“Thinking Dad.”
“What’s there to think about?” he asks, sitting on the edge of my bed.
“Dad, I thought this thing with Nate was turning into something more, but I ruined it.” With my stupid mouth I want to say, but I keep that for myself. “So yeah, there’s a lot to think about.”
Patting my leg, he smiles. “Addie, there’s nothing to think about. That boy loves you.”
Butterflies erupt in my stomach as my heart pounds in my chest. “I don’t know about that Dad.”
“I might not know a lot, but I do know this. Believe me, Nate’s in love with you. So I want to know why you’re lying here moping about it instead of going after him,” he says, raising a graying eyebrow.
Forcing a smile, I sit up. “We came in the same car, Dad.”
Standing, he holds out his hand to me. “I know. It’s a good thing your old man has a car and feels like getting the hell out of here for a while, now isn’t it?”
The drive seems to go by faster than I was hoping. Why is it when you are going somewhere the ride seems to take forever, but when you’re going home it takes no time at all? Usually it’s a good thing, but right now with my stomach in knots, I wish we had more time.
“Addie, I’m just going to give you this advice,” my dad says, as we turn onto the street of the bar where my car is. Now I just have to figure out how to find Nate, but I turn my attention toward my dad. “No one wants a relationship they are messy and complicated, but when you find the right person it’s worth it. Everything else, the messy and complicated, they don’t even matter.”
I reach over and squeeze his hand. “Thanks Dad.”
Pulling into the bar, I tell him to drive around back to where my car is parked. My heart stops beating in my chest when I see Nate’s car. He must be inside.
“Well looks like you don’t need to search hard to find him.”
Peeking over at my dad, I sigh. “I don’t know what to do.”
“You have two choices Addie. You can get in your car and drive away, going back to the way things were. Or you can go inside and tell him how you feel. Whatever you decide I’m behind you a hundred percent,” he says, throwing the car in park.
He’s right and I hate it. But I need to figure out if I live my life wondering or put myself out there. Kissing my dad on the cheek, I thank him over and over for everything he’s done. Jumping out of the car, I toss my bag in mine and slam the door shut. I’m done living my life with regrets.
My heart pounds so fast it’s ringing in my ears as I walk into the nearly empty bar. It only makes me that much more nervous. I was kind of hoping for a crowd so I wasn’t the center of attention.
Even if I didn’t know Nate I’d have spotted him right away. He looks so hot sitting at the bar holding that drink in his hand. Suddenly, my pounding heart relaxes and the only thing I feel is an overwhelming need tell him how I feel.
I stand at the stool next to him and clear my throat. “Is this seat taken?”
He snaps his head toward me with wide surprised eyes. “Addilyn? What the hell are you doing here?”
“I was in the neighborhood,” I say trying to lighten the mood, but quickly realize that’s not what he’s looking for when he gives me a nod and looks down at his drink. “Okay, sorry. I’m here for you Nate. I’m not going to lie when I realized you were gone I was pissed. After everything that had happened tonight I wasn’t expecting you to walk away.”
“Addilyn,” he interrupts.
“No, let me finish. I was pissed, until I realized why you walked away. I stood there fighting with my family about everything, but us. I should have told them, I should have gotten up on the damn table and shouted how I feel. Unfortunately, I didn’t. Instead I pushed you away, because I was trying to protect you. There’s nothing I can do about that right now. Nothing but tell you how sorry I am for that,” I say, feeling my pulse pick up when his dark eyes lock onto mine.
“You drove all this way to apologize?” he asks, turning his body toward mine.
“Well my dad drove me, but yeah. I wanted to apologize and...” I begin and an idea hits me. I climb up onto the bar stool and step onto the bar. Fuck, this could be the most pathetic or romantic thing I’ve ever done. “And I want to tell you and everyone here that I’m falling in love with you Nate Wheeler. You are everything I wasn’t looking for and these last few weeks have been the best of my life. Not because you did what I wanted, it’s because you did what I didn’t believe anyone could. You made me want more.”
Standing, he holds his hand out to me. “Get down.” Helping me off the bar, he wraps his strong arms around me. Searching my eyes, he leans in and kisses me. It’s soft and sweet and full of everything we both want to say.
Resting his forehead on mine, he kisses my nose. “I’m falling in love with you too, Addilyn Mitchell. I thought it was you who needed me, but I was wrong. I was the one who needed you.”
Smiling, I kiss his powerful lips. “Best Christmas ever.”
Chuckling, he holds me close. “Best present ever. Merry Christmas, Addilyn.”
“Merry Christmas, Nate.”
Outside a small flutter of snow begins to fall, and Nate grabs my hand and we rush outside. He swings me in his arms, and I already know I couldn’t have wished for anything more for my life. He really is the best thing to ever happen to me, and I’ll spend the rest of my life letting him know that.
––––––––
The End
