Chapter 18: Property Dispute

I fall back onto Addison’s couch, utterly exhausted.

What a day. What an endlessly long day. It all started when Hannah came knocking on the Rat & Raven. Then there was the big argument, my chat with Laetitia, and a loooooong time spent driving away from—and then back to—Robin’s Brook. And what did I find when I came back?

A big surprise party! For me? Why? I don’t understand why everyone took me returning so seriously, but regardless, it was fun. Tiring, but fun.

I’m glad it’s over now, though. Don’t get me wrong, I really appreciate how welcome they made me feel, and I always adore spending time with Rey (and her friends), but I’m equally excited to be finally lying down on Addy’s couch, done with the day’s events.

Well, not completely done, it seems. Addy’s just finished brushing her teeth, and she walks into her living room wearing her usual pajamas—a pair of sweat shorts and an oversized tanktop. It doesn’t matter; she’s stunning no matter what she wears. My gaze lingers on her bony shoulders, her toned muscles, the ink running down her arms, and…well, look, this tanktop leaves almost nothing to the imagination when it comes to Addy’s breasts. 

“Long day, huh?” Addy says with a smile. I can tell from the weariness in her eyes that she means it for both of us, not just me.

“Too long. But not so long that we can’t hang out for a bit, if you’re up for it.” I can’t say I don’t have an agenda here. I have questions that need answering.

“Of course,” she replies. I scoot over so she can take the cushion next to me, and we sit in silence for a minute before she puts her toes in the water. “Hey, I just wanted to say…I’m really glad you’re back, but I’m sorry if having all those people over was a bit overwhelming.”

It’s nice of her to say. If I said it wasn’t overwhelming, it’d be a lie. But the truth is, I really appreciate what she did for me. So I shake my head fervently. “No! I had a lot of fun. I’m sorry we didn’t get to talk much. I was pretty much surrounded by Rey and her friends most of the night.”

Addy smirks her lovable smirk. Every time she wears that smirk, I want to kiss her until it grows into a full-fledged smile. It’s like an instinct. “Don’t worry. I had enough to deal with anyway, plus it was good to have some time to decompress with Val after that town meeting.”

“I wanted to ask about that.” I clear my throat and just go for it. “Rey said it was some kind of property dispute?”

Addy grimaces. “Something like that, yeah.”

I take one of her hands between mine. “I wanted to say that I meant what I said earlier. I’ll do anything and everything in my power to help the Rat & Raven. Just say the word. Anything.” 

“You shouldn’t make promises like that so carelessly, you know,” she says, pulling away. “Promises have power. Especially here.”

I blink. “What’s that mean?”

“It means…just…” she sighs. “Just be careful what you promise.”

“Doesn’t matter. I have no intent of going back on my promise to you,” I say. “You took me in when I was at my lowest. I owe you more than you can imagine.”

Addy reaches out and runs her hand through my curls. I can’t help but lean into her palm. Is there something more going on here? Does she feel what I’m feeling? This burning in my chest? This pull, magnetic, between us? I have to know. I have to.

But I say nothing. I just sit there as her hand slides down to my cheek. I glance up into her hazel eyes and realize just how deeply she is staring at me. For a fraction of a second, time hangs still. I can see my face reflected on the surface of her eyes and I am sure she can see the same. I don’t think I’ve ever gazed this deeply into somebody’s eyes before. It feels like ages before I finally look away, cheeks flushed. 

“So…tell me what I can do to help?” I finally break the silence. I’m eager to get started.

“There’ll be time for that later,” Addy says, pulling my attention back to her. Literally—with her hand on my chin, turning my head to face her again. “For now, I just want to enjoy this moment.”

If I wasn’t blushing before, I certainly am now. I stammer out a few objections, but she bats them away. I fall into her arms. She strokes my hair, my shoulders, my back. I cherish her body pressed against mine, her bosom warm against my chest. Gods, she feels so safe. A meteor could crash into us right now, and I would be fine, safe in her arms. I never, ever want to leave.

---

When I wake, there’s light streaming in through the bones of Addy’s skeleton as he stands guard at his post by her window. I shift slightly and realize I’m still latched onto Addy’s body like a sloth on a tree branch. I realize with horror my cheek is pressed up against her chest. I fell asleep literally using her breasts as a pillow.

10/10, would sleep here again. Highly recommend.

Oh, good, and I’m drooling too. I actually drooled on her boobs. Yep, I’m a real catch, this one. She must be reeeal glad I came home.

Wow. Home. That just popped into my head without provocation. Is that really how I view this place after only a week? I guess it is now.

I try to shift onto my butt without waking Addy, but she’s already awake; has been awake for gods know how long now. “H-hi. Sorry,” I say, brushing drool from my lower lip and extricating myself from her ample bosom. “I didn’t mean to—”

“Don’t worry about it,” she says, grinning. “It was cute. You must have been really tired. I watched you fall asleep and it made me sleepy too.”

I fan myself as I sit up. There’s some sweat caked on my face, whether from the sunlight beating on my face or my proximity to Addy’s furnace of a body, I’m not sure. (And also seriously, what is up with that?) “So, do we have a lot of prep work to do for this bonfire?” I ask. “I heard you guys planning for it last night but I hung out with Rey the whole time.”

“I noticed that,” Addy says with her usual smirk. “You weren’t feeling unwelcome, were you?”

“No, not that.” It wasn’t that I felt unwelcome, though. I just… this is their tradition. I didn’t want to intrude. “I just wanted to hang out with Rey,” I lie. Well, it wasn’t entirely a lie: I do enjoy hanging out with Rey, and we had a long, spirited discussion about which saga of Robotech is best (the answer was Macross, by the way).

Addy’s smile reaches her eyes. “You two do get along…rather well,” she says suggestively. Her eyebrows flick upwards a few times.

Blood rushes to my cheeks. “It’s not like that!” Is it not like that? I honestly have no idea what it’s like. Addy drives me wild, but I’m so nervous around her. And Laetitia, well that’s a whole thing. But Rey? Being with her is just natural. It already feels like we’re settling into some kind of friendship. And I would be happy with that. But then there are these lingering glances we sometimes give each other, and it makes me wonder if there’s something…more…going on.

“Relax,” Addy says, “I’m just teasing you. You two are sweet together, though.”

Now I’m confused. If Addy really thinks that way, I guess that means she’s not interested after all. I kinda saw this coming a long time ago, to be honest, but I thought…

The memory of that night comes crashing into me. Hearing Addy’s muffled moans through the wall of her living room. Wondering what’s in her imagination. Mine running wild. The need, the desire coursing through my body. It was intoxicating. And I thought, maybe, just maybe, there was a chance that Addy wanted me too.

I shrug it off, shake my head, and smile despite myself. “We’re just friends,” I say.

“Uh huh. Just friends,” she repeats with a wink.

Hey, guess what? I don’t want to be in this conversation anymore. I hop up onto my feet and stammer out something about putting on clothes and makeup. Addy grabs my shoulder and turns me back around to face her. Her smirk has transformed into worry. “Hey, wait, did I say something wrong?”

“No, no, I’m fine,” I lie again. Ah, yes. This old habit of mine. A familiar deception.

“Are you sure? Because I—”

“It’s fine,” I say, my voice raised just a bit too much to sound fine. I don’t even know what I’m doing at this point. The self-sabotage routine again, rearing its ugly head. It’s just kind of upsetting to hear the girl I like teasing me about somebody else.

Even if I kinda like that person, too? a voice in my head reasons. Shut up, reason. Take a back seat.

I turn back toward Addy and slide into her, hugging her gently. “I’m sorry. It’s just been a really long week. Please just ignore me.”

“I’m not going to ignore you, silly,” she says, ruffling my hair. I’m starting to really love just how much she does that. Gods, why does this have to be so confusing? I fell asleep on your chest and you like to run your hand through my hair—do you like me, or what?

Of course I don’t actually ask her that. Instead I go about my morning routine. Addy throws on her usual skinny jeans that make her ass look absolutely mouth-wateringly amazing, along with a short white cami. She ties her jacket around her waist to complete the look. I, on the other hand, am wearing my usual combination of baggy jeans and an extra-large Revolutionary Girl Utena shirt because I am a dork and oversized clothes are my trademark dysphoria cure. I complete the look with some eyeliner and mascara and head downstairs. Addy is already behind the counter roasting some fresh beans by the time I arrive—I took just enough time that the place is already open. Addy likes to open early even though nobody tends to come into the store until about 9 or 10. 

Not this time though. The bell above the door jingles as somebody walks in. I immediately have flashbacks to yesterday morning. If Hannah walks back through this door, I swear to gods I have no idea what I’m going to say to her.

Unfortunately, it’s somehow even worse than Hannah.

Laetitia Gelsper struts into the room like she owns the joint. Addy’s hackles raise immediately. I can sense the change in temperature the moment Laetitia enters; there’s a swift, chill breeze that wafts into the room after her. Whether that’s the brisk autumn air or something else entirely, I’m not sure. She’s wearing a simple white dress that contrasts with her dark, umber skin and makes her sapphire eyes pop even more than normal.

Here’s the thing about Laetitia. She’s almost impossibly gorgeous. It honestly boggles my mind every time. Her dress is minimalist, but conforms to her body perfectly, emphasizing her curves without looking too slutty. It is, by all accounts, the perfect dress.

“Laetitia,” Addy says through gritted teeth.

“Addison.” She turns to me and nods. “Hello, pet. I’m glad you came to your senses.”

There’s no mirror nearby, so I’m not sure quite how red my face turns, but suffice it to say: I probably look like a doofus right now. Did she really just call me that in front of Addy? What if she finds out we’ve kissed? Oh gods, oh gods. I feel a knot in my stomach turning.

Mercifully, Addy doesn’t say anything. In fact, she doesn’t even seem fazed. Does she somehow know…?

“Yeah. I…decided to take your advice, after all.”

Somehow, that’s what gets Addy’s attention. She glances at me with a raised eyebrow and I brush her off with a shrug.

Laetitia nods, then turns her attention back to Addy. “I’m here to finish our…discussion…from last night. Since you so rudely left.”

Wait, what? Why Laetitia and not Malcolm? Also also—Addy left in the middle of such an important conversation?

Addy shakes her head and braces against the countertop. She looks like she could throw the whole damn thing at the door if she wanted to. “I’m not in the mood to discuss that right now. And I didn’t invite you in.” Damn. I thought Laetitia was the cold one.

“I need no invitation, remember? My father owns this place, not you.”

Addy winces. “Just tell me what I have to do to get you out of my establishment.”

I try to interject. “What’s this all about, anyway?”

Laetitia narrows her eyes at me. Addy shakes her head as if in warning. Then comes the last answer I expected: “Why, this is about you, pet.”

---

Next Chapter!