Anything Else
Chapter 73
Addison’s POV
I didn’t even try to hold the eye roll back as I looked at the waitress hovering next to Garrett. Of course, tonight would not be complete without me having my nose rubbed because Garrett always attracted attention. It has been like that for at least half my life. I dropped my eyes and stayed focused on the menu. I was not going to engage again. It was pointless.
I decided on the meatloaf, as I had missed it. Johnny never changed his recipes, and I wanted some comfort food if I had to deal with Garrett and his lies tonight. I waited patiently while she kept trying to lowkey flirt with him. He could not be this clueless. Then it hit me: he wanted me to react to what he was doing. He was allowing her to flirt because he was not shutting her down. He hoped I would get jealous and then snap at the waitress. That’s not going to happen. I knew better than to mess with the people who handle my food.
After a lot of back and forth, her eyes settled on me, and said, “And for you?” She made it evident that she was checking me out. I managed to barely stop the second eye roll this time. It just wasn’t worth it.
“The meatloaf meal,” I answered.
“And what sides?” she asked.
“The ones that come with it,” I replied. I wanted a comfort meal, which included mashed potatoes and green beans.
“Oh, I thought you would like a side salad instead,” she answered as she slightly scoffed and pointedly looked down at my stomach.
“I don’t want a side salad. I want what I ordered as it comes. If that is a problem, please ask Johnny to come out, and I can discuss it with him,” I snapped. I was done with this whole experience. She is being a snotty b***h because she is jealous of me being out with Garrett. She and the host can share him. It wouldn’t be a first for him anyway.
I suddenly lost my appetite at that thought. She stood there stunned, looking at me in surprise. I knew her boss. Even though it had been a while, he hadn’t changed how he ran things. My mother and I used to eat here once a week. Our server didn’t recognize us and probably thought we were passing through. I knew that he would not allow her to behave like
she did if he were aware of it.
“You know what, just cancel my order. I won’t be able to trust what comes out anyway with
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you as our server. I just want a glass of water, thanks,” I told her.
“But I wanted to take you out to dinner, Addison,” Garrett said as he looked from me to her and back to me again.
“You can eat, Garrett. I’m good. Obviously, from Janice’s comment here, it is apparent that I won’t waste away,” I paused to look at her. “I will just make a sandwich when I get home,” I replied.
She missed a sale, which lowered her tip, and now she was angry at me. That was almost laughable. I would come back another time to get my meal. My heart had been set on the meatloaf dinner, but at the moment, I was too angry to eat. I might get sick if I tried right now. She glared at me before stalking off to put our order in,
“You can go ahead, Garrett. What did you want to tell me?” I said.
“I don’t want you mad, Addison. I can’t control what other people do,” Garrett started–not liking how our experience tonight had started.
“No, it isn’t your fault, Garrett, but we both know you could have shut them down. I’ve seen you do it a hundred times before when we were teenagers. You know, before you cut me out of your life. Funnily enough you managed to do it so well, despite my having done nothing to you, ” I said. He had the decency to look away as the blow landed.
“Addison, this isn’t how I wanted our night to go,” Garrett started.
“Oh, I am sure of that. But this is on you. It was on you to shut both of them down. Allowing them to do that with me sitting there was rude. I have no idea what you were thinking was going to happen tonight. But if you thought that you would give me some compliments and thought that I would swoon and fall into your arms, you would be very disappointed,” I told him. I was serious. I loved him, at one point, very much. But his actions up to this point had shattered my heart a little more each day. It has taken me a long time to try to get past it.
“No, I didn’t expect you to do that. But I did expect you to treat me with common courtesy and listen to what I would say to you. I’m sorry I hurt you. I love you, Addison. I never intended to damage our friendship or your trust in me. I was just angry. I was hurt, and I wanted to hurt you back. I didn’t find out until after the fact that everything that had happened had been Tammy all along. I’m sorry for ever doubting you,” Garret answered.
“Doubting me? You’re sorry for doubting me. What a cute and innocent way to put it. You were willing to believe the very worst of me. Cut me out of your life without a moment’s hesitation because you doubted me. You knew me, well, at least I thought you did,” I stated but was quickly cut off.
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“I do know you, Addison. That is why I am so sorry about this whole thing. I would do anything
to go back and change what happened, Garrett interjected.
“No, Garrett, you didn’t know me. Because if you did, you would have asked me about it. But
you didn’t. You never did. You were so willing to listen to two people who couldn’t stand me
and took their every word as gospel. Every time I asked why, you got even more hateful toward
- me. Tammy loved it, smirking at me the whole time while standing protected behind you. She
led you away every time you started to tell me why you were bullying me. So pardon me if I
don’t forgive you. You had shown me exactly where I stood for three years in high school.
Letting your slut, your sister, and anyone else who wanted to make my life a living hell. I don’t
accept your apology. You can’t change what happened, Garrett. My high school experience
was ruined because of you,” I calmly told him.
His stunned expression almost made me laugh. How could he not remember the whole
school giving me looks and comments? How I received shoves, shoulder checks, or tripped in
the classroom or hallways. I learned to be vigilant and careful. Not everyone was involved, but
enough were. They were delighted to do it for Tammy and Garrett. I managed to tamp down
my laugh, but it wasn’t from amusement.
“I was angry. I thought that you knew how much my football meant to me. That is why I was
so hurt. You were my best friend. My affection for you had changed into wanting you to be my
girl. I honestly couldn’t understand why you did it. I was hurt and believed Valerie and Tammy. Not Tammy, as much as I did my sister. I never thought that Valerie would be able to lie to me
like that. Tammy is a master manipulator. I am sorry I believed them. I am still mad at Valerie
for causing us both so much pain. We lost so much time together because of it, but I was
hurting too. I missed you like crazy. You were the one who meant the most to me, Addison. I
will do whatever you want for you to forgive me. I was coming to tell you the day I learned it
had all been a lie. I was furious with Tammy, but you had already left. You left me, Addison,
without as much as a goodbye. Like I meant nothing to you, and that hurt.” Garrett said. I
could hear the pain in his voice.
“So, let me get this straight. After three years of bullying and abuse, my leaving here without
saying goodbye hurt you? Are you serious right now? Why would I say goodbye? Why would I
want to speak to you again, Garrett? You made a career out of tormenting me. You have no
idea what Tammy put me through over those three years. You hurt me too many times to count, but my leaving hurt you?” I stopped talking to scoff.
“You could have come and asked me at any time about the theft of your football. How could I
take it if I never came into your room? Plus, I knew what it meant to you. But you were willing
to take the word of a stranger over mine. You accepted it like it was the whole truth. You say
you knew me,” I stopped talking again to look him dead in the eye. I wanted to make sure that
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he got this point. “You knew nothing, or you would have known that it was a lie to begin with. You were happy to believe the worst about me without even batting an eye. Don’t talk to me
about being hurt, Garrett. You hurt me a thousand times. You don’t get to play the victim here. I was the victim, not you,” I told him.
I saw our server coming back to the table, and I stopped talking. I was not going to be
humiliated in front of her again. She put our drinks down and Garrett’s plate in front of him.” Does everything look alright? Do you need anything else?” she asked him. She didn’t glance
my way.
Probably because she knew I knew the owner now. I am not the bad guy here. Her blatant dig
at me and my weight was offensive. How can she pass judgment on what people order? |
highly doubt she does it to other diners. She probably did it to me because she wanted to
point out my flaws to Garrett. Present herself as a better choice. Good luck. There are a lot of
other girls waiting in line, too.
“Just privacy, thank you,” Garrett replied quietly. He wasn’t mean or snarky to her. I just looked
out the window next to us.
“Just get my attention if you need something else, honey,” she said to him with a smile. I
could see her reflection in the window. She stood there for a few moments before glancing at
me and then walking away.
I had noticed something else while looking out the window. I recognized Colton’s personal
vehicle sitting in the lot. I even smiled at him to tell him I knew he was there. Knowing that he
was here with me gave me a lot of comfort. I fired off a text to him.
(I’m going to ride back home with you. I will let you know if I need you.}
The response was quick. (I’m here for you.}
Let’s finish this. “Is there anything else? Or can I go?” I asked. I was so ready for this horrible. dinner date to be over. I wish I hadn’t agreed to it in the first place. It has been pointless.
