Torn Between The Carter Brothers

Chapter 78

Addison

55]

E55 vouchers

“You can’t be serious right now. Please tellyou're lying,” Gregg demanded, the shock still very obvious

across his face and | averted my gaze and let out a long sigh. | knew this was gonna be his exact reaction and

that’s why it tookthis long to tell him. He hated Marco so much and that was very evident.

“I'm not lying, we're really dating.” | muttered as | met his gaze again and he let out another sound of disbelief

before he flopped back in his seat and chugged down most of his beer, already looking so stressed

out,

“Are you aware of this as well?” Gregg asked Zane this tand | glanced sideways to see Zane shrugged easily.

“I am, but it doesn’t mean | approve. She's aware | think she deserves better than that.” He revealed and | felt

myself flush to the roots of my hair while feeling the urge to instantly defend Marco like | usually do, but no

sound left my mouth right now.

“Thank you!” Gregg cried out before glancing over at me.

“How did this happen? You promisedyou were gonna move on.” He accusedand | sighed before leaning

forward.

“Stop being so tic, Gregg. We got together, so what? It's not a big deal.” | demanded and Gregg let out a

laugh before narrowing his eyes at me.

“Oh, don’t givethat, Addison. You paused your life for him after he broke your heart. You couldn't move on

for years. Are you forgetting that you were always crying in my arms back then? How could you ever forgive

him?” He demanded before adding. “I'm actually mad at you right now, and very disappointed. You made me

believe you actually moved on at the wedding! Was that a lie? You toldyou hooked up with someone, and

lost your v-card. Please tellyou didn’t lose that to that asshole Marco.”

This time, | stiffened and my face instantly flamed up as | awkwardly cleared my throat while shaking my head.

“I- I didn’t lie! | really did hook up with someone else!” | argued but his eyes narrowed as he regarded

me.

“Now | find that hard to believe. Didn't you two exchange numbers? Wasn't the person interested in something

more that you had to return to your asshole ex?” He demanded and my face flushed again as | dragged a hand

through my hair while silently wishing Zane wasn’t here right now when | was having a conversation like this

with my best friend.

“It was just a hookup, and neither of us wanted more.” | argued before leaning forward. “And | only took Marco

back cause he explained it all to me, else i wouldn't!”

Gregg rolled his eyes. “So you mean he had a tangible reason for hurting you in the past?” He didn’t sound like

he believedbut | nodded fast.

“He really does! It was just because of his parents, they forced another girl on him. He toldall about it, he

also never moved on fromand that’s why | ended up taking him back.” I explained but Gregg still looked

disappointed and that killedon the inside.

1

15:41 Sun, Sep 79 ...

Chapter 78

55]

55 vouchers

“So, what's your status with him now? His side piece? Cause | assumed he still married his fiancee?” He asked

and this t| bit back a smile as | shook my head.

“I refused to get together with him that way. | had already left when he calledand revealed that the wedding

had been called off! | have more self respect than to get together with him when he’s still with someone else,

have a little faith in me, Gregg!” | gushed at the last part in a ruse to make Gregg cheerful again but he still

appeared doubtful as he regarded me.

“So... this means he treats you better now?” He asked and before | could respond, Zane snorted besideand |

flushed beet red.

“What does that mean? He still doesn’t treat her better??” Gregg instantly demanded of Zane who scoffed when

my eyes met with his. | narrowed my eyes at him, daring him to spill. This was none of his business so he wasn’t

supposed to be saying a thing right now. Thankfully, he got the memo and only rolled his eyes before glancing

over at Gregg.

“I guess he does treat her well.” He drawled in a very unserious voice that filledwith the urge to smack him

over the face.

Gregg still wasn’t happy and | threw my hands up and sighed. “Look, | know you're disappointed, that’s okay.

But, just... trust me, okay? | won't let him treatbadly this time.”

Gregg reluctantly nodded before he let out a long groan. “I guess | have no choice. After all, you're old enough to

make your own decisions, so you know what's best for you. | want to trust you so I’m gonna let this go. This

doesn’t mean that | support this move or approve it, cause | didn’t. But | guess | can respect your decision.”

| felt moved by his speech and | also felt happy that he was clearly coming around a little even though it was

barely. | got off the cough and went to engulf him in a tight hug while he huffed and patted my back gently.

“Look out for yourself, okay?” He murmured as he kissed my head and my chest warmed as | nodded while

pulling away.

“I promise | will.”

After that, we all began to drink smore. Gregg talked about his wife and kids, and | promised myself to come

around when next kids are present. As a godmother of the kids, | barely see them enough and | needed to do a

better job.

At spoint, | began to feel buzzed while Zane talked about a race he had in two days. Gregg wished he could

cover but would unfortunately be packed with family duties.

“Maybe Addison could go?” Gregg asked before they all glanced over at me. My eyes widened as | looked

between the two of them before | slowly shook my head. | didn’t want anything that would makebe around

Zane by myself, especially after already confirming how weak | get around him.

“I have something by then, so | can’t go.” | mumbled and Gregg hummed, leaning forward to grab another drink.

He didn’t ask any question after that, Zane was the one who did and I instantly felt his sharp gaze boring into the

side of my face.

“What's that?”

My insides grew hot as his voice washed over me, and | briefly swiped my tongue over my dried lips as my

15:41 Sun, Sep 79

Chapter 78

eyes met with his.

“A date with my boyfriend.” | mumbled.

His eyes

55]

55 vouchers

still lingered onas he nodded once, then his jaw worked a little as he spoke in a low voice. “I see.”

It suddenly felt too hot in here and | fingered the hoodie | had on as | reached for my drink and downed another

mouthful, suddenly feeling extremely breathless on the inside. It looked like my response made him a little mad

and | didn’t know why, but it made my insides grow hot, and now | fingered my hoodie again, needling some

fresh air.

“Aren’t you hot? You can take that off.” Gregg offered on noticingpulling on my hoodie again. Usually, I'd

have taken it off if it was just | and Gregg, cause | was in nothing but a washed up camisole on the inside, but

somehow, with Zane here right now, that felt like it would leavetoo bare in his presence, which was

ridiculous cause he’s seennaked more than once.

“I'm good,” | breathed out before reaching for my drink and emptying my can, and | felt myself grow more

buzzed. My chest felt hot and tight and my head swam every now and then. | wasn’t drunk, | could still tell all

that | was doing, but | was definitely tipsy, and being beside Zane right now was makingfeel like | was going

crazy.

“You two don’t seem to be getting along.” Gregg murmured offhandedly as he looked between Zane and | and

my eyes widened as | stiffened.

“We don’t?” | managed and Gregg nodded.

“Not like | expected. You said you've both becfriends, right? Yet, you're barely interacting.” Gregg pointed

out and | cussed internally. We were really not interacting directly and that was because we were so focused on

pretending nothing went down between us.

Before | could get a word out, Zane had slung his hand over my shoulder and pulledright into his side,

making a startled sound get caught in my throat just as he spoke in a teasing voice. “Oh, we're friends alright.

See?”

My face felt like it was on fire, and my breath had gone all choppy. Zane’s hand on my shoulder was burning

right through my hoodie into my skin and that was making my head swim even more.

“We get along swimmingly well, but sometimes we just tend to be lost in our own heads. Doesn't mean we aren't

cool with each other. Right, Addison?” His twinkling eyes were onthis tand | felt my breath hitch in my

throat again as | nodded stiffly, my cheeks flushing and my heart fluttering in my chest.

“Uh, yeah.” | managed weekly, then | subtly tried to pull away from his grip, but his hold tightened and he pulled