Page 72 of The Heartbreaker

“Addison—”

“No, I have to get this out. I want you to understand.” She was gazing at the ocean again. “The last time I felt this overwhelmed was when I went to my best friend, Leah, and told her about the twenty thousand and how I needed to find a way to make money quickly.” She shook her head. “We literally tried to come up with every option. OnlyFans”—she laughed—“influencing, bartending, being a shot girl—Ridge, we played out every scenario. None of them could earn me what stripping would. So, I walked into that club, on the complete opposite side of town from where I taught, hoping to never run into any of mystudents’ parents, and did what I had to do.” Her teeth grazed her top lip and then her bottom one. “What I never expected—what wasn’t on my bingo card—was you.”

“And you wanted nothing to do with me.”

She smiled, huffing out some air. “That’s not true!”

“It’s somewhat true.”

“I was just fighting it—that’s all. In my head, I still fight it. I can’t help it. The whole situation just upsets me. I wish I hadn’t met you there. I wish?—”

“I don’t wish that at all.”

She scanned my eyes. “Why?”

“Because it’s shown me what you’re willing to do to survive.” I cupped her face. “Most people wouldn’t have done what you did. That takes courage and guts and balls.”

Her chest rose, and she seemed to hold in the air she’d inhaled. “I’m just grateful—that’s all. Grateful my parents paid for my freshman year of college and that they were even able to do that. Grateful that they worked their asses off to give my sister and me everything we needed. And still, they never missed a game I cheered in or a meet Morgan swam in. They were there, always, through everything.”

She turned her body toward me, and my hand fell from her cheek.

“Is that why you’re paying your sister?” I asked, trying to piece this all together since it was a detail she’d left out. “Are you doing something for your parents?”

“Their thirtieth wedding anniversary is this Christmas. When I asked them what they were doing to celebrate, my father said they were going out to dinner and buying a new couch. A couch, Ridge. Because they’ve had the same one since we were kids.” She untucked her legs and crossed them in front of her.

“I told Morgan, and she said she was going to book them a vacation. She started sending me options to get my opinionon where I thought they’d enjoy going, and we decided a cruise would be the best thing for them. That way, they could see multiple places, and all the food and drinks would be included—something I know they wouldn’t splurge on, and they’d probably skip meals just to save money.” She took another drink.

“I couldn’t stomach the thought of Morgan picking up the entire bill. It’s not right, not when my parents have done so much for me, so I’m splitting the cost with her.”

I wrapped my hand around the back of her neck. “The twenty thousand is your half?”

“Yes, half of the airfare and the twenty-one-day cruise through the Mediterranean. A trip they would never take because they wouldn’t spend that kind of money. And, yes, I’m stripping off my clothes and showing my boobs so my parents can have the most monumental anniversary celebration that they’ll remember for the rest of their lives. Being able to do this for them means everything to me, and, damn it, they deserve it.”

Whatever I had previously thought about Addison didn’t even compare to the feelings I had now.

She was doing all of this for her parents, just to show her appreciation, giving them something they would never do for themselves. She wasn’t just stripping. She was working two jobs, she was putting herself in even more debt, she was pausing a relationship—all for them.

She was the most selfless, thoughtful woman I’d ever met in my life.

I didn’t care what I had to do, how long I had to wait; she was going to be mine.

“Come here …”

Her brows rose. “What?”

I held out my arms. “Come here right now.”

Emotion instantly filled her eyes before she collapsed against my chest. I locked her within my arms, breathing into the top of her head, pressing my lips on her hair.

“You’re incredible—I hope you know that. I hope you feel that in your heart. Not just as a daughter, but as a person. For what you’re doing, for what you’re sacrificing?—”

“I’d do anything for them.” She gripped my waist with both arms. “Shit, I was even going to show my feet on OnlyFans. It’s just too bad that didn’t work out, it would have been a lot easier than doing weekends at the club.”

I chuckled. “You wouldn’t have met me.”

She unraveled to connect eyes with me. “Feet aren’t your thing, huh?” She smiled.

“Yours are beautiful—but, no, they’re certainly not my thing.” I rubbed my nose against hers. “Do you know what is?”