Not Second Place
Chapter 40
Addison’s POV
Ten Months later: the following May
My schedule was tight, but I wouldn’t change it. I managed to keep my focus on where it was
needed: my family, building the business, and keeping my grades up. I had been able to
handle it all pretty successfully. Graduation is next week. I am glad it is here. I can admit that I
am graduating with honors because of my family and Corbin’s nanny. I was successful
because of all the help they gave me.
Kate has expanded her business and is doing well. She also had a degree in design with me,
which helped as we could study together. Her custom jewelry is taking off. She was doing very
well for herself. I am super proud of her. My aunt and I always referred clients to her if
someone mentioned needing a special piece made. It helped that a significant number of our
customers from our men’s line liked to order something that no one else had. Anything from
their player numbers, a particular piece they envisioned, or a re–imagined logo of their team,
Kate could do it.
Most of the people she got commissions from were the wives of CEOs, pro players, and their spouses. Things are starting to pick up even more now that she is dating one of the local NHL players. The players loved coming in and getting a special suit made and then going over to get custom jewelry designed just for them. Her parents had given her the funds to help her start her business, and she had done well enough that she was already able to pay them back
with interest.
Her store is conveniently located right next door to our boutique. Custom pieces were her
bread and butter. She loved being able to create and see the joy in her clients‘ eyes when their
visions became reality. I could understand, as I felt the same way when someone fell in love with one of my gowns or suits. Kate and her guy were taking it slow. He has also drummed up business for her, bringing in half the team to get a necklace ordered from her.
Kate is now seeing orders from both coasts, and her business is booming. We are both twenty–two years old now and went out to celebrate it this year. Last year my birthday was ruined by Garrett deciding I wasn’t worth waiting for. This year, I was determined not to let him being a jerk affect me. I wanted a fun night out, and we were having a blast.
My cousins joined us, and Bryson brought his fiancé Kayla. Evan had just started dating recently, but they already seemed serious. Her name was Julie Cavanaugh, and she was a 5‘ 5
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Not Second Place
“bombshell who wasn’t scared to speak her mind. She was bold, and her sarcastic comments reminded me of myself when my Mom was still alive. I liked making snarky comments, especially to Tammy. I hadn’t even realized I had allowed her to take my boldness away. She had forced me to hide, fearing someone would find out about the video.
I
I had been drawn into myself after losing Mom and didn’t even realize that I had lost a part of myself in the process. I had been playing it safe out of fear but wouldn’t do that again. I may hide in the shadows to keep people from knowing I am the designer for Ana and Alex. But I wouldn’t be hiding who I was anymore. I wasn’t going to be living my life in fear anymore. I finally understood what my aunt had been telling me all these years.
I knew that if something did happen, my family would back me one hundred percent. Just like
the attempt Dina made to try to sue me for assault. It was short–lived. She should have known
after going through five lawyers to take it to court. She refused to listen to what any of them
told her. She still demanded that it go to trial. Once the audio from the bathroom was played,
they all knew she had tried to harm both me and Corbin.
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Her refusing to allow us to leave the restroom were another two charges against her, holding
us against our will. Corbin’s reaction to her from the gallery at the trial was heartbreaking but
evidence of how much she had terrified him. That day, she lost her boyfriend, the man I thought was her father, and her case against me. I had surprised her with a countersuit. My
son still had nightmares about what she had done, and the jury just witnessed it. Not as
severely as right after it happened, but my heart broke for every incident. I felt like a terrible
mother for allowing her to be near my child.
As much as I hated bringing him into that courtroom, it had to be done according to our
lawyer. They wouldn’t let her off once they saw how upset my little guy was. I had only broken. the cartilage, not the bones, in her nose, so her face was back to normal. She wanted a million
dollars for her pain and suffering. Spoiler alert: she didn’t get it. Things ended up far worse for
her than for me. She was ordered to pay a hundred thousand dollars for my son’s pain and
suffering. I was keeping the money for him to pay for his therapy.
Her boyfriend had been paying for her lawyer. He cut her off and had her kicked out of the apartment he was renting for her by the time the trial was over. Her suitcases were lined up in the hallway when she exited the courtroom.
“The locks on your apartment have been changed, Dina. I have blocked you on my accounts. Your card is no longer active. Do not come to my home to try to get back together with me, or I will have you arrested for trespassing,” he growled out at her. He then turned and walked away. The bodyguard had been watching over her items. She went to chase him down, begging for him to take her back. But she ended up having to hurry back to get her suitcases.
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Not Second Place
Her eyes glittered with malice as she turned towards me. She was furious and did not attempt to hide that fact from us. She got even more angry when Phillip stood in front of me protectively. The message he sent was clear, and she gasped in shock. My cousins stood on either side of him, blocking me from her view. My aunt and uncle stood on one side of me, and my grandparents and lawyer were on the other. She couldn’t get to me, and she suddenly seemed to realize that she had no way to try to get me back.
Like Tammy being out of jail, I knew I had also made a new friend in Dina. She would try to come for me, but since I was rarely away from home now, good luck trying to find me. Even if I was out, I was never by myself. I just made a mental note to ensure that Corbin was always protected. I asked his nanny if she wanted to take self–defense classes with me. It was not just for her protection but added protection for my child. I was happy to pay for her to go to them. She had been taking them for six months after the trial ended.
Just like Garrett, I decided I wouldn’t wait for him either. I was going to live my life to the fullest from today on. I have allowed him to have too much of a hold over me. I wanted him to be the one for me so badly. I haven’t dated for four years now. I have gone out with Phillip a handful of times. He mostly comes over and eats dinner at my aunt’s house, then plays with Corbin after dinner. I can count the times we have gone out together with one hand, including tonight. I must have been a fool to think that Garrett would ever want me.
But tonight, I decided to put my best foot forward. I went shopping with my friends last weekend. I have updated my wardrobe. I have a reputation to represent, and I am going to make the changes I feel are necessary. I was wearing a wraparound bodycon dress, and I wasn’t blind. I saw that I was getting interested looks from around the bar. We were all getting looks as we waited for the guys to return from playing pool. We were sipping our drinks and enjoying ourselves as we watched them. They were only thirty feet away.
Kayla was the oldest of our group, at twenty–four, a year younger than Bryson. Julie was
twenty–three, the same age as Evan. Kate and I were the youngest of our group, at twenty–two.
We had gone out to eat dinner and decided to go to a bar. We were holding a table in the
crowded bar.
Corbin adored Phillip, and I liked him, too. The problem was that, no matter how angry and
frustrated at Garrett I was. The fact remains that I still wanted him. God, what in the hell is
wrong with me? Do I not have any pride at all? I had a good man. One that was handsome and caring. One who wanted to claim me as his and had waited patiently for two years. Yet I couldn’t bring myself to accept his feelings. I have to admit defeat. Garrett never wanted me to
begin with. I don’t care what Tandy or Russell say. If he cared, we would be together now.
Phillip was incredibly patient with me. But I knew I had held him off long enough. I had to
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Not Second Place
make a choice, and I would not make the same mistake again. I was not going to choose Garrett. We were through. I watched Phillip as he joked around with my cousins. His easy smile made him all the more handsome. His stance attracted attention, and his frame hinted at his muscles. He was just as attractive to me as Garrett was. I have been a fool long enough. I wasn’t going to keep him at arm’s length anymore. I had waited for Garrett for four long years. He has been gone for almost a year now, playing pro ball. I doubt he has even thought twice about me.
When I got up, Kate asked, “Where are you going, Addison?”
“To do something I should have done when Garrett made his decisions. I am not going to let him hold me back anymore. I know what I want and will not wait another second,” I replied.
As I headed for their pool table, Phillip immediately noticed me coming and was already heading around the table to come to me. Concern etched on his face. “Are you OK? Did someone bother you?” he asked as he looked around the area.
“No, I’m fine, Phillip. I just wanted to tell you something,” I said with a smile. He leaned down and turned his head to let me speak into his ear, as it was loud in the bar. I grabbed his face in my hands and kissed him before I chickened out. That was all it took. He dropped the pool cue to the floor to pull me closer to him as he took over the kiss. I was stunned by the passion he had been hiding from me. When we finally broke apart, we were both breathless. I didn’t realize that I would be this attracted to him, or I would have done this sooner. I won’t rush things, but Phillip is no longer in second place behind Garrett. Phillip is now mine.
