Sparrow (27 page)

She
grins and rewards me with a slow kiss.

When
we step up to my father, he has a questioning glint in his eye.  He must have
been watching us.  “Kyle,” he says as he stands.  “You did a nice job with your
speech.”

“Thanks.” 
I release Sparrow’s hand and weave my arm around her waist.  “I’d like you to
meet someone.  Addison, this is my dad, Colin.  Dad, this is my girlfriend,
Addison.”

It
feels weird to call her my girlfriend.  She’s so much more.

My
father’s eyes widen infinitesimally.  He may or may not remember her name.  I’m
sure my mom brought it up all those years ago when she was having trouble with
me.  “It’s a pleasure to meet you,” he says and shakes her hand.  “This is my
wife, Lydia.”  He gestures to his right.

Lydia
smiles and hugs Addison.  “I’m happy to meet you.”

“Likewise,”
Addison says.  She looks between me and my father.  “I can see the
resemblance.”

I
study my dad.  We are the same height and we have the same hair color; although
his is graying at the temples.  He keeps his face clean shaven, and I think Kevin
inherited his more chiseled features.  Gram always said my dad reminded her of
Cary Grant in
An Affair to Remember.
  I don’t think I resemble Nickie
Ferrante.

Yes. 
One summer, Gram made us watch the movie.

The
ladies exchange a few more pleasantries about the wedding before I lead Addison
over to my mother.  My mom is talking to a man I don’t recognize until he turns
around.

“Mr.
Grant?” I ask, surprised.  Kevin didn’t tell me he invited our grandmother’s
first love to his wedding.

“Hello,
Kyle.”  The corners of his eyes crinkle when he smiles.  “It’s good to see you
again.”

“You,
too,” I respond. 

“Jonas
was just telling me how much the lake has changed,” my mother says.  “I think I
might have to spend some time there this summer.”

My
mom’s comment strikes me as odd.  The last time I remember her staying at
Gram’s was when she was still married to my father.

Mr.
Grant’s attention shifts to my girl.  “If I’m not mistaken, I think we’ve met
before.”

Addison
blushes.  “Well, you met my dog.”

“Ah.” 
His smile grows bigger.

“Mr.
Grant, Mom,” I say as I move behind Sparrow.  “This is Addison.”  I place my hands
around her waist and pull her against my chest.  I want to make it clear we’re
together without calling her my girlfriend again.  It sounds juvenile.

My
mother’s demeanor immediately changes.  Her shoulders tense and her smile turns
plastic.  Her eyes ask,
“What?”
while her voice says, “Oh.  I’ve heard a
lot about you.”

“All
good, I’m sure,” Addison laughs.

Mr.
Grant steps forward.  “Everything I’ve heard about you is fantastic.”  He looks
at me with understanding eyes.  “Your grandmother was a big talker.”

From
the way his expression softens, I’m sure he’s referencing the letter she wrote
exposing their past.  “I know,” I say with a hint of a smile.

“There
you are!”

I
turn my head to find Jen at my side.  “I talked to the DJ.  We’re on at ten.”

“Okay.” 
I nod.

“Hi,
Donna!” Jen greets my mom with a one-armed hug.  “Long time, no see.”

My
mother relaxes.  “I’m so glad you came.”

“Of
course!” Jen says.  “I wouldn’t miss it.”  Keeping her arm around my mom’s
shoulders, she steps beside her.  “Can you believe these two?”  She points at
Addison and me.  “Are they cute or what?”

My
mom shoots her a befuddled look.

“Speaking
of cute,” Addison steps out of my arms and toward Jen, “where did you get that dress?”

“Macy’s.” 
My ex smoothes her blue skirt over her hip.  “It was on sale!”

“Is
it chiffon?” Addison asks.

As
the girls get lost in conversation, my mom walks away from Jen and up to me. 
“Are they friends?” she whispers.

I
shrug.  “They’ve met a couple of times.”

“You
three don’t have some weird thing going on, do you?”

I’m
confused.  “What kind of weird thing?”

“Like
a ménage a trois.”

“Mom!”

“Well,
I just finished reading
Fifty Shades of Grey.
  I know all kinds of
things go on these days –”

“No!”
I cut her off.  “Please stop talking.  Addison is it for me.  She’s the only
one.”

“What
about her husband?”

“They’re
separated.”

Mr.
Grant clears his throat, and I focus on him.  He looks uncomfortable.  I’m about
to apologize for what he overheard when the DJ calls the bridal party to the
dance floor.

“I’ll
talk to you later,” I tell my mom.  Smiling over her head, I say, “Thanks for
coming, Mr. Grant.  I’m sure we’ll run into each other up north sometime.”

“I’m
sure we will,” he says.

Reaching
for Addison’s hand, I pull her away from the group.  We walk to the edge of the
dance floor.  “Your mom doesn’t like me,” she says.

Damn. 
I was hoping she didn’t notice her hesitation.  “You’re wrong,” I say.  “She’s
just worried.  Once she gets to know you, she’ll love you.”

Addison
squeezes my fingers.  “I hope so.”

After
the newlyweds dance for the first time, the rest of us are called on to the
floor.  As I take Addison in my arms, I’m reminded of our first dance together. 
This time feels just as good, if not better.  My hands rest on the small of her
back and hers are wound around my neck.  I want to pull her against me, so I
can feel more of her, but the other couples around us are keeping a respectful
distance.  Leaning down, I whisper in her ear.  “I wish we were somewhere private.”

She
smiles.  “After you play Jen’s song we can be.”

My
thoughts jump to the room we’ve reserved upstairs.  Just like Ashley planned
months ago, the bridal party and some other guests are staying overnight at the
hotel.  I rest my forehead against Addison’s.  “I can skip it.”

She
leans away from me.  “No!  Jen would be upset and I want to hear you sing.”

“Why?”

“I
told you your voice was hot.”  She tips her head flirtatiously.  “Singing now
will only benefit you later.”

My
eyebrows arch in surprise.  I’m tempted to pick her up and carry her out of the
room.  Instead, I hold her tighter and bring her closer.  “Promise?”

“Cross
my heart,” she says before kissing me.

We
spend the next few hours enjoying the night.  We get a couple of drinks, she
dances with Ashley and the girls, and I eventually lose my jacket and tie.  I
catch up with some family members and get one more slow dance with Addison
before it’s gift-giving time.

“Hello.” 
Jen’s voice echoes through the room.  “If Kevin and Ashley could join his
brother and me in front of the DJ booth that would be perfect.”

Kev
and Ashley are on opposite sides of the reception when Jen makes her request. 
They both shoot us curious looks when they see us seated with our guitars.

“Don’t
look so worried, guys,” I say into the mic.

They
laugh as they make their way toward us, and Jen explains what’s going on.  “Kevin
and I have been friends for…what?  Five years now?”  She directs her question
toward my brother.  He nods and she continues.  “I wanted to give him and his
wife a special gift today, one that didn’t fit in a card.”  Jen looks at me and
smiles.  “Kyle here was generous enough to help.”

“She
bribed me,” I say into the microphone and the guests chuckle.

Jen
swats my arm.  “Regardless, we’d like to play a song I wrote for my friend and
his bride.”

When
Kevin and Ashley meet in front of us they join hands and step aside.  “Make it
good,” my brother teases.

Jen
clears her throat.  “This song is called ‘I Choose You’.”

Silence
falls over the room, and Jen plucks her guitar strings.  She meets my eyes,
nods, and we start the song together.

Everything
goes as planned.  I look at Addison every time I join the chorus.  She’s
standing on the far side of the dance floor with Tara, and I notice they
whisper to each other several times during the performance.  After we finish,
the guests burst into applause as Kevin and Ashley descend upon us.  As I
stand, I notice Ashley brush tears from her cheeks.

“You…”
She tries to give me a stern look.  “You made me cry!”

“I
didn’t mean to,” I say as she hugs me.

“That
was the sweetest gift ever.  Thank you so much.”

Kevin
steps up next.  “Wow.”  He glances between Jen and me.  “You two should take that
act on the road.”

When
the attention is no longer on us, Jen throws her arms around my neck.  “Thank
you for your help!  I think they really liked it.”

“You
had doubts?” I ask.

“That
was so much fun!  I’ll always remember tonight.”

As
I pat her back, I know I will, too.  I’m glad we were able to do this for
Kevin, and I’m glad we could do it together as friends.

Suddenly,
her body goes rigid in my arms. 

“How
does Addison know Ross?” she asks over my shoulder.

“Who?”

“My
boyfriend, Ross.”

Stepping
back, I turn around just in time to see Addison yank her arm out of Derek’s
grasp.  “That’s not Ross,” I say through gritted teeth.  “That’s Derek.”  What
in the hell is he doing here?

“No.”

I
hear Jen’s quiet protest and turn to look at her.  Her face is pale and twisted
with confusion.  “That’s…he’s…” she stutters.  “Oh my God.”

I
look at Addison once more.  It appears she and Derek are arguing.  Anger builds
in my chest, and I point in their direction.  “Are you telling me Derek is
Ross?” I ask.

Slowly,
Jen nods.

Oh. 
Hell.  No.

It
feels like I reach Derek in two strides.  I come up behind him and shove his
shoulder.  “What the fuck are you doing?”

He
looks me over with hard eyes.  “I could ask you the same thing.”

“Derek
is leaving,” Addison says.  “We can talk another time.”

“Not
when you won’t answer your goddamn phone!” he spits.

“I
hate to interrupt,” Jen appears by my side, “but, I thought your name was
Ross.”  Despite her acerbic tone, her eyes shimmer with unshed tears.

Derek
blinks and stares.  “Jen?”

She
crosses her arms.  “The one and only.”

Addison’s
eyes dart between my ex and hers.  I can tell when the realization hits.  Her
mouth falls open and she takes a step back.  “You’ve been cheating on me with
Jen?!
”
she exclaims.

Derek
gets defensive.  “How do you even know her?” 

“She’s
Kyle’s ex!”

Derek
moves toward Addison and I step in his way.  “I wouldn’t if I were you.”

He
scoffs.  “Who do you think you are?  You were screwing my wife before I even
met Jen!”

I
grab Derek’s collar.  Clutching it, I twist and pull.  “Say one more word.  I
dare you.”

His
eyes narrow.  “How do I always end up with your sloppy seconds?”

My
fist connects with his jaw.

Derek
stumbles into the table behind him.  Drinks spill and guests jump out of their seats.

“Get
out of here,” I snarl.

He
rights himself and shoves my chest.  “Make me.”

“Stop!” 
Addison steps between us.  “Derek, go home.”  She focuses on his face.  “Don’t
ruin this night for Ashley.”

“Do
you think I give a fuck about Ashley?”  His hand flies out and grabs Addison’s
elbow.  “You’re the only one I care about.”

I
see red.  I’m about to pull Addison to my side when Jen steps forward.  “Thanks
a lot, asshole!” she spits.

She
throws something at Derek and it bounces off his chest.  I don’t know what it
is until I see her pull at her ear and rip the jewelry out of it.  She chucks
the other earring at him.  “You’re a piece of work, you know that?”  She gets
in his face.  “Why the fake name?  Were you worried you would get caught?  Karma
sure is a funny bitch.”

“I
don’t have time for you right now,” Derek snaps.

“Perfect!”
Jen exclaims.  “Because I don’t have any more time for you.”  She pulls
Addison’s arm out of Derek’s grasp and starts to lead her away.  “I suggest you
leave before the Dayton brothers kick your ass.”

Jen’s
eyes focus on something behind me, and I turn my head.  Kevin is headed in our
direction.  I lean toward Derek.  “Find the door.”

His
eyes jump from me to my brother, and he takes a step back.  I’m done wasting my
time with this prick.  I start to walk toward Addison.

Until
a fist meets the side of my face.

I
trip over my feet, but quickly get my balance.  I turn just in time to block
another punch and land one of my own.  Derek staggers back, crashing into a
different table.  The few people seated there gasp and scatter.

Before
he can react, I lunge forward and grab his shirt with both hands.  I slam him
against the tabletop, then pull him off and shove him away.  Kevin catches him
from behind and pins his arms to his sides.  As Derek struggles, Austin and Eli
appear.

“What
in the hell is going on?” Austin asks.

“Help
me get him out of here!” Kevin grunts.

He
doesn’t have to ask twice.

As
they lead him out, Tara’s boyfriend, John, finds me.  “Let me see if I can talk
some sense into him,” he says.

Good
luck with that,
I think.

“Kyle.” 
Addison touches my arm.  “Are you okay?  Your cheek is swelling.”

I
know.  I can feel it.  I haven’t been hit like that in years.

She
reaches up and runs her fingers over my face.  “This is my fault.”

“No.” 
I move her hand away and hold on to it.  “I hit Derek and he hit me back.  You
had nothing to do with it.”

“I
have everything to do with it!  The only reason he was here was because of
me.”  Her face falls.  “I should have answered his stupid calls.”

I
had no idea he was calling.  “Why didn’t you tell me he was bothering you?”

Addison
gives me a knowing look.  “It wasn’t worth making you angry.  He only called a
few times and I let them go to voice mail.  He said we needed to talk, but I’m
done.  Nothing he can say will make me change my mind.”

I
squeeze her hand that I’m still holding.

Addison
glances around the room.  People are looking at us out of the corners of their
eyes, and I refuse to turn around to see if my parents are staring, too.  I’m
sure my mom is and I don’t want to hear her opinion.

“Guys.” 
Ashley walks up to us.  “Is everything all right?  I was in the bathroom and
missed it!  Where’s Kevin?”

I
look over her head to see my brother, Austin, and Eli return to the reception. 
“Over there.”  I nod.  “Everything’s fine.”

“I’m
so sorry, Ash,” Addison says.  She lets go of me and hugs her best friend.  “I
didn’t mean for this to happen.”

“What
are you worried about?” Ashley frowns over Addison’s shoulder.  “Derek should
have known better than to show up here.”

Addison
steps back.  “Your families must think we’re insane.”

“Please,”
Ashley scoffs.  “At my cousin Kimmie’s wedding, her sister Kendra got caught
having sex in the linen closet with one of the wait staff.  Oh, and two of my aunts
got caught smoking pot in the parking lot.  I think my family would be upset if
something
didn’t
happen.”

From
across the room, I notice Jen walk over to Kevin.  He holds on to her arms and
looks her in the eye as she talks; I’m sure she is filling him in on what
happened.  I feel terrible for her.  Just a few days ago she was so happy.

“Wow,
Kyle,” Ashley says.  “You should really get some ice.”

I
raise my hand to my cheek.  “I’ve had worse.”

Addison
turns to me.  “Not on my watch you haven’t.”  She inspects my face again.  “Please
get some ice.”

You
know, a drink wouldn’t hurt either.  “C’mon.”  I take her hand and pull her
toward the bar.  On our way there, we pass my brother and Jen.

“You
don’t have to leave,” I hear him say as we walk by.

“I
know, but I need to.”

We
stop walking.  Jen and Addison face each other.  After silent seconds, Jen
says, “I don’t know what to say.  I didn’t know.”

“It’s
okay,” Addison responds.  “He gave you his middle name.  Even if he was honest,
what were the odds of your Derek being the same as mine?”

Jen
looks down.  “We met on New Year’s Eve, but he didn’t call for months.  We’ve
been seeing each other since the end of February.”

“You
don’t have to explain.”  Addison steps forward.  “My marriage was hurting well
before New Year’s Eve.”

Jen
sighs.  “Still.  I feel awful.  I just…I just want to go home.”

“Do
you want me to walk you to your car?” I volunteer.  Not that I can fix this, but
I feel like I should try to do something.

“No,”
she says.  “I’m a big girl.”  She looks at Kevin.  “It was a beautiful
wedding.  Have fun on your honeymoon.”

He
gives her a hug.  “Thank you for my present.  I want a copy of it, okay?”

“Talk
to your brother,” she says.  “He’ll have to agree to perform it again.”

Jen
says goodbye.  After she leaves, Kevin lets out a heavy breath.  “It took
everything I had not to punch that guy before I knew about Jen.  I want another
shot.”

I’m
just about to agree when a man dressed in a suit and tie approaches.  “Mr.
Dayton?”

Both
Kevin and I respond.  “Yes?”

The
man looks confused.  “I’m looking for the groom.”

“Right
here.”  Kevin raises his hand.

“I’m
Anthony Towner, general manager. There’s a gentleman out front causing a
commotion.  Our valets saw you remove him from the premises, but he’s back. 
Security would like to have a word with you.”

“Looks
like you might get your shot,” I say.  “I’ll come with you.”

“No.” 
Addison steps in front of me.  “He’s just trying to make us mad.  Don’t give
him the satisfaction.  Let Ashley and Kevin have their night without our mess.” 
She turns to my brother.  “Tell him we left and you don’t know where we went.  We’ll
disappear.  If he wants to come in and check, let him.  He won’t find us.”

“Where
are we going?” I ask.

“Upstairs.” 
She looks at Kevin again.  “It’s okay if we leave the party, right?”

“It’s
fine,” he says.  “We’re only here for another hour anyway.”

Satisfied,
Addison heads across the room to the opposite doors and I follow.  Once we’re
outside the ballroom, we find a set of elevators and head up to the seventh
floor.  Inside the small space, I pull her close.

“We’re
going to have to deal with him eventually,” I say.

“Yes,
but not tonight.”  She buries her head against my chest.  “I don’t want to ruin
the wedding any more than it has been.”

“Ashley
and Kevin aren’t upset.”

“It
doesn’t matter.  It doesn’t feel right to involve them.”

I
have to agree.  Their night should not be about us.

When
the elevator stops we exit and find our room.  I fish the key card out of my
wallet. Earlier, while the girls were taking more photos, I checked us in and
brought up our bags.  As I hold the door open for Addison, she brushes past me
and heads straight for the counter that holds the coffee pot and over-priced bottles
of water.  She grabs the ice bucket.

“What
are you doing?” I ask.

“Helping
you,” she says.  “I’ll be right back.”

She
leaves, and I flip the door lock so she can get back in.  Headed toward the bed,
I kick off my shoes and decide to look in the mirror hanging over the desk.  My
face is sore, but it doesn’t look very swollen.  I pause, thinking of all the
fights I got into in high school.  If Addison had seen me after those, she
would have lost her shit.  This is nothing.

When
she returns, she puts some ice in a washcloth from the bathroom and hands it to
me.  “For your cheek.”

“It’s
not that bad,” I protest and plop down on the edge of the bed.  “You’re
worrying for nothing.”

She
steps out of her heels and kicks them behind her.  “Humor me.  I know bad when
I see it.”

I
laugh.  “No, you don’t.”

She
moves to stand in front of me and raises an eyebrow.  She lifts her knee and
points to her scar.  “Yes, I do.”

“You
want to compare scars?” I ask.  I set down her makeshift ice pack, unbutton my
cuff, and roll up my sleeve.  “See that?  That’s what happens when your brother
turns around holding a weed whipper.”

She
scrutinizes the permanent line on my skin.  I remember the day Kevin accidentally
cut me.  It hurt like hell and the gash needed twenty stitches.

Addison’s
unimpressed eyes meet mine.  “I’ll see your arm and raise you a thigh.”  Reaching
down, she grabs the bottom of her dress and hikes it to her hip.  The top of
her left leg is covered in faded marks.  It looks like she walked through a
plate glass window.

“Plane
crash,” she says matter-of-factly.

My
eyes meet hers.  There’s no way any of my past split lips, cut eyebrows, or
banged up fingers trump what she’s been through.  I start to reach for her, but
she steps back.

“Uh
uh.”  She smiles.  “You started this.  What else you got?”

I
accept her challenge and stand, untucking my shirt.  Lifting it, I point to a
tiny scar.  “Appendix,” I say.  “I had it out when I was nineteen.”

She
squints.  “I can barely see that.”

I
shrug and drop my shirt, then gesture for her to go next.  To my surprise, she
turns around and starts to lower the zipper on the back of her dress.

“Hey.” 
I step forward.  “That’s my job.”

She
grins over her shoulder and her hand stops moving.  “A little help here?”

Gladly,
I oblige.  With her back exposed, Addison holds on to the top of her dress and
says, “On the left.”

I
have to push the fabric aside to see.  My eyes widen when I find the lines
etched into the surface of her skin.  They extend from her thigh over her hip
and run outside the waistline of her lacey boy shorts.  Tempted, I trace one of
them with my finger, trailing it along her lower back before her skin breaks
out in goose bumps.

“I
know they’re not pretty,” she says.  “I wasn’t lying.  I know what bad looks
like.”

She’s
wrong.

Sliding
my hand inside her dress, I weave it around her waist.  I press my palm against
her stomach and pull her to me, wrapping my free hand over her shoulder.  As her
back settles against my chest, my lips gently tease her ear.  “There is not one
part of you that isn’t beautiful,” I whisper.

Addison’s
breath hitches.  I can feel it with her body pressed to mine.  I leave a trail
of open-mouthed kisses down the side of her neck and she leans further into
me.  Her hands move, letting the front of her dress fall, and one of them finds
its way into my hair while the other covers mine at her waist.  I don’t know
why I didn’t notice earlier, but she’s not wearing anything under the dress
other than the boy shorts.  I can’t stop the groan that leaves my throat.  What
I see is perfect and better than my memory.  My hand leaves her shoulder and teases
her breasts before reaching her hip and pushing down.

“Can
we get rid of this?” I breathe.

She
murmurs a “yes” before helping me.  We push her dress to her feet and then I
pull her back to my chest again.  My lips find her shoulder and my hands roam
her skin.  I take my time exploring every soft inch of her.  When my fingers find
the top of her shorts, I’m dying to dive inside.  But, this is our first time –
again.  We’ve been waiting for this moment and I don’t want to rush it. 
Instead, I slowly trace the lace across her waist, over her hip, and down her
backside.