“What about you, Addie?”
Her head popped up. “I don’t want to intrude.”
“You’re not intruding,” I argued. “I’d love for you to come.”
She sent me a soft smile. It was just like the rest of her, gentle and warm. “I’d love to see some of your skate tricks. Birdie told me all about them.”
“We’ll have to get you up on a board.”
Her smile wavered slightly. “Maybe.”
“Okay, let’s get everything cleaned up, and we can head out.”
“Ev and I will get sandwiches from the deli for lunch. Calder, can we borrow your cooler?” Hayes asked.
“I’ll get it.”
The cleanup began. Addie and I did the dishes while Shiloh and the girls cleared the table. She was quiet as we worked, but as she loaded the last dish into the dishwasher, Addie spoke softly. “I know what it’s like to have someone make you constantly feel less than. To beat you down with words. It’s the words that hurt so much more than the fists. I’m so sorry you’ve been hurting, Hadley.”
Tears burned my eyes. I couldn’t imagine what Addie had gone through. But there were hints of her story in the way she flinched if someone moved too quickly around her, and the way she always avoided being alone with any man, even those in our group I knew she trusted. I moved on instinct, pulling her into a hug.
“You have the kindest heart. I’m so sorry he hurt you. I’m always here if you need to talk.”
Addie’s arms trembled but she wrapped her arms around me. “Thank you.”
As I straightened and released her, I caught sight of Calder in the entryway to the kitchen. He cleared his throat. “You guys need anything?”
Addie shook her head, darting past him and into the living room. He strode towards me, pulling me into his hold. “You okay?”
I nodded into his chest. “We’ve all been through so much, but we’re still damn lucky.”
“I don’t disagree, but why are you saying that now?”
“We have each other. Family. It’s not all by blood, but that doesn’t matter. We have the kind of people in our lives who will always show up, especially when the chips are down. So many people don’t get that.”
Calder bent his head, brushing his lips across mine. “Love you.”
“Love you, too.” And I felt each word in my bones.
33
Calder
Our paradeof friends made their way down the sidewalk towards the park. I had a bag of skate gear for Birdie and Hadley slung over one shoulder and my other hand wrapped around Hadley’s. Everything about the moment was normal. A kind of everyday pleasure that I’d been missing, one where Hadley was mine, and I was hers.
She looked up at me as she almost skipped. “Do you care if I invite Jinx, Toby, and Calla?”
“Of course, not.” I’d always held a hint of bitterness when it came to Hadley’s other friends. They had somewhat replaced me after things had fallen apart between us, but knowing all that she’d been going through, and that I hadn’t been there to help, I should be buying them all beer.
Hadley pulled her phone out of her back pocket and typed out a text. Within a few seconds, I heard multiple dings. “They’ll head over in a bit.”
Birdie and Sage started running as the park came into sight. It was still early enough that it wasn’t especially crowded. Addie motioned to a spot with shade from a large tree that also gave us a good view of the skate park and playground. “How about here?”
“Perfect,” Hadley called. She released my hand to help Addie spread out two large blankets.
Birdie darted over to me, tugging on the bag on my arm. “I gotta gear up, Dad.”
My gaze met Hadley’s, humor lighting both of our eyes. “We’ve got all day, Birds.”