in front of everyone." Her mother was an older version of Val and honestly stunning. The tight expression on her face and pinched sides of her pretty green eyes made her less than she could have been, but I could see the resemblance.

  "Of course. Mom, this is my boyfriend Tate." She slid her hand down my back. "Baby, this is my mother."

  "Hi, Mrs. Scott. It's nice to meet you." I didn't extend my hand because the woman had yet to look at me. I wasn't there, but it didn't matter. Val and her mother were in the middle of some serious shit, and I was only going to be support. I only prayed that they wouldn't have a huge blown-up and ruin some part of her sister's wedding.

  "What about Kade Jones? Your date with him last night wasn't what you expected it to be?" Her mother tilted her head a little and lifted her eyebrows.

  Every muscle in my body stiffened at her words.

  Val seemed to notice as she moved closer to me.

  "It wasn't a date, Mother. You tried to set me up with him, but we simply talked about Tate all night long." Val shrugged. "I told him that I was in love. I'm not interested in anything or anyone but the man next to me."

  "I don't approve." Her mother took a step toward us aggressively as her voice rose.

  "And, I don't give a fuck." Val moved in front of me, her shoulders square and voice low and ominous.

  "Hey," I moved in between them, forcing Val's mother to look up at me. "We can have this nasty conversation later. Today is all about Val's sister, right?"

  Her mother's lip lifted in a grimace before she grunted and turned, leaving us to stand there with all eyes on us.

  I turned around and pulled Val into a hug, kissing her several times to try and remind her that everything was fine.

  "I didn't go out with Kade. I would never do that to you." She touched the side of my face as tears filled her pretty green eyes.

  "I know that, baby. I trust you. Completely." I touched the side of her face and wiped at her tears. "No crying, okay?"

  "Okay." She let out a sigh and pressed her fingers to her eyes. "I just hate her so damn much."

  "I know, but after tonight, we can leave this place and never come back." I glanced up the stairs behind her to see a girl who I assumed was her sister. "I think your sister wants you."

  She turned and looked up at the pretty brunette bombshell with panic in her eyes who mouthed, “get up here.”

  "I'll be right back. Stay with Sam and our friends." She kissed me quickly. "Don't let my parents get you alone. They might try and eat you alive."

  "Stop worrying, silly." I laughed and moved into a group of familiar faces.

  Chapter 30

  Val

  "I can't do this." My sister was pacing the floor as I walked into her bedroom.

  The rest of the guests were waiting on the back patio where my dad had rented large heaters that were affixed to the underside of the roof. It would be an outdoor wedding in the middle of the winter because my sister wanted it.

  "What?" I closed the door behind me and turned to face her. The last thing she'd said the night before as she drifted off to sleep was that she did care about Bart and wanted to see if they could make things work. Now, she was freaking out.

  "I can't do this." She turned toward me and stopped. "I'm not going through with it. Sneak me out of here. Now."

  "Allison. Let me just go down there and tell Dad that you're not coming. I'll figure out what to say, but-"

  "No!" She moved toward me, and I almost flinched. Her eyes were wide with something like terror and I felt a chill run through me. My poor sister was cracking.

  "Okay. Tell me what you want and I'll do it. I'll do whatever you need me to do. I'm here for you." I reached out and gripped her arms tightly.

  "Go downstairs and tell Bart that I'm sorry, but I can't do this. Then sneak out the back and get me the fuck out of here." She reached up and pressed her hands to her mouth. "No, I can't run. Then what?"

  "Allison." I gripped her tighter. "Are you running because you don't love Bart or because you're just freaking out?"

  "Neither. Both. Fuck, I don't know." She pulled out of my hold and started to pace the floor again. "I'm not ready for this."

  "Then we put it off while you figure out what you want. Marriage is a big deal." I jerked back as she spun around and pinned me with a stare that our mother would be proud of.

  "I fucking know that." She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "I like Bart, a lot. I'm not sure about love, but how do you know if you really love someone, anyways?"

  "Sis, listen to me. If you have any doubts about this, then let's not do it." I walked across the room to her again and pulled her into a tight hug. "How about we fake you being sick? Like you have the torrential shits or something?"

  She laughed loudly and nodded. "Yeah. Maybe that's the answer. If we could just put it off for another hour or so..."

  "Alright. Stay here." I turned on my heel and walked to the door, pausing before I walked out. "You're going to have to fake being sick. Mom's going to come up here. You know that."

  "Right." She moved to her bed and dropped down. "Just forget it. I'm a horrible liar. We'll just do it. I'll get a divorce in a few months if this doesn't work out."

  "Allison." I opened the door and shook my head. "Just fake-"

  "No. Just get things ready so I can get this over with." She glanced down at her hands which were shaking horribly. "Just promise me that you'll never marry because they want you to. Promise me."

  "I'd never, and you don't have to, either." I hovered in the doorway as my heart broke for her.

  "Yeah, I do." She glanced up at me, her composure almost back in place. "It's okay. I have a way out. This isn't a ball and chain. I'll see what happens. If I s
till feel this way in a few months, then I'll just file for divorce."

  "Promise?" I hated the way the conversation was going, but she wasn't going to relent now that her determination was set in stone. She was too much like our father for that.

  "Yes. I love you. Thank you for being the sane one among us." She smiled sadly. "You look beautiful in that dress."

  "You do, too. If you change your mind, I'll have Tate drive his bike up in the middle of the ceremony and steal you away. Sound good?" I wagged my eyebrows at her.

  "Please. Do it." She laughed and shook her head. "Get out of here before I change my mind yet again. I'm good."

  I turned and closed the door behind me, passing my mother on the stairs. She acted as if she didn't even see me, but I was used to it. She was the master of ignoring people when she was upset.

  I walked down the stairs as my eyes found Tate. He looked incredible in his black suit and dark gray shirt. He was every bit the man I wanted in my life, for the rest of it.

  He glanced up and a smile pulled at his lips as his eyes met mine. He licked his lips subtly and moved through the crowd to wait at the bottom of the stairs for me.

  "Everything okay?" He extended his hand and I took it.

  "Not really, but my sister seems to be trapped at this point." I moved into his arms and breathed in deeply. "Let's just hope this thing goes off without too much of a ruckus."

  "Oh, yeah? Someone causing more fireworks?" he chuckled.

  "No, just my parents forcing her to marry someone she's not really in love with." I shuddered. "I can't imagine that."

  "I wouldn't do it." He glanced around as the wedding coordinator walked up a few stairs and announced that it was time for everyone to find their places. People started to move toward the patio, and Tate released me. "I'll see you after it's all said and done. Everything is going to be okay."

  "I hope so." I smiled at him and turned to see Kade walking toward me.

  "Tate," Kade called out as he moved up in front of me. "Hey, man. I wanted to tell you what a great girl you have here. She's classy, beautiful, and everything a man with a good heart could want. You're a lucky bastard."