We Were Tricked
Chapter 25
Garrett’s POV
I had to leave for college early, but I was glad I was no longer just staring over at Addison’s
house. I had accepted that she had left, but I would work hard to get her back. I knew she was
upset with me, and I would look for her while I gave her space to calm down. After speaking
with my parents, I realized exactly why she had left me. I only cared about my feelings and not
hers. I had been an arrogant prick. I was determined to make some serious changes.
I needed to get to college early for football season anyway. I knew that the other quarterbacks
were not going to just welcome me to the team. I had to prove myself to the rest of the team,
showing them that I had earned my spot, just like they did. I had to dig deep and show them I
was there to do a job, not take over. We all needed to be able to work together.
We also had to run drills and plays. I was a first–year student, and despite my experience, I
was at the bottom of the food chain. I had to suck it up and pay my dues. There was a lot that
people didn’t know about the football season. This was the most challenging time of the year.
It was hot, and we still had to be out here working out hard. I used my anger over my situation
to push me harder than I ever had before.
I have been suffering for the last two months. I don’t know where Addison is; no one will tell
me anything. My mother and father are still mad at me, but they swear they don’t know where
she is. I didn’t get to meet her aunt while she was there. Instead of trying to be there for
Addison, I was trying to fix the scandal for her. I do know my mother, if she wanted to, could
contact Addison’s aunt. My mother warned me that would be a terrible idea on my part. She
and Dad agreed that I needed to get my head on straight before I went looking for Addison.
That part was true, but it wasn’t easy for me. I had my friends on the lookout for her at the
colleges they went to. I spoke to Kate and Holden, and they refused to help me. They both
blamed me for her leaving. They were upset she left, so we were in the same boat. Unless
Addison herself reached out to me, I knew I was screwed. That didn’t mean that it was
impossible. It was just going to be tough. I can handle tough. I refuse to give up on finding her.
I am willing to do anything to get her back.
After what I just went through with Tammy, I knew I needed to stop what I had been doing. I was good at learning how to be the man Addison needed me to be–the man she deserved. I
completely agree that I need to change. I just wanted her by my side as I made the changes to encourage me when I struggled. The only thing I can’t do now is fail. I am terrified that if I fail
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again, I might lose her forever.
So, for now, all I can do is ensure that my parents see the work I was putting in to get Addison back. I wanted her to know that I loved her. Nothing is too much when it comes to her. The bottom line is that I screwed up. I should have told her what I was doing and that I was doing
it for her.
Just knowing that I had hurt her again, however unintentionally, made it worse. Especially after I found out that she thought I had lied to her. It was hard for me not to break down, knowing the level of pain I caused her. The worst part was knowing that Tammy was the reason for all of Addison’s suffering. I caused this whole thing by believing a liar over my best
friend.
I pushed away someone who was one of the most important people in my life to believe someone I barely knew. Someone who turned out to be a vicious snake. I pushed myself hard to make sure that I did go pro. I had my plans laid out. I was going to buy a home and then marry Addison. I knew what I wanted, and I would make it happen. Even if Mom and Dad didn’t
tell me where she was, I would hire someone to find her if I had to.
I already had the guys on my team laughing at me and calling me P###y whipped. All because I “Wasn’t enjoying the girls” like I should have been. They always remind me that I was only young once, but I just can’t do it. The reminder of seeing Addison’s face when she
caught me and Tammy together, was enough to stop me in my tracks. I have had enough fun. It was time for me to grow up. I was so worried about her being pregnant that some nights, I could hardly sleep.
It didn’t matter that Mom said Addison’s aunt would take good care of her. How could she? She didn’t even know her. If she knew her, she would realize that Addison could only be happy with me. I had told both my parents about the broken condom incident that first night. I have tried every trick in the book to get them to help me find her. I was desperate to know that she was OK. It hurt to know that she might not come back to me.
After stepping back and looking at it from her point of view, I should have left it alone. I should have known that Tammy would never admit what she had done. Tammy wanted to be with me, and admitting she took that video would have ruined everything for her. Tammy was paying for it now, but I had no hand in it. She keeps trying to call me, but I don’t want to change my number.
I am still hoping that if Addison does become pregnant, she will reach out to me. The problem with keeping my number is that I get a call from Tammy at least twice a month. She calls from someone else’s phone. I just hung up and blocked the number she used. I refused to speak to her again. She is the reason that Addison and I have suffered so much these last
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three years. Her jealous, manipulative actions are the reason we are here in the first place.
Especially since I now know the whole story. I spoke with Alden and Tripp after they got out of jail. I thought I was angry when my football was taken. I knew what real anger was now that I knew that they had touched Addison. That asshole dared to touch what was mine. He is lucky I didn’t break his arm. I guess I caught him by surprise when he came to Addison’s house. I
had been in my room and heard him yelling at her to answer the door while he pounded on her
front door.
I didn’t think twice. I ran downstairs and over to Addison’s house in less than a minute. He
saw me coming but thought I was there to support him. He thought wrong. I struck him hard
with my first punch, and he dropped to the ground. He might be bigger than me, but I had
anger on my side. When my Mom told me what had happened at school, I felt sick. How in the hell did he think he had the right to touch her? I wanted to know if they both put their hands on
her.
After I calmed down, a few punches later, I spoke to them both, as Alden arrived a few minutes
later. I told them that it was me in the video with Addison. They were both shocked, as I had
been nothing but an ass to her for the last three years. The three of us sat on Addison’s front
porch and talked. I told them about Tammy being the one who took my football and set
Addison up. They looked at me strangely after that before looking at each other.
“Look, Garrett. I always thought Addison was cute. I liked her and wanted to ask her out,”
Alden told me. I tried to control my anger at what he said, but the veins in my arms told a different story.
“Yeah, man, Tammy approached us. She said that she had a feeling that Addison was going to
show up outside our classroom. I guess she knew because she was the one who had caught
you. She told us that Addison had always hidden this side of herself and liked being
manhandled. Tammy said that we were perfect for her because Addison was a bigger girl, ”
Tripp told me, and I could see that he was telling the truth. He was no longer the cocky jerk he
usually was. He was serious.
“She did say that. You know that she was always dogging Addison out about her weight.
Tammy said that Addison wanted to be with us but was shy. Tammy said we needed to show
Addison that we were interested in her. We needed to show her that we wanted her. Tammy
said that Addison wanted us, too. That was why Tripp said what he said to her that afternoon.
It was why we were trying to impress her. We both wanted her and were not ashamed to claim
her. We didn’t know that you had straightened out everything with her,” Alden stated. I could
tell that he was telling the truth, too.
“Garrett, we just came here because Tammy said that Addison was pushing us all to serve jail
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time. We just wanted her to answer the door so we could tell her what happened. We never meant to scare her. Our parents were furious and told us to apologize to her. To explain what happened, it was all Tammy. We don’t want to have a record, dude. I honestly wasn’t trying to hurt her that day at school. Tammy said that was what Addison liked. She told us that Addison was just too shy to admit it. We fell for it. Tammy lied and used us. But I don’t want to lose opportunities in the future. I won’t be able to work at a good job if I have a record,” Tripp admitted.
“What you two did was disgusting, but I see how Tammy lied and manipulated you. I will have Tandy call Alexandra and tell her what happened. What you said sounds like Tammy intentionally used you to do her dirty work. I will call your father about this after we get in touch with Addison’s aunt. I think you both better start praying this can go your way. Alexandra’s attorney is impossible to beat. He is one of the best in Dallas,” my father spoke to us from where he stood at the corner of the house.
I was broken out of my thoughts by my coach yelling, “Pearson, go take over for Collins, and let me see what you can do.” I grinned at him before sliding my helmet on and running out onto the field. I had memorized the plays and was ready to show my coach I deserved my spot. I won’t let anyone or anything get in my way of making it to the pros. I’m ready to make sure that the love of my life is soon firmly by my side. .
