Heat in the Hamptons

Chapter 7

James stayed in the kitchen, not sure what to do now that he finally had her here.

Addison opened the door, and sat her purse and keys on the entry table. The back of James' neck reddened as he waited.

Addison walked past the kitchen, she could see him out of her peripheral. She didn't stop, didn't make eye contact, she just went up the stairs.

She didn't try to sneak up them like she did the day before, she went up them as quickly as she could.

She thought she was ready to talk to James, but now being in their home, being so close to him, she needed a minute.

James' heart quickened as she walked past him. He knew she saw him.

That can't be a good sign.

Addison closed the bedroom door behind her, and locked the bathroom door. She started the shower and stepped in.

James entered the bedroom when he heard the shower kick on. He sat on the bed facing the bathroom door, exactly where he had thrown Megan the day before as they devoured each other.

Addison took her time in the shower. She didn't know what she was going to do. She loved James so much, but how could she ever forgive this? Ever look at him the same?

She could still smell his body wash, just like she could yesterday. She stared at it for a moment.

This was where they were showering together. They were in here, together. Addison pictured them soaping each other until they were so enthralled that they had to move it to the bed, leaving the shower on.

A shiver ran down her spine despite the borderline scalding water falling down her body.

He broke all of her walls down and promised she could trust him, and then he broke her again.

4 Years Prior

James whistled while he walked up to Addison's apartment building. He was excited to see her after a long day at work.

He smiled as he thought about what she would wear tonight. It was their six month anniversary, a milestone he had literally never celebrated with anyone before. But Addison was different.

She wasn't shallow, or selfish, or needy. He actually wished she'd need him more. He was so used to showering women with money and presents, but Addison rarely accepted such things.

He climbed the steps of her apartment and punched in her code to enter the building.

She definitely could need him, if she wanted. She worked way too much and lived in this apartment that, while beautiful to Addison, could have been nicer. She could live with him.

He knew it was way too soon to suggest such a thing to her, but he thought about it all the time.

He thought about way more than that.

Every time he passed a jewelry store he considered going in to look at engagement rings. An absurd thought at half a year into a relationship, and even more absurd when you consider who's thinking it.

James' longest relationship before Addison was a year, he rarely committed. And he surely had never even thought about marriage with any other woman he had ever dated.

James approached Addison's door, and as she swung it open his eyes drank her in. Her tight dress formed to her body while still being classy, and the heels she had on complimented her legs.

His eyes ran up to her face and his heart warmed as she smiled at him.

It's a strange feeling, James thought to himself. It's a strange feeling finding the love of your life.

§

Addison stepped out of the shower. She knew he'd be sitting on the bed. But she wasn't ready to talk yet.

Would she take him back? How could she? She had been hurt so many times before and he knew that, and he still did what he did.

But where would she live? Rage filled her. This was exactly why she never wanted to sell her apartment, because of this exact scenario.

She was dependent on him now. She had no home and for some women, that would mean they would be forced to be taken advantage of if it meant they had a home and some money.

She shook her head as she stood in their walk-in closet. No. She watched her mother crumble too many times at the hands of a cruel man to provide a home for her family to do the same.

Addison pulled on black exercise leggings and a form fitting white t-shirt. Beneath her shirt you could see her mauve sports bra peeking out as it held her full breasts.

She pulled on some socks and slipped on her sneakers.

As quietly as she could she grabbed her suitcase off of the top shelf, but of course it just tumbled on top of her because she was too short to control the luggage as she pulled it.

Within a second James was pounding on the door. "Addy, baby are you okay?"

She didn't say anything. She felt her head where one of the wheels had clipped her temple. She pulled her fingers away, blood.

She rolled her eyes and checked in the mirror. It wasn't deep, just a bad knick that was tender to the touch. She patted it with some tissues until the bleeding subsided. She fished through the drawer for a bandaid and placed it on her wound. James was pounding on the door the entire time.

"Baby please let me in, I need to know you're okay."

"I'm fine." Was all she gave him.

James rested his head on the door. He was so afraid she had been hurt.

Addison began quickly ripping her clothes off of the hangers and folding them as quickly as she could, laying them into the suitcase and then another until she was done with the clothes that were hung. She zipped those up and stood them at the door of the closet.

She opened the door and James nearly fell through from where he had been resting against it.