Can’t Catch a Break
Chapter 76
Garrett’s POV
I watched in frustration as Addison turned and left me standing there. She didn’t even look back. She was angry, and I knew I would have to beg her forgiveness all the way home. I knew she would order an Uber to get home, so I needed to hurry. I didn’t want her to leave without me. I still hadn’t had enough time with her. I would never be able to have enough time with her.
I’ve missed her for so long. I had waited years to hold her in my arms again. Only to be disappointed when she finally returned and couldn’t even stand to look at me. I just needed her to understand that I was right at the finish line without knowing I was in a race. I was pining away for her and only did what I did because I was so hurt at seeing her with another
man.
She is hurt, and I get that. But why can’t she see how hurt I was? Why does she keep throwing my mistakes back up in my face when I am making changes just for her? I am in it for the long haul. I wanted her, and I knew no one else would feel the same to me. It is Addison or no one. I wanted nothing more than to take up where we left off. It is like she hasn’t changed at
all. She just got even more beautiful.
I had missed her for so long. I was thrilled when she agreed to go out with me. We had gone out to eat with our parents when we were younger, but this was our first date, just us together. Maybe she will be calmer and be willing to sit outside with me and talk when she gets home. I was instantly relieved at the idea. That would be better. There wouldn’t be anyone else around us to cause her to get angry at, well, other than me. I know she is still mad, but I hope it is out of jealousy and not because she is done with me.
The server brought the box to me, but she didn’t immediately hand it over. She was trying to flirt, but I got the box from her. I had to put the box on the table, trying to use my good hand to move my burger into the box. I needed to find Addison quickly, so I dumped the fries off the plate into the box, shut the lid, and turned to leave.
This night has been a total freaking disaster. Nothing has worked out for me, as Addison was more hurt and angry than I initially thought she was. I could see her points. I had been a complete ass to her. What hurt the most was that the easy comradery we used to have when we were best friends was gone. I was an i***t for thinking we could quickly return to how it was between us eight years ago. I just wanted it so badly that I assumed it would happen once I got her alone.
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The host had also walked up after I finally got my to–go box. I had barely listened to them speaking to each other, not paying attention to them. I just wanted to get back to Addison. When some of what they were saying finally sunk in, they both commented about Addison. I heard them hinting they were a better choice for me than she was. Is that what they honestly thought? That they had a leg up on Addison? That was almost laughable. I had to set the
story straight with both of them. They were still talking now like I would allow them to continue tearing her apart.
“I don’t know, Janice. I still think she’s just a friend. He’s way too hot for her,” the host said
when I turned around to face her.
“No, she’s not a friend, Stacy. She wouldn’t be able to argue with him like that if they were friends. Probably Ex’s. She just walked out and left him there. That doesn’t scream ‘friend“,” the server replied.
“It’s not your business, but I was out on a date with Addison. I can promise you this: neither of you had the slightest chance of getting my attention away from her. She is the woman I plan
to marry if she gives me another chance. Despite the high opinions you two have of
yourselves. You can’t compare to her on any level,” I started.
“You could have just mentioned that at the start. Your issues are your fault. You seemed
receptive to the attention we gave you. You were throwing mixed signals. That is the only
reason we flirted,” the host replied.
I hadn’t thought of that before. I never stopped anyone from flirting when I was out with other
girls. I did love them, so I didn’t care if other girls flirted with me in front of them. I guess I had
been an asshole to Addison by allowing them to flirt. Did Addison see it that way? Was that
why she was so angry? I was only trying to see if she would get jealous. I just wanted her to
put them in their place and claim me as hers. Things were always easy for me with girls. I had
never had to put work in, they just came to me.
“Stacy’s right. She had an engagement ring on, but it didn’t seem like you two were together.
She wouldn’t even let you touch her. We saw an opportunity, and we took it. She could have
been your sister, for all we knew. It’s up to you to set boundaries when you are out with your
girl. It was just a little harmless flirting, no big deal. You don’t have to take it so seriously.
You’re hot, but you’re also injured. You wouldn’t have been that great anyway,” Janice sneered.
“Then get out of my way. You two have held me up long enough. First, you wanted to flirt while keeping the box away from me. Now, you are blocking my exit. It’s almost like you want me to call Johnny myself,” I told them.
I only took two steps away from the table when I saw the flashing lights. I had my back to the
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front of the restaurant at first. I was wondering why the police were there. My stomach dropped as I noticed that all the diners in the front of the restaurant were staring out the windows outside. This was not good. I need to find Addison. I heard people speaking to each other as I made my way to the door.
“I hope she’s going to be OK.”
“Why would he try to grab her like that in broad daylight?”
“Thankfully, the other man stopped him.”
“I called 9-1-1 when he grabbed her. I could tell she was scared.”
“I could see he had a syringe. The guy wrapped it up and gave it to the police. I wanted to help.
I just didn’t want to get in the middle of it. That guy looked dangerous.”
I was moving quicker now, as I was worried that the person they were talking about was Addison. I burst out the doors and started looking around the parking lot in a panic. Where could she have gone? There were two squad cars there and two officers. Was Addison the one woman they had been talking about? Did her Uber come, and she was already on her way home? Guilt churned through me as I wondered if she was OK. How could I have just let her walk away like that? I knew that Tammy was out there. I threw my box in the trash. I would
never forgive myself if she were hurt because I had taken too long shaking off the host and
server.
I stopped one of the officers, but they blew me off. I was fuming and running my hand through my hair. What now? I pulled out my cell phone and called Holden. I asked him to watch out for
Addison to come home. The Diner was about seven minutes away from my house, with traffic.
Even if she left after she walked out, she would just be getting home in the next few minutes.
I raced home to see her, but Holden was still sitting on the porch when I pulled up. He shook his head, and I knew she hadn’t returned. I looked over at her house, and all the lights were still
out. The security guy exited his car and looked at my SUV. This made me worry even more if
he was expecting her to be with me. Where is she? Was she the one who had an altercation in
the parking lot?
I felt sick. My stomach was churning with guilt. It was bad enough for me to want to vomit,
but I hadn’t eaten today. I just had coffee because I was too excited to eat after she agreed to
go out with me tonight. When I was finally hungry, it was close to when we were to leave. I haven’t been this excited in a long time. Both my parents were happy that she was even giving me a chance. They will be frustrated when they find out that not only does she not want me,
but that I lost her, too. She might even be hurt.
What happened to Addison? Where was she? I knew that smug guard didn’t know as he had
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expected her to be with me. I tugged my hand through my hair, trying to think. The sun was
still out. It wasn’t even six pm. The worst part was that I had just promised her that I wouldn’t
let anything bad happen to her.
What had happened in the short amount of time that I was grabbing my food? My anger rose
as I remembered the host and server preventing me from leaving quickly–my poor Addison. Please, God, don’t let anything happen to her. I thought her jerk boyfriend was overdoing it with
security, but I was wrong. I had to grab the railing on the porch to hold myself up. What have I
done?”
“Garrett, where’s Addison?” Holden asked. He knew we were going to dinner. I am panicking right now.
I filled him in, and when I mentioned the comments I heard while leaving the restaurant, he said, “Garrett, we need to go to the police station right now. Give me your keys.”
I didn’t argue. I just handed my keys over to him. He was right to take over. I was so scared I couldn’t focus at all. I just got her back in my life. How could I lose her? Please let her be at the police station. What if she had gotten hurt? What if she blamed me for this? I have to know if she is OK.
Holden was calm as he headed towards the police station. I was in a fog and didn’t even realize when we arrived. We had just entered the police station when Holden cried out,” Addison,” and ran over to her. She stood there speaking to an officer, with a guy I hadn’t seen before standing beside her.
was so relieved that I rushed to her, but she refused to look at me. She wouldn’t let me hug her. Holden was able to hug her, but she was ignoring me. Before I could get her attention, I heard “Addi!” being called out from behind me, and suddenly, her fiancé was standing there, vrapping his arms around her. I just can’t catch a break.
