Acting Up Page 23

  “I hope it hurt.”

  “Sure did. Felt like I’d slammed my hand in a car door.”

  He chuckled. “No, Angela.”

  A wicked gleam entered Addison’s eyes. “She screamed. There was blood.” Her smile fell. “It was a great until Merrick called me into his office.”

  “I’m sure it doesn’t make the humiliation you suffered go away, but honestly, I think you’re better off without him,” Ethan said. “You deserve so much more.”

  “Do I? What if Merrick was right?” Addison asked. “Maybe he had an instinct about me. I’m probably the last person on earth who should be raising a child.”

  “Why?”

  “Too many reasons to count. I’m an emotional mess, for one. I don’t have a good role model to follow in the parenting arena, and I’ve never been around children. I’m just not good with anyone under the legal voting age.”

  Where had Addison gotten the idea she couldn’t relate to children? Another mind game by her jerk of a husband?

  “Tell that to my sons or the kids in the play,” Ethan said, folding his arms over his chest. “What about Aaron? He’d throw himself under a bus for you.”

  A smile flickered across her face for a moment, but it disappeared almost as soon as it appeared. “So there’s one other option, which is that Merrick simply didn’t want a baby with me. I think I’d rather believe there was some maternal gene missing than accept I was foolish enough to believe he ever loved me at all.”

  “I thought we’d established your ex-husband is a prize pig.”

  “We did?”

  He brushed his fingers across her cheek. “I did anyway.”

  Addison slipped her arms around his waist. She probably meant the gesture as a hug, but for him, the physical contact set off a chain reaction. Ethan stiffened, knowing he shouldn’t tempt fate or his own suppressed urges.

  Oh, who am I kidding?

  He didn’t have the strength to push her away.

  “You want to know what I thought when I saw you holding Mary?” he asked, pulling her closer, giving in to the magnetic pull.

  “I think it would be a bad idea if you told me,” Addison whispered back.

  “I thought you were adorable,” Ethan said, ignoring the warning. “Flustered and scared and beautiful.”

  Laughing, Addison buried her face in his chest. “I take it back. You’re not a good man. You’re dangerous. I thought we weren’t going to do this anymore.”

  “I wasn’t.”

  Then he lowered his head, capturing her lips. Addison’s arms went up around his neck, and she stood on tiptoe to get closer. Ethan’s hand massaged her back, sliding lower to her hips.

  “Yoohoo! Time to come in, kids!”

  They jumped apart as Julia appeared behind the screen door.

  Addison glared at her newfound friend. “For someone who’s been working so hard at matchmaking, you’ve got incredibly bad timing.”

  “Sorry,” Julia said with a dry chuckle. “I stalled as long as I could, but I can’t hold Carrie off much longer. I think she can smell the sparks going off out here. Even my niece didn’t distract her for long. I’m afraid she’s about to mount up a search. If Carrie finds you two in a clinch, she’s liable to spontaneously combust on the porch, and I’d rather not have to clean up the mess.”

  The comment acted like a bucket of cold water. For a moment, Ethan had forgotten where they were. So lost in the feel of the woman in his arms, he’d been caught making out with her like a teenager with no self-control. He might claim loneliness or years of deprivation, but something about Addison unleashed desires he’d never felt before.

  Not even with Jenny.

  Ethan dropped his arms and stepped back. “You’d better go in with her.”

  Addison stared at him for a long time, as if she wanted to argue. Then she sighed and followed Julia.

  At the door, Addison paused and glanced over her shoulder. For one charged moment, their eyes met. Then Ethan broke the connection and turned to stare out across the yard.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  “Can you teach a girl to glide when she strides like a boy?”

  “No, no, no!”

  “If she dresses out of fashion, can you…”

  “No, no… Ow!”

  The music came to an abrupt halt as Peter crashed into Amanda who lost her balance and like a domino, banged into Carla and Nina. In the end, all three members of Bree’s Posse ended up in a tangled heap on the floor.

  “Peter, you’re supposed to turn left!” Amanda howled, clutching her foot. “Left!”

  The human train wreck ran a frustrated hand through his hair. “I got mixed up.”

  “Well, you’d better figure out a way to tell right from left before we all wind up on crutches,” Nina said as she stood and brushed herself off.

  Meanwhile, Lisa Turney was surveying the entire party with a mixture of pity and contempt. “Klutz.”

  “Go suck a lemon, Lisa,” Peter said. “Oh, wait looks like you already have.”

  The rest of the cast laughed.

  Lisa stuck her chin in the air. “You’re so immature.”

  “And you’re a b—”

  “Whoa!” Addison cried, rushing up to the stage. “Enough.”

  The cast regarded her with varying degrees of exhaustion and exasperation. Amanda still hobbled around like a baby bird. The other members of Bree’s Posse were equally banged up. It was the third time they’d tried this number today, and each time Peter went right when he was supposed to go left, resulting in a big pile-up. He was supposed to be providing the comic relief, not maiming half the cast.

  “Everyone, take five,” Addison said. “Peter, let’s talk.”

  The kids dispersed while Peter shuffled over toward her, chin tucked in so he looked like an ostrich planting its head in the sand.

  “Stop moping, Peter.”

  “I don’t know why I can’t remember.” He raked a hand through his hair again, making him look like an adolescent Dr. Frankenstein. “The whole time, I’m thinking go left, go left.”

  Addison regarded the kid’s hang-dog expression, and despite her overall frustration, couldn’t help being amused. “Maybe that’s the problem. You’re thinking too much.”

  “How else am I supposed to remember? Should I use the Force?” He swished his arms around like he was in a death match with a bad guy.

  “Give me one of your shoelaces.”

  Peter’s eyes bugged out. “Huh?”

  “Just do it. I’ve got an idea.”

  Once Peter had pulled the string free, Addison tied it around his left wrist. He stared at the lace in confusion.

  “It’s so you don’t have to think,” Addison said.

  The kid’s only response was a look of utter befuddlement.

  Do. Not. Smile. “Where’s your left hand?”

  Peter held up the hand with the shoelace.

  “Turn around,” Addison said, making a swirling motion with her finger.

  Peter dutifully spun to face the back of the stage.

  “Right hand.”

  He held up the other hand with no hesitation.

  “Turn left.”

  He pivoted left.

  “Left again.”

  Another perfect turn without missing a beat.

  “What are we doing?” he asked. “The hokey-pokey?”

  “I’m teaching you not to think.”

  “You don’t have to teach him that,” Luke Mitchell joked from the sidelines.

  The comment earned an eye roll and scowl. “That’s almost as funny as your fade-away shot,” Peter said.

  A chorus of giggles rumbled through the peanut gallery.

  Turning her head, Addison gave them her best evil eye. “This is serious business. I’ll have no more comments from you.”

  Mouths clamped shut accompanied by gulps and even a couple worried glances.

  Addison focused on Peter once more. “Try the steps again.”

&
nbsp; “We don’t have any music.”

  “Just sing it in your head.”

  Regarding her as if wondering if she had a screw loose, Peter nevertheless took his place. Addison watched his lips moving as he danced. When he got to the part where he had to make the turn, he went left precisely on cue.

  “I did it,” he said in astonishment as a huge grin broke out on his face. “I remembered.”

  “Yes you did.”

  “All because of this?” Peter asked, holding up his wrist.

  “I wanted to get you out of your head,” Addison said. “Teach your brain where to go.”

  “Will I have to wear it for the show, too?” he asked, pulling at the shoelace. “I’ll look like an idiot.”

  “It would be better than sending one of your co-stars to the hospital, but no, eventually instinct will take over, and you won’t need the cue anymore.”

  “Cool.” Peter grinned again, no doubt relieved he’d be able to maintain his street cred.

  Still stifling a grin, Addison patted his arm and made her way back to the auditorium. As she passed the cast members, she winked at them. Mouths dropped open.

  “You look pleased,” Marjorie said when Addison sat down.

  “I think maybe I am,” she said, finally letting loose with a smile.

  Marjorie regarded her with appreciation. “Neat trick with the shoelace.”

  “We still have to get him to turn left in time with the music,” Addison pointed out. “Let’s hope it works.”

  “I can’t believe you’re capable of smiling at this point,” Marjorie said. “How much longer do we have until this play opens?”

  All amusement disappeared. “Not nearly long enough. I’d feel better if this show were premiering next year.”

  “Michelle and Luke are doing great.”

  “Yeah, but meanwhile, Carla can’t go more than two sentences without calling for a line, Brad makes Peter look like Twinkle Toes, and I wouldn’t be surprised if somebody doesn’t strangle Lisa before we’re through.”

  “You’re too hard on yourself.”

  “Easy for you to say,” Addison grumbled. “No one will blame you if this turns out to be a disaster.”

  Marjorie touched Addison’s arm. “It’s not going to be a disaster.”

  “I’m not so—”

  “Ms. Covington?”

  Bob Olsen, the shop teacher and set designer, approached from the wings. He was even bigger than Gordy, and his huge girth made Addison feel like the eighth dwarf. She forced herself not to back up as the enormous man approached.

  “Hello, Mr. Olsen.”

  “Ms. Covington, the main set is done.”

  “Already?”

  The giant’s head bobbed up and down. “We can start bringing the pieces in now if you want.”

  The dark cloud disappeared, and Addison’s optimism picked up again. “Mr. Olsen, you’ve made my day. I could kiss you.”

  The shop teacher blinked. “As long as you don’t tell my wife, ma’am.”

  The comment was so unexpected, Addison burst out laughing. She crooked a finger at him. “Come here.” He leaned forward and she kissed his cheek. “I won’t tell if you don’t.”

  Mr. Olsen pulled back, a flush creeping up his cheeks.

  Addison turned to her cast. “Everyone, we have a set to move. Get going.”

  Excited chatter burst forth as the kids rushed off through the wings.

  Marjorie came to stand beside her. “I think you’ve made a friend for life.”

  “He’s pretty sweet once you get to know him.”

  “Happy again?” Marjorie asked.

  Addison nodded. “I think we may be able to pull this off after all.”

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Ethan lay in bed, staring at the framed picture of Jenny on the side table. Heaviness settled on his chest, the pain as sharp as the day he’d lost her. People often said grief faded over time, but they were wrong. Despair came in waves, sometimes retreating, only to crash back to shore with the force of a tsunami. There didn’t have to be a reason for the crash. He could go a couple weeks feeling almost normal, and then reality pummeled him again.

  Reality and kissing the most beautiful woman he’d ever known.

  Kissing Addison could easily become an obsession. Of course, wanting to kiss her wasn’t the issue. Desire, he could explain. Any man still breathing would desire Addison. No, he wanted more. He wanted to know the real woman underneath all the glitz and glamour. The one who cried over an unborn life and who didn’t think she could be a good mother. The one whose eyes promised another shot at heaven.

  Ethan rolled to his side and sat up. He scrubbed his face, working to break free of the suffocating desolation and guilt.

  He shoved to his feet and walked to the window. The sun rose in the sky like a huge, yellow balloon, and a few puffy white clouds floated across a clear blue sky. If Jenny were here, she’d declare a holiday. Take the boys out of school, pack a picnic, and head to the lake. They’d spend the day feeding the ducks and skipping rocks along the water. Jason and Carson would race along the shore in the throes of some game they’d made up.

  Squeezing his eyes, Ethan turned from the view. He had to stop going down a path with no end.

  A muffled thump from the boys’ room brought him back from the edge. Ethan hurried down the hall to find out what mayhem his twins had started. He broke up an intergalactic battle and proceeded to herd the boys to the kitchen. Breakfast went by in a haze of cereal bowls and spilled milk. The rest of the day seemed to pass in a blur. At three, he stood and reached for his coat.

  “Nancy, I’ve got my meeting today,” he called out to his secretary as he passed through the office. “Call if there’s an emergency.”

  “Of course, Mr. Thomas,” she answered. “Tell Pastor Graham I enjoyed his sermon on Sunday.”

  Ethan chuckled as he walked out to his car. A moment later, he was heading toward the park. Despite the pretense, he was pretty sure everyone knew his biweekly meetings involved layups and slam dunks with his friends. Seth, Meredith Vining’s husband, Brian, and Sarah’s husband, Eric, had been ‘meeting’ to play basketball for years. Since everyone also knew the regular games kept them sane, no one said anything.

  Unfortunately, Brian was visiting Meredith in Nashville, and Eric had baby duty since Sarah was working, which left Ethan with only Seth for company.

  Seth, who was always too perceptive for anyone’s good. Especially Ethan’s.

  Seth barely waited until the first dunk before launching his first salvo. “So… you and Ms. Hollywood.”

  Ethan’s shot clanked against the rim.

  “When did that happen?” Seth asked, scooping the ball up.

  “Nothing’s happening.”

  “So Julia imagined the two of you on Grace’s back porch last night?” Seth asked as he went in for a layup.

  Ethan caught the ball and held it to his chest. “It’s insane. I’m insane to even think about her.”

  “Why?”

  “Why what?”

  “Why is it insane to be interested in a fascinating woman like Addison Covington?”

  “Because she’s Addison Covington.”

  “So? She’s a person like anyone else. Julia likes her, and trust me, she can spot a raging diva a mile away. I like Addison, too. She’s nothing like you’d expect.”

  “I know who Addison is, which is the problem,” Ethan ground out, aiming for the basket. His shot went sailing over the top.

  The game stopped altogether. “Because you like her?”

  “Of course I like her,” Ethan said through gritted teeth. “She’s… she’s…” He couldn’t explain his feelings. He hardly knew himself.

  Seth’s expression softened. “She’s special, and you’re scared.”

  “Terrified…” Ethan rested his hands on his knees, breathing deeply. “How do you do this? How do you look at Julia without being ripped apart by guilt? If Julia was different from Beth,
Addison is like an alien species compared to Jenny.”

  “I think I finally learned to love both women.”

  “Both?”

  “I still miss Beth every day,” Seth said, his voice growing thick. “She was my first love, but I can’t compare her to Julia. They’re part of different lives. I’m not the same person who was married to Beth. Julia is right for me now. We’re right for each other because of everything we’ve been through. From what I understand, Addison hasn’t had an easy life, and I’m not talking about only the last few months.”

  “I know,” Ethan said, thinking about the little girl who’d lost her father and mother in the same afternoon. The woman whose husband had told her to get rid of their baby. “She’s told me a little.”

  “I’m guessing she doesn’t open up with many people.”

  “Probably not.”

  “The thing is, you can only judge by who you are now.”

  “I can’t imagine Addison being right for me. She’ll never stay here.”