Can We Talk?
Chapter 53
Addison’s POV
My voice was hoarse as I reached for the water bottle and said, “Thanks, Phillip.”
“No problem. I saw you were still up and worried about you. I was heading to bed, but I saw
you were still designing. Can I see?” Phillip asked as he stepped into the room closer to me to
hand off the water bottle.
“Well, it’s my wedding dress; I don’t want you to see it until I am wearing it,” I replied as I unscrewed the lid from the bottle to take a sip. My throat is so dry right now. I stopped myself from fanning my face, which would be even more embarrassing.
“Can I sit with you for a minute? Can you take a break?” Phillip asked hesitantly.
I nodded before putting the tablet face down on the bed beside me. Phillip sat down on the
opposite side of me, and he smelled delicious. Fresh and clean, but I smelled his cologne. It
was faint, but it was there. He knew I liked it. I bought it for him last Christmas. He wanted to
get my attention, and he had it. But we needed to have a serious talk.
“I didn’t want to push, Addison, but how are you feeling? Being back here has to bring back
some unpleasant memories. Things were so busy today that I never got to ask you how you
felt. Are you OK? If you don’t think you can do this, we can leave. My team can come in and
handle everything. We can just come every week or two and see where they are. I feel terrible
that I didn’t tell you about Tammy. I didn’t want you to stress or worry about it. I wanted to
catch her before she could get near you. My investigator has a list of everyone involved with
the trial. By the time the second public defender was hurt, we knew she was behind it,” Phillip said before I interrupted.
“I would have rather known, Phillip. You blindsided me. You should have told me about this. If I
had known she was not just looking for me but a way to hurt me. I would have told Corbin
goodbye at home. He would have been safe with his nanny. I would never put him at risk. My
son could be in danger now, Phillip, because of what you did. That cocky move of yours isn’t
building faith between us. I want her behind bars, too, but things are different now. She has
seriously injured people to the point of having BOLO’s out on her. She has nothing to lose,
Phillip. You don’t know her. She lost everything she considered important to her. She is dangerous,” I voiced my fears out loud.
“I am going to protect you, Addison, I swear it. I would never have agreed to help you renovate
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Can We Talk?
your house if I didn’t think I could. I would have talked you out of it and made plans to do it
next year. I swear I didn’t have any ill intentions. I’ve learned a lot about her over the years. She
was an excellent manipulator, even from a young age. She learned more while she was in prison. She has an agenda, Addison. I won’t just stand back and wring my hands while I wait
for her to come after you. There are only four of you left on her list,” Phillip stated, and I
frowned.
“Four? I thought you said it was just me,” I asked in confusion.
“She has attempted to get back everyone who spoke against her at both trials. Everyone else
has either been assaulted or had an incredible amount of bad luck. It’s like having their tires
slashed or their brakes cut. The Pearsons and you were the only ones left. Garrett, Valerie, and
their parents were on the list with you. They already got to Garrett. I am sure she will try to
hurt the Pearsons in one attempt, as she had to know that the police were starting to piece
this together. Mr. Pearson knew. He admitted it when I went to warn him. I already knew that
she would leave you for last,” Phillip told me.
The fact was that she was leaving me for last because they were going to try to kill me. If she
started with me, the police would be after her more because of the seriousness of the crime. I
was not confused as to what it was that she was planning. I knew she wanted me out of the
picture from the moment I met her. All it took was two weeks, and suddenly, I was public
enemy number one as far as Garrett was concerned.
That was the first thing I would ask Garrett about, too. I wanted to know exactly what I did so
wrong that caused him to turn his back on me. We were best friends. What happened to
innocent until proven guilty? He didn’t even have the guts to say it. Tammy always found it
hilarious, so I know she was involved. It has been eight years now. I should know the why
behind it now. I won’t allow Garrett to give me his patented “You know what you did” line. I still
didn’t know, but it was water under the bridge now.
“Addison, there was something else I would like to ask you,” Phillip said before hesitating. I
could tell that he was uncomfortable with what he was about to say.
“Phillip, you can ask me anything, I answered. I had a feeling that I knew what he was about
to say.
“I saw how you reacted to Garrett today, Addison. To put it bluntly, I’m worried. I am worried
because you are still not over him. I love you, Addison. I have for years. Over the years, I’ve
tried to be the man you needed and a father figure for Corbin. After seeing your reaction today,
I’m scared. I don’t want to push you into doing anything you’re not ready for. You aren’t holding
him at arm’s length like you did me. You’ve already agreed to meet with him to talk,” Phillip
admitted.
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Can We Talk?
“I agreed to meet up with him because I need to know why, Phillip. Why did he do what he did
to me? What I did that was so bad he was willing to cut me out of his life. The not knowing
hurts. The pain of it is still there. I did react to him, but it was not with attraction. It was fear,
guilt, and then worry. I am worried he may try to take Corbin away from me to punish me for
not telling him,” I answered him.
“Addison, are you planning on giving me my ring back?” Phillip blurted out. “That is my
biggest fear. I am worried that you might fall back in love with him despite what he has done. All I want is a fair shot at your heart. Hearing your grandmother announce to everyone that I was a fool in love and you just care for me hurt. I love you and still want to marry you, even if
you only care for me. Our love can grow if you let it. I want you to give me a fighting chance. I
want you to see how it could be with me. Most engaged couples have s*x before marriage. It doesn’t have to be tonight, but I want to make love to you, Addison. I want to show you just how much I love you. I want to show you that your feelings can grow into love once you decide to leave Garrett in the past,” Phillip declared.
I knew my Gigi’s comments hurt him. She was right, I did still care for Garrett. My heart also flutters when Phillip and I kiss. I am willing to give this a try between us. I can feel how
passionate he is as he points out why I should be with him. He is my fiancé, and it wouldn’t
hurt to sleep with him. I have to assume Garrett probably already thought we were already
having s*x. He didn’t know that I had waited all this time. It wasn’t out of love or heartbreak. It
was because of the s****l assault by Tripp and Alden.
No one attempted to help me that day. They took photos and videos, but nobody stepped in to
stop them. I was humiliated by them in the hallway that day. I honestly couldn’t stand for
anyone to touch me for years after that. Those two were the only reasons I feared coming
back here. I won’t let them have that control over me anymore. I’d been nervous about moving forward in a physical relationship for too long.
But I did trust Phillip. I cared for him very much. We were very compatible. He gets me more than any other man has. He deserves a real chance. I gave Garrett one, as I am speaking to
him tomorrow. Phillip has been more than patient. He deserves the same opportunity to show
me how it would be with him. I always enjoy kissing and making out with him. I am even more
interested in him now.
“Phillip, why would you assume that I would break our engagement? You should know me
better than that. You should know that I would never deliberately hurt you. I care for you and
know that love will come,” I told him. I grinned at him and continued. “I know you came to the
door for me to check you out. I have to say that I am both flattered and impressed. I am more than willing to sleep with you. We could do a trial run. I am on the pill, so we are safe to move forward. It just won’t be tonight.”
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Can We Talk?
The smile on his face dropped a little in disappointment, but he didn’t push it. “Okay, just know that I want to be with you. Not just for today, not just for next week, but for the rest of our lives. I love you, Addison. Not because you’re beautiful, although you are. But because you are kind, intelligent, and caring. I knew how loving you were through your cousins at first. I came to know you before I had the honor of meeting you. You are everything I have ever dreamed of in a wife and mother of my children. I can wait. I already have, for several years,” Phillip responded with a wink.
He stood up to leave, and I stood up too. He pulled me in for a kiss, but he kept it PG. I could feel that he was already worked up as his c**k pressed against me. Before he released me, he kissed me on my forehead. Completely innocent, but it made me happy. My grandparents did that a lot. It carried with it a promise of love, gentleness, and care. He walked over to the window and closed my blinds. “I don’t want Garrett getting any ideas,” he said with a laugh.” Off to take another shower,” he told me before leaving my room.
I laughed and called it a night, turning off my lights and heading for bed. His accidental, “Oh, you’re still up too?” had worked out for him very well. He knew he was in excellent shape. Now I know it, too. I bet it killed Dina when he broke up with her. He was the whole package. No
wonder it took him three years to be free of her. I went to sleep with a smile on my face. Things were looking up.
