“Isn’t that where you’ve been staying?” The bathroom in there was killer with its massive shower and spa tub.
Addie shook her head. “I’ve been staying on the other side of the house. The room with the blue walls.”
That room was nice, peaceful even, but Addie should have this room. “Are you sure you don’t want to take this one? I can take one of the others.”
Her fingers twisted together into some sort of knot. “It didn’t feel right to stay in there.”
“This is your home now. You can stay wherever you want.”
“I like the blue room. It reminds me of what I think the beach would feel like.”
My back teeth ground together. I’d been to six of the seven continents on this planet, seen most of the seven wonders of the world, and Addie hadn’t even seen the ocean. It made me feel like an ungrateful asshole.
“We should go some time.” The words simply tumbled out before I could tug them back. “All of us,” I hurried to add. “The Oregon coast is beautiful any time of year.”
Her fingers squeezed tighter together. “Maybe one day.”
“Sure.” I hated the promise of one day because I knew tomorrow was never guaranteed.
The doorbell rang, and Addie jumped. “I don’t think anyone has rung the bell since I’ve lived here.”
Her words had my heart breaking a little for the woman across from me. I set my bags on the bed in my new bedroom and returned to the landing, giving Addie the most reassuring smile I could muster. “I ordered pizza for us on my way over.”
“Pizza?” She said it like a question.
I froze on the top stair. “Have you had pizza?”
Her face flushed. “Yes. I had it at a slumber party with Hadley, Everly, and the twins. And once with Ev.”
She’d had pizza twice in her life? I wanted to deck her father. “You like it?”
Addie followed me down the stairs, making sure to leave space between us. “I do.”
I opened the door, and a teenage kid grinned up at me. “Beckett Easton?”
“That’s me.”
“Here you go, sir. Just ne
ed you to sign the receipt.”
I signed the slip of paper balanced on the box, leaving a healthy tip. “There you go.”
The kid’s eyes widened. “Thank you.”
Addie moved to her bag, hanging on a hook by the door. “Let me get you some money.”
“You’re not paying for pizza. I owe you at least a hundred pizzas for letting me stay here.”
“It’s your brother’s house,” Addie said softly.
I inclined my head towards the kitchen. “It’s your house now.”
“I don’t pay rent, Beckett.”
“So what? Neither do I.”
“You’re Hayes’ brother.”