Feelings, that’s why. Fucking feelings.
“Addi, why are there so many orders today for board maintenance?” Cole’s voice is gruff and makes me cringe.
“Brock is coming by to help. I wrote you a note.”
“I didn’t see a note. Just tell me next time, so I don’t have a mini heart attack.”
I roll my eyes with my back still to him.
“Okay?” Cole snaps.
“Yeah, okay.”
“Are we good here?” Cole’s next to me at the desk, his chest heaving. What is wrong with him? He’s so intense lately.
“Yes, why wouldn’t we be?”
“Never mind. I’m heading out for the lesson at nine if you need me.”
With that, he’s on the move again, grabbing his board and bag on the way out. He pauses at the door, turning to look back at me.
Our eyes meet, and my stomach flips. Say something. One of us … say something.
Then he’s gone, and I’m left wondering what in the fuck am I doing?
A part me says pull everything. Stop helping, stop selling here.
I shouldn’t make a decision while I’m upset. I shouldn’t act rashly and let my feelings win.
The bell above the door jingles, and Aiden’s mom, Darlene, pops inside. “Addi! Hey, love!”
I’ll worry later. For now, I have work to do.
* * *
Cole
“What’s going on with you?” Brock crosses his arms and waits for my answer. “You seem off.”
I am off. I’m way fucking off. And only one reason comes to mind—Addi.
She’s inside me, underneath my skin, and crawling into every pore. A part of me craves it, wants it, and can’t get enough of it, but another part of me despises it. Makes me want to escape my own body, rip my hair out, and punch the shit out of something.
It’s driving me insane. I’m tired of fighting it, yet I don’t want to give in.
“Nothing, man. I’m fine.” I stare out at my eleven o’clock lesson, watching as they learn to swim on their boards, both away from the shore and into.
“Bullshit. You’re cranky as fuck. I thought you were getting laid all the time. Is it not good enough or something?”
I shrug. “It’s fine. I’m stressed, is all.”
“The shop? I thought things were getting better?”
“They are. But it takes time. I’ve got a lot of shit on my mind.”
“Okay, okay.” Brock holds his hands up. “I’m here if you wanna vent and get it off your chest.”
“Yooo, watch out, guys, trouble up ahead.” Jay comes up from behind us and nods his head to the right. “Finn.”