“This looks amazing,” I said as I took a bite.
“I’d never steer you wrong when it comes to food, big brother.”
“Truer words have never been spoken.”
Hadley took a bite of her sandwich and then a sip of tea. “So, how’s the roommate situation?”
The glint in Hadley’s eyes had me straightening my spine. “Fine, why?”
She gave a careless shrug. “Oh, I don’t know. Maybe because I’ve seen the way you look at Addie.”
I set my sandwich down and took a drink of my Coke. Hell. My sister was nosier than the worst town gossip and more stubborn than a dog with its favorite bone. “I look at her like I look at everybody else.”
Hadley snorted. “Beck, it’s me. I’m not going to throw you under the bus by saying something to Mom or anyone. And I get it, Addie’s gorgeous.”
She was more than gorgeous. She was captivating. Her beauty was the kind that stole your breath, but it was the authenticity of it that held you rapt.
“Lots of women are beautiful, Hads.” The words tasted bitter in my mouth, and I picked up my BLT to try to cleanse my palate.
“Mm-hmm,” Hadley muttered. “I’m just saying I catch her looking at you, too.”
I lowered my sandwich. “What?”
Hadley let out a little giggle. “You like her.”
“Hadley, stop.”
The seriousness in my tone had the smile slipping from my sister’s face. “I was just giving you a hard time.”
“And that’s fine, but under no circumstances are you to do that with Addie. She’s gun-shy and might not get that you’re teasing. The last thing she needs is to think someone’s laughing at her expense.”
“I’d never. I like Addie. A lot. We went through a hellish experience together, and she did everything she could to help Birdie and Sage. She’ll have my gratitude forever for that.”
I scrubbed a hand over my jaw. “I wasn’t saying that you were making fun of her, just that she might see it that way.”
When the girls had been held at gunpoint months ago, Addie had tried to get Birdie and Sage to safety and had gotten shot at in the process. She’d taken a bad fall and had gotten a nasty concussion as a result. Hadley had been shot and spent weeks in the hospital. There’d been days we weren’t sure if she would make it.
I blinked a few times, trying to clear the memories of Hadley in that hospital bed from my mind.
Hadley’s expression softened. “You’re trying to protect her.”
I cleared my throat. “I’m not protecting anyone. I’m just making you aware.”
Hadley was quiet for a moment as I forced myself to begin eating again. “Why’d you come back?”
The question had me choking on a bite of sandwich and fumbling for my water to help it down. “You were shot, in case you forgot.”
“I know that. But you could’ve just come back for a visit. You loved your job. I mean, I know it was incredibly hard, but I know it was beyond fulfilling, too.”
Flashes of memory played out in my mind: someone screaming for everyone to get down, a child crying, so much blood.
I gave my head a slight shake, trying to clear away the demons. “I was ready for a change. Those medical missions can burn you out quick.”
Hadley studied me carefully, not saying anything for a moment. “You know I’m here if you ever want to talk about it.”
“I’m good. Really.” The lie almost sounded believable. I glanced at my watch. “I should go.”
“Don’t want Dolores yelling at you.”