Page 23 of Protecting Addison
Addison nodded as all the kids headed toward the house, and Ricky called out, “Watch your sister!”
Artem turned, looking confused. “Yes. Why would we not?” Then he took Yana’s hand and turned back around.
“Hi. I’m Taylor,” the girl who’d come to meet them said. “You’re Ellory, right? My mom told me a little about you. You’re in seventh grade? I’m a sophomore.”
Ellory nodded a little shyly.
“Want to come hang out? Taylor Swift’s latest concert is streaming, we can watch it if you want to. Caroline said we can use the TV in the basement.”
“I’d like that. Thanks,” Ellory said.
As the two girls wandered toward the house, heads tilted toward each other, chatting away as if they’d been best friends forever, Addison asked, “And who was that?”
“Dude and Cheyenne’s daughter. I don’t know her very well, but I’m impressed with her so far. See? Things are going to be fine,” Ricky said. “Come on. Let’s get this cake and the cookies inside. I can’t wait for everyone to freak over how amazing this cake is.”
Addison rolled her eyes, but she was tremendously relieved that so far, at least the kids seemed to be comfortable.
They’d barely stepped onto the lawn before a woman with shoulder-length brownish hair, walking hand-in-hand with what could only be described as a silver fox, stepped toward them.
“MacGyver!” the guy exclaimed, leaning in and giving him a one-arm man-hug.
“Careful, man, you don’t want me to drop this cake. Trust me, it’s going to knock your socks off. Not only because it looks like a masterpiece, but because it’s the best cake you’ll ever eat in your life.”
The woman smiled at Ricky’s over-the-top bragging and smiled at Addison. “Hi. I’m Caroline. And this is my husband. The guys know him as Wolf, but I call him Matthew. Don’t worry about remembering everyone’s nicknames and real names. It can get confusing really fast, since we all call the guys different things.”
“Oh, I already know that. I call Ricky by his name, but most everyone else calls him MacGyver. And I’ve noticed the same thing with his teammates,” Addison said, shaking the other woman’s hand.
“Right, then you already fit in perfectly. I can’t wait to see this cake! MacGyver’s been bragging about it on his group chat but wouldn’t tell the guys what it is. Everyone else is inside or in the backyard. Come on, and I’ll introduce you after we drop your stuff inside. And I’ll warn you now, it looks as if there’s enough food for eight hundred people, but trust me, it’ll get eaten. I learned years ago that we can never have enough.”
Addison took a deep breath and smiled at the older woman. She’d built Caroline up in her mind as being some sort of untouchable and cold matriarch. Probably because Ricky had told her the story about how she’d earned the nickname “Ice.” But instead, she seemed…normal. Almost plain in looks, but with a personality that made her sparkle.
She glanced at Ricky. “You want me to bring the cake in?”
“Nope. I’ve got it. You go with Caroline. I’m sure the other women are eager to meet you.”
Addison figured as much, but hearing confirmation from Ricky made her nervous all over again.
“MacGyver, you’re stressing her out. Shush,” Caroline scolded. Then she hooked her arm with Addison’s. “Don’t listen to him. I mean, yes, everyoneisexcited to meet the woman who has our MacGyver wrapped around her little finger, but they aren’t going to pounce on you the second you enter the house. Though, we can’t wait to hear how you two met, and all about how Artem, Borysko, and Yana are doing. They looked great the few seconds I saw them before they raced by with Jess’s kids, but when we heard about everything they’ve been through, it hurtallour hearts.”
Caroline kept talking as she led Addison away from Ricky. She looked back once, and Ricky gave her a small chin lift and a smile. His reassurance was all she needed to take another deep breath and attempt to relax. These were his friends, the people who meant the most in the world to him, other than his blood family. She was in good hands…she hoped.
* * *
Four hours later, Addison was having the time of her life. She’d met so many people and children that her mind was spinning. Caroline hadn’t lied about the names being confusing. She was just grateful that she’d already known both the real names and nicknames of Ricky’s teammates.
She was currently sitting in the backyard with Remi, Maggie, Wren, and Josie, watching the kids play. From the second she’d met the other women, she felt a kinship. It was a little odd, but Addison felt the same way when she’d met Ricky, and that had turned out all right. No, more than all right. Going outside her comfort zone and befriending him had ended up changing her life, and Ellory’s life, for the better.
“Girl, that cake was ah-may-zing!” Remi exclaimed for what seemed like the tenth time.
“I have no idea how you made that water look so real,” Wren gushed.
“And those little people in the boat? I thought they were plastic at first,” Josie agreed.
“You’re very talented,” Maggie agreed quietly.
Addison blushed a little. She’d received so many compliments on not only the way she’d decorated the cake, but how it tasted, that it was getting a little embarrassing. “Thanks, you guys.”
“Why aren’t you working in some sort of shop or something? I mean, if you don’t mind me asking,” Remi said.
