“Oh, I don’t know...” Addie says, the discomfort renewed. Last thing she wants is to pretend to be my girlfriend any longer than she has to. Wonder what she’s going to do when we’re married, and her belly is swollen with my child. Quite the predicament she’ Il be in there. “Please, I would be insulted if you didn’t show. Zack here has been a wonderful friend, and I would be heartbroken not to see you two there.” Noting the trepidation in her eyes, he tacks on, “If you’d like, we can talk further about your great-grandmother’s case. With my father being so close to your family, I was around John and Gigi quite a bit growing up. In fact, Sera and I played together all the time. I’m sure there’s some potential information rattling around in my head.” Fucker. He’s manipulating her, and that’s a big no-no. No one manipulates my girl but me. “I have a few business meetings that weekend,” I cut in, keeping my face controlled but growing a tad angry by the reluctant interest in Addie’s eyes. She wants that information and Mark damn well knows it. Mark places a hand over his chest. “Not possible to reschedule?” “Pll get back to you tomorrow,” I promise. He acquiesces, satisfied with that answer. Dickhead is confident I’Il say yes, and I’m not even sure if he’s wrong anymore now that he’s fucking hooked Addie. He slaps a hundred-dollar bill to cover the tab, says his goodbyes, and heads off. With his presence gone, it feels like the air opens up again and I can breathe. He sure has a way of sucking everything good out of the world when he’s around. I look to Addie, and she’s already staring at me. She doesn’t say anything, waiting for me to explain myself. Sighing, I push out of my chair and hold out my hand, prompting her to grab it. Unsurprisingly, she ignores it. Grabbing her laptop case, she stands and follows me. I walk her to her car in silence, and she doesn’t push. “I’m not letting you within ten feet of that place. Him even knowing about you was never supposed to happen,” I say firmly. We arrive at her SUV. She unlocks the door but doesn't move to get in it yet. “IT don’t want to get involved, either,’ she snaps. She looks away, contemplating something as she chews her bottom lip. The urge to suck it between my own teeth reemerges. “I don’t know what the hell you’re involved in, Zade, clearly something I probably don’t want to know about, but I think keeping me away from it is a bit too late.” She sighs, gearing herself up for whatever she’s going to say next.