Addie Gets Her Man

Marcus stayed where he was, watching Addie. Their gazes met, and something flipped in her stomach. She continued slowly the rest of the way around the gym until she was once again at the punch table.

“Your friend seems to have distracted your, uh, admirer,” Marcus said, leaning close. The music had gotten a bit louder. She’d given specific instructions on how loud the music could be, as much to protect everyone’s hearing as the ancient walls that had been built well before the advent of rock and roll. She didn’t have the budget for repairs.

The guys in the sound booth were definitely pushing it right now.

“Yeah, she’s a good friend.”

He laughed, and she wished the music wasn’t so loud. She wanted to hear him.

“Hope she doesn’t have to be very often.”

Addie shook her head. It wasn’t as if they had too many of these functions throughout the year. Thank God her path crossed with Jack’s only a couple of times a year. His ex took care of most of their daughter’s school interactions. Addie and Marcus stood there for several long minutes, not saying anything, watching the strobe lights match the beat of the music. Again, the silence between them seemed comfortable and neither seemed inclined to break it.

Soon, the evening started winding down and Marcus turned to find his son to leave. “Bye, Addie.” He stepped closer, and while his breath brushed her ear, his body heat brushed the rest of her. “See you around. Maybe at the coffee shop sometime.”

“Yeah, maybe.”

His grin was quick, and he moved away before she could confirm or deny anything.

Oh, for heaven’s sake, what was she thinking? They weren’t teenagers anymore. She was over thirty—not seventeen—and she was supposed to be supervising wayward kids. Not becoming one.