“You ready?”
I gaze out the small airplane window, watching the bags get loaded one by one up the conveyor belt.
“Hey,” Tony says, hitting my leg with his. I look over at him. Poor guy. He barely fits into his seat, and not because he’s overweight. He’s built a lot like Max, just a slight bit smaller. “I asked if you were ready, but you seem somewhere else.”
“Sorry, I was just zoning out,” I say, smiling at him. Tony has been by my side for the last two months, pushing me to get better every day. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to thank him enough. “Yes, I’m ready. Thanks to you.” I grab his hand and squeeze it.
“Nope, I will not take credit for it. You’re the one who pushed through. I just guided you.”
“Tony. You gave up two months of your life for me. And even though I’m sure you were here on behalf of Aiden, you’re still one of the most amazing men who I know.”
“Aww, thank you,” he says, blushing, looking down, then leans over and whispers, “But I’m still not telling you why I came.” I bump him with my shoulder. It’s a question that I have asked repeatedly. He’s been here so long though that I gave up trying to find the answer.
“I didn’t ask.” I chuckle. He gives me a pointed look. “I just said that I’m sure it was Aiden.”
He shakes his head. “You know you could have easily found out if that’s what you thought.”
Here is the main reason I think he’s never told me. He wants me to call Aiden. Hell, everyone wants me to call Aiden. And while I thought about it many times, what if it wasn’t him? Then I’ll make him feel guilty for not doing it himself. I blow out a breath. I don’t want to make him feel guilty for anything else. I’m sure the guilt between us weighs so much it could ground this seven-thirty-seven airplane.
“I guess I never thought to ask you if you left anyone behind in New York,” I say, trying to change the subject. “Are you dating anyone?”
“Why, you interested?” he asks, wagging his eyebrows. I laugh, knowing he’s joking.
“Oh, yeah, that would go over well.”
“Right? I’d like to keep my life, thanks,” he teases. “I mean I’m a big man and can protect myself, but I’ve got to say, Max scares me.”
I laugh louder. “Max seems to scare a lot of people. Hey, you know Harper? You guys should go out.”
His hands clap and his laugh echoes. “Oh, Addison. Yes, I know Harper.” I turn my body toward him and lift my brow. I obviously haven’t heard this story. “She’s never told you?” I shake my head. He wiggles his arm so his watch moves down a little and then steeples his fingers, placing his elbows on the armrests.
“Come on, tell me! Harper usually tells me everything. Why haven’t I heard about you two?”
“It happened before you moved to New York,” he says, turning his head my direction. I gesture with my hand for him to continue. “So, we went out a couple times and ended up at my apartment one night. Things were getting hot and heavy between us and as I’m carrying her to my room, we pass some pictures.”
I’m trying to decide if I want to hear the details, because I don’t know how detailed he’s about to get. Curiosity wins. “Who was in the pictures?”
“My mom and dad,” he says, looking down.
“What’s wrong with that? I think it’s sweet that a guy has pictures of his mom and dad in his house.”
“Well. Come to find out, my dad is Harper’s doctor.”
“Hmm. Okay?”
“My dad is a gynecologist, Addison.”
I gasp, covering my mouth with my hand silencing my laugh. Oh, my! Wait, who’s my doctor?
“So what did she say?”
“She thought it was really awkward that my dad has seen her vajayjay—her word, not mine—and that it was just too weird for her.” He shrugs.
“Wow.”
“Yep. Story of my life. You’d be surprised at how many women who I’ve met that go to my father.”
I grab his arm and squeeze. “I’m so sorry, Tony. I can’t imagine,” I say, trying to hide the humor in my voice; I can’t for long and bust out laughing.
“You don’t know how happy I am that he’s retiring next year. It sucks that I have to ask a woman who her gyno is before I date them.”
The plane takes off and we talk the entire way home about what it was like having a father as a gynecologist. By the time we start our descent into La Guardia, Tony has everyone around us doubled over laughing.
It feels weird walking into my apartment building. Like it’s not mine. I’ve been gone three months. Even the security guard is new. He stops me before I make it to the elevator.
“Excuse me, miss, who are you here to see?” he asks as he stands up.
See, even he thinks I don’t belong here. “I’m Addison Mason. I live here.”
“Oh, I’m so sorry,” he says quickly. His face flushes.
“That’s okay. It’s been awhile since I’ve been here.”
“I’m Stan Bishop. It’s nice to finally meet you.” I can only imagine what he’s heard about me. “If you need anything, please let me know.”
I nod and thank him. As I wait for the elevator, I watch my reflection in the glass. I’ve changed so much since the last time I stood here. The feeling of melancholy washes over me when I think about the last time I was in my apartment. I was wallowing in sorrow thinking that Aiden had left me. He disappeared for a few days to the beach house. So much change.
My reflection vanishes when the doors open and pulls me back to the present. When I step off the elevator, I see a sign on the door that says “Welcome Back.” I told everyone not to be here when I got home. I needed to do this myself, so if there is a group of people in my apartment, I’m going to kill someone.
I breathe a sigh of relief when I slowly open the door and peek into an empty apartment. I look around at everything. Well, life, we’re back in business.
I may have wanted to be alone when I got home, but everyone might as well have been here because my phone has been ringing nonstop. Did you get there? How are you feeling? When can I see you? Are you sure you’re okay?
I settle back into my couch and take a breather between phone calls. I need to get out of here, go for a walk. The liveliness of the city has always energized me.
“Addison.” I whip around at the sound of my name and see Marco swiftly walking toward me as soon as I walk out of my building. I smile but quickly grab my phone like I just received a text. I half expect him to want a hug, so I make my hands look busy. Even though I feel like my old self, I’m definitely not in the mood for flirting. I text Sydney random stuff. She’ll just think I’m bored. “It’s so great to see you,” he says, standing in front of me. He looks down at my phone and then back up to my eyes. I keep both my hands on my phone.
“Hey, Marco, it’s good to see you, too.” I force a smile.
“I heard you were home.” My back straightens. There are only a few people who knew I was coming back, and I just got back today. “I mean, I overheard someone in the restaurant say that you might be coming back soon,” he says backtracking.
I guess that could’ve happened. I stuff my hands in my jacket and stand there, not really knowing what to say. “Well, it was really good seeing you. I need to go back up to my apartment; I think I forgot to turn off my stove. I just needed some fresh air so I walked out without thinking.” I shake my head and wave my hand around. “Silly me.”
His eyes assess me like he’s trying to gauge if I’m telling the truth. I put my hand on the door and his eyes follow my movement.
“Okay, beautiful. Come see me soon. I want to make you your favorite meal.” His smile reaches his striking, dark eyes. He is really an attractive man. Why he’s not taken already surprises me. I blow my cheeks out as I walk back inside. Maybe I’ll skip the walk.