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whatstruthgottodowithit · 8 months

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Here You Come Again [Part Fifteen]

Fandom: Elvis Presley, RPF, American Actor

Pairing: Elvis Presley x Original Female Character

Characters: Elvis Presley, Addison Goodwin, Original Female Characters, Priscilla Presley, Colonel Tom Parker, Vernon Presley, Gladys Presley, Minnie Mae Presley, Marci Cunningham, Jerry Schilling, Red West, Sonny West, Marty Lacker, Joe Esposito, Charlie Hodge, Lamar Fike, Alan Fortas, George Klein, Memphis Mafia

Rating: Explicit

Word Count: 8422

Summary: When Addison Goodwin was seventeen years old her life was turned inside out after a chance encounter with her past. Now, fifteen years later her life is the best it’s ever been. She has a home, a good job and a daughter she loves more than anything in the world but will all that remain when an old familiar face rolls into town.

Tags: Angst, Fluff, Graceland, Las Vegas, The International Hotel, Elvis In Vegas, 1970s, 1970s Elvis, Friends To Lovers, Rekindled Romance, Parenting, Time Line is Sketchy, Guilt, Betrayal, Teenage Pregnancy, Hawaii, Hidden Pregnancy, Jealousy, Sex, Absence of Parent, Single Motherhood, Trauma, Oral Sex, Tension, Addison's Dress

Notes: Feel free to hate me because I hate myself rn.

[there's only two chapters and an epilogue left and I promise it gets better x]

LINK TO ALL PARTS // LINK TO AO3 // LINK TO PINTEREST

Anyone would think that being on a vacation with your ex in the most romantic place on earth immediately after having shot him down for kissing you would be awkward. Well for the most part they’d be right. However Addison was finding that wasn’t the case entirely. As with everything that Elvis did she had found that where most people fit into a mould he didn’t and even though their situation wasn’t exactly an orthodox one he managed to navigate through it with ease. She had been in the middle of packing, folding her clothes neatly into her case when he had found her, coming into the room via the bathroom, watching her closely though she hadn’t realised he was there.

‘Marty’s doing a last-minute run to the store if you need anything picking up,’ he said, his low gravelly voice capturing her attention and making her whip around like a deer in headlights. He smiled at her, kind of enjoying the way he had gotten her at odds – given he had spent the night the same way after their kiss.

‘You scared me,’ she said, shifting nervously before she added, ‘I’m good thanks.’

‘Well if you think of anything just let him know,’ he said with a nod. Addison nodded, her fingers tracing along the edge of the suitcase behind her as she tried to think of what to say. If anything she wanted to keep her mouth shut. Everything had been going so well between them and she didn’t want to lose that, but as he turned to leave she found the words coming out of her mouth, ‘Elvis about last night-’

‘Forget about it,’ he said with a smile, sympathy in his crystal blue eyes that made her heart flip flop.

‘But-’

‘Addie honestly don’t worry about it,’ he said, ‘it was just a kiss.’

‘Just a kiss,’ she agreed though he could tell she was still over thinking it from the way she was gnawing on her lip.

‘Now c’mon,’ he smiled trying to reassure her, ‘we’ve got a vacation to get to.’

But it wasn’t just a kiss. It had been all she had been thinking about for the past two weeks. He had stayed true to his word and if she didn’t know any better she’d say that he had forgotten it himself. Yet the way he was around her made her feel as through that wasn’t the case. Their dynamic didn’t change. He wasn’t any more caring or attentive than he had been beforehand, but he didn’t pull away either, become cold or distant like he had the first time they had been working through their feelings for one another. No, if anything he had been pretty damn perfect.

Yet she was a mess. She didn’t know what to do about any of it. Her mind was screaming at her to pull away. That her priority should be Jess, making sure she didn’t get hurt. After all Addison had been the daughter of a mother who thought only of herself and she refused to put Jess through anything like that. But her heart was screaming at her the other way.

It hammered against her ribcage whenever he was near her, whenever their hands touched or he sat down beside her. Warmth spread through her chest whenever he laughed, the sound of it something she wished she could wrap around her like a blanket. And desire. Desire flamed through her whenever she saw him in the outrageously tight swim trunks he liked to wear as he frolicked in the sea with the kids or when he came down for dinner in a relaxed pair of shorts and a shirt – totally at ease and peace.

It made her want to give into those delusions. To believe that they could be a normal couple, on vacation in Hawaii surrounded by their family and friends. To believe that they could leave the family dinner and go back to their shared room where they’d spend the night together, no longer confined to small gestures, their desires allowed to run free. She wanted to believe that when the plane touched down she’d be home in Memphis and not trudging back to the desert heat, working endless shifts and trying to balance being a mom, running a house and working full time. She wanted to believe that it would be that easy. That Elvis could take care of her like she wanted, like she so desperately needed, that it would be fine.

But with every thought like that came a seed of doubt. It came when he placed his hand on the small of her back or his arm around her shoulders and no one batted an eye – his displays of affection with God knows how many women becoming common place to those around him.

It came when she looked at Lisa, a child now torn between two homes because despite the love her parents had for one another it hadn’t lasted. It came when she looked at Jess. When she remembered how he had promised her the world at seventeen years old and it still hadn’t been enough. How her daughter’s love had been the only thing to keep her truly afloat. How she wouldn’t have made it if it hadn’t been for her.

She wanted to trust her heart but it had been wrong before. At least when she listened to her head it made the pain hurt a little less.

Their vacation was winding down and though two weeks of sun and sand had been nice the threat of normal life was looming. Jess and Addison were due to go back home, Lisa was due to fly back to California and Elvis was due to head out on tour yet again though this time only for a week. And as much as she had told herself that it was for the best, that it was what was needed for all of them, Addison couldn’t help but feel disappointed. Especially as she got ready for dinner, watching herself in the bathroom mirror, knowing that this would be one of the last times she would be doing it.

This time of day had become therapeutic for Addison. Whilst their days may have seemed lazy, only ever starting around noon, they were far from it. Elvis seemed to be intent on making this a fun vacation for the girls and so their days were spent on the beach, learning to surf or jet skiing, or in and around the pool playing endless games. Sometimes they were joined by some of the guys and their families, meaning that it was quite the rabble wherever they ended up, but sometimes they were alone, sitting out on the balcony of Elvis’ room as they watched the day go by. And though their nights were just as busy they felt completely different. Around dusk everyone would retreated to their rooms emerging back an hour or so later so they could have dinner where they’d spend the entire evening talking and laughing.

That hour had become important to Addison. It gave her chance to think, to breathe. Something that was becoming harder and harder to do whenever she was around Elvis.

As she slipped a new set of earrings into her ears, ones Jess had bought her for her birthday, she heard a knock at the door.

‘Are you ready?’ she heard Marci say from the other side. Addison gave herself one last glance in the mirror and then opened it finding Marci standing in front of her, practically leaning her ear up against where the door had been though she straightened up as Addison appeared.

‘Just need to get my shoes on,’ Addison said though as she looked past her friend she noted Jerry standing by the open door to their hotel room so she added, ‘you guys go.’

‘Are you sure?’ Marci said glancing at Jerry and then back to her friend.

‘Yeah, I’ll not be far behind ya,’ Addison said with a smile.

‘I’ll save ya a seat,’ Marci said before she headed to the door and slipped out with Jerry shutting it closed behind them.

Addison moved to the bed, grabbing her shoes from the closet so she could sit down and put them on. As she slipped on the tan wedges she found her eyes drifting around the room clocking every item that lay strewn around the place fresh from Marci’s wake of getting ready. Though it annoyed the life out of her that her room was in such disarray she couldn’t help but smile. Having her friend back for the past two weeks had been a blessing she couldn’t deny - a sense of normality in a chaotic world. Not to mention it had only taken being in close quarters for half a day before Marci had come clean about what had been going on with her and Tom.

She wasn’t happy. She had thought that her new life would be similar to her old one and that hadn’t been the case. Where she had expected to be able to start another shop, lay the foundations of their relationship before anything serious, Tom wanted to speed into a life together. He wanted marriage, he wanted babies, he wanted things that Marci wasn’t sure she was ready for yet and so when Elvis had invited her to join them she’d jumped on a plane without question hoping that Memphis and now Hawaii would bring clarity to what she did want.

It was news that broke Addison’s heart and made it sing at the same time. She felt heartbroken that her friend had been going through it but also glad that this might mean she was coming home. Which is why she hadn’t told her about her and Elvis’ kiss. She felt guilty that Marci had been sitting on all of this, unable to share it with Addison because of the whirlwind the last few months had been. She also didn’t want to sway her decision, force her to come back thinking that Addison would need her help getting over him like she had the first time. It was also why she hadn’t said anything as watched her and Jerry grow closer. Just because an old flame wasn’t right for Addison didn’t mean it wasn’t what Marci needed.

Once her shoes were on she grabbed a couple of pieces of clothing up off the floor and hung them back in the closet, smiling to herself as she went. It didn’t fail to amaze her how she had forgotten just how chaotic sharing a space with Marci could be. How their living arrangement had often felt as though Addison was living with two teenagers instead of one. And yet she couldn’t believe just how much she had missed it. How placing a couple of bathing suits up to dry properly could feel as though she was back home, before Elvis had strolled back into her life, when things were a little less complicated.

‘But were you happy?’ a voice in the back of her mind whispered making her snap back to reality. She wanted to say yes. That her life with just Marci and Jess had been a happy one. Because it had.

‘But Elvis makes you happy too,’ it reasoned. With that Addison slid the closet door closed with more force than she intended meaning the sliding door bounced back forcing her to repeat her action only gentler. This was what she had been living with. Every good thought countered by a bad one. Every bad one countered by a good one. It was exhausting, and she didn’t know how to stop it.

So she did the only thing she knew would help and headed out to dinner given that being around people, especially the buzz of Elvis and his entourage or the giggles of the girls, often forced her to tune those thoughts out.

As she left her room she could hear the rabble not too far away. Given the number of people they had in their group they had practically commandeered an entire quarter of the resort and their hotel rooms were all on one flowing line opposite a view of the exquisite resort gardens that eventually led down into the beach. The stone walkway led off to a courtyard, one covered by a thatch roof that housed a table for thirty as well as a fire pit and seats should they want to stay there. That’s where she was headed but as she walked down the path the door one room up from her opened and Elvis appeared. The timing of it made her wonder if he’d been waiting for her but he looked surprised when he looked up and noticed her coming towards him.

‘Hey,’ he said as she slowed down, his eyes roving over her outfit for a moment though he pretended he hadn’t, ‘I thought everyone was already at dinner.’

‘Just headed there now,’ Addison said gesturing for him to walk with her which he did.

‘No Mar?’ he asked checking behind them before they fell into step beside each other.

‘She headed down already with Jerry,’ Addison said.

‘That so?’ Elvis mused.

‘Yep,’ Addison said with a wry smile. Whilst Marci’s love life had taken her mind off of what was going on between her and Elvis it had also helped them. It had given them a talking point, one that meant they could keep their relationship just as it had been before any of the kiss business.

‘Where are the girls?’ Elvis asked.

‘Joe took the kids down to the games room I think,’ Addison said.

‘Poor Jess,’ Elvis chuckled as Addison looked at him puzzled, ‘all those kids.’

‘I don’t think she minds,’ Addison said suddenly feeling guilty. Though she and Jess had spent a lot of time together on this break there were pockets when she was lumped in as one of ‘the kids’, something Addison hadn’t realised might not have been a good thing on Jess’ end.

‘Well either way I bet she’ll be glad of five minutes peace,’ Elvis said, they were rounding the corner now finding they were the last ones down to the dining area. Most of the kids were gone from the party now save for Lisa, Jess and Dee’s boys who had congregated at one end of the table.

As Elvis took his seat at the head of the table Addison slipped into the only chair that had been left for her next to him. Jerry and Marci were sitting across from her, chatting away to one another, something she didn’t fail to notice made Elvis smirk as he unfolded his napkin and shifted it onto his lap. Fortunately he didn’t say anything and dinner kicked off without incident.

Elvis was enjoying himself, in fact he’d been the happiest he’d ever been on this vacation. He didn’t know how she had such an effect on him. How the past fifteen years felt as though he’d been living his life as though he was watching himself on TV. He remembered it all, every moment lived and yet it felt as though it was this other guy. This Elvis Presley that was somehow him and not him at the same time. With Addison he never felt like that Elvis. He felt like her Elvis. That boy from Memphis.

He knew he’d never truly gotten over her, though he had moved on and for a time he had been happy. But now it felt as though there had always been something niggling in the back of his mind, wanting to pull them back together. That was why he hadn’t pushed her. He hadn’t demanded she be ready to get back together, after all he knew pushing her might only make her pull away and that would devastate him. No he’d let her see that they were good together. That they could be a couple this time, a proper one. No hiding, no caring about what anyone thought or said. He’d let her see that their lives could finally fit together.

He was watching her, enjoying the way she laughed as she told Joe a story he was definitely not listening to given he was too distracted by the woman telling it. There was something about her tonight, something he couldn’t put his finger on. He always thought she was pretty, even when she was chastising him it still made him hot under the collar, but tonight was something else. Her skin had a radiant glow to it, her light brown locks glinted with streaks of gold from where they’d lightened in the sun, and her eyes, her eyes sparkled as she smiled. He wanted to believe it was just the radiance that came with being on vacation but as she noticed him watching her, a smile playing on her lips as she took a sip of wine, he realised what it was. Love.

It made him smile too though he was forced from his thoughts as Jess appeared in between them, looking down on them with a sweet smile.

‘Everything okay honey?’ Elvis asked making her nod.

‘Yeah, I was just wondering if I could go back to the games room,’ Jess said.

‘Alone?’ Elvis asked.

‘No with the boys they’re gonna play pool,’ Jess said looking to where Elvis’ stepbrothers were loitering at the other end of the table. Addison glanced at them. The games room wasn’t too far away though she didn’t like the idea of Jess being split from the main group, especially as night had fallen. It didn’t help that the last time Jess had spent a substantial amount of time with one of the Stanley boys she’d gotten drunk though she figured from the nervous way Rick was watching Elvis that wouldn’t be a problem this time. Not to mention that what Elvis had said was playing on her mind. Jess had done her fair share of being lumped in with the kids, maybe it was time for her to have a bit of time being a teenager. After all it was her vacation too. She could feel Jess’ eyes on her and even though Elvis had spoken he too was now watching her, waiting for her final say.

‘Can I?’ Jess asked watching her mother closely, unable to tell if her decision was falling in her favour. If it was an outright no she probably would’ve just told her so but at that moment she decided to let Elvis take the reins. He was her parent too and she trusted his judgement.

‘If it’s okay with your dad,’ Addison said looking at Elvis.

‘Oh uh, sure,’ Elvis said taken aback that she had deferred to him.

‘Thank you,’ Jess said wrapping her arms around his neck in a quick hug before she tore off to where they boys were waiting. As she disappeared out of sight his eyes drifted back to Addison who smiled at him. It was a small gesture. A barely significant decision in the grand scheme of things but for once she had let him have some control. They’d worked as a team, instead of Addison out there alone. It was a small gesture, but it meant the world.

‘Can I go?’ came a little voice that captured their attention. Lisa was standing at his other side watching Elvis with hope in her little face that made him sigh.

‘I don’t think so button head,’ he said making her pout.

‘Jessie gets to go,’ she said folding her arms across her chest indignantly.

‘Yes but it’s night time and Jess is a lot older than you honey,’ Elvis reasoned.

‘Yeah, besides you don’t wanna hang out with a bunch of silly boys, right?’ Marci said with a smile as she tried to coax her round.

‘Yeah Memphis,’ Jerry said nudging her cheek with his finger, ‘not when you could hang out with us.’

‘What do you say honey?’ Elvis said watching her.

‘Okay,’ Lisa said though there was still a definitive pout on her face as she climbed onto Elvis’s lap. She sat there quietly for a minute, her head resting against his shoulder as she sat astride his knee but then Addison watched as the cogs ticked over in her brain before she said, ‘Daddy?’

It was a good tactic Addison couldn’t deny. Her voice was sweet as sugar yet there was an air of disappointment to it that made Elvis frown as he said, ‘yeah baby?’

‘Can we go to the beach?’ she said looking up at him with hope in her big blue eyes.

‘I don’t know sweetheart,’ Elvis said, ‘it’s getting late.’

‘Please Daddy?’ she said, her bottom lip jutting out so much Addison had to take a swig of wine to stop her smirk from being too noticeable. She didn’t blame him. The sweetness, the puppy dog eyes and the fact she hadn’t failed to call him Daddy instead of Elvis as normal was the perfect trifecta and Addison could see he was falling for it hook, line and sinker.

‘Okay, we’ll go down in minute,’ Elvis said quietly.

‘Ooh can we have s’mores?!’ Lisa said immediately brightening.

‘Whatever you want honey,’ Elvis said stroking her hair as she fell back content with the way she had managed to bend his will so easily.

After that they stayed at the table for a while before eventually heading down to the beach. Whilst some of the group retired to their rooms a few couples joined them taking seats around the roaring fire Elvis had arranged to be waiting for them, along with everything they needed to make s’mores. Lisa sat between them allowing Addison to help her make s’mores though that didn’t stop her from getting a face full of chocolate which she didn’t think twice about wiping on her dress. And though she felt like teasing him something rotten for being able to be won over by a five-year old’s whim she couldn’t help but enjoy herself. Seeing him out there, unbothered and happy made her heart flutter.

Yet he wasn’t her Elvis out here. He was the new man, the one she was still getting to know, and yet the more she saw of him the more she felt as though the two versions of him could meld into one. As she watched him carry Lisa up the steps towards their rooms she felt as though this was what she wanted. All she wanted.

They didn’t take long to get Lisa settled. Jess was already in bed and fast asleep when they both walked into the girl’s room and with some silently skilled manoeuvring Elvis and Addison managed to get Lisa into her pyjamas and in bed without disturbing either of them. Yet as he clicked the door closed he found Addison watching him, that look of love back in her eyes.

‘What’s the matter with you?’ he asked as they walked slowly towards Addison’s adjoining room, neither of them wanting to go much faster as that would mean the end of their night.

‘Nothing,’ she said with a smile.

‘No go on smart ass,’ he chuckled, spinning around to face her as they stopped outside her door.

‘She wanted s’mores on the beach,’ Addison said simply.

‘Yeah and?’ Elvis asked.

‘And you just gave her s’mores on the beach?’ she questioned. Elvis shrugged.

‘Why not?’

‘And if Jess asked for a car tomorrow?’ she probed.

‘I mean I don’t think I’d manage to get it past you but if she wanted one, I’d give it her,’ Elvis said.

‘Just like that?’ Addison asked watching his face closely. There was still a smile ghosting his lips but she could tell what he said next was serious, from his heart.

‘I love her. I have the means and if it’d make her happy I’d do it…’ he said looking down on her as he added, ‘wouldn’t you?’

‘I try my best,’ Addison said honestly. She did try to keep Jess happy as much as she could but that wasn’t always feasible. Sometimes she had to do what was right, what was best for her daughter even if that didn’t always please her. Elvis seemed to be the opposite. He seemed to bend to his daughters will, to make them happy, hence why Lisa could wrap him around her little finger. And yet she couldn’t see that as an entirely bad thing because he acted out of love. Like she did.

‘To make her happy?’ Elvis said moving in a little closer.

‘Yeah,’ she said placing a hand on his chest trying to keep him at a distance though it didn’t do much to stop him.

‘And what about you?’ he asked moving her hair off her shoulder as she peered up at him.

‘What about me?’ she asked.

‘What makes you happy?’ he probed.

‘Lots of things,’ she said quietly, the scrutiny in his blue eyes making her heart beat so loud in her ears she wasn’t sure she had even spoken aloud.

‘There’s nothing you don’t want?’ he asked, his thumb brushing along her jaw making her heart beat even faster though she didn’t know how that was possible, ‘what do you want Addison?’

‘To go to bed,’ she said pulling from his grasp as she laughed nervously, ‘night.’

‘Night,’ he said watching as she threw herself inside her hotel room, the door closing heavily behind her. Elvis sighed and headed to his own door, stepping inside before he closed it gently behind him, resting against it. He was barely there two seconds before he heard a knock on it and turned back to open it. Addison was standing on the other side.

‘Addie-’

‘I want you to kiss me,’ she said and before he could say anything else she flung herself forward their bodies hitting one another in a frantic collision as their lips met. Elvis pulled her to him, allowing her to kick the door closed before she moved them towards the bed, pushing him down on it with a thud. She was on his lap in seconds, her fingers working on the buttons of his shirt as he kissed down her neck, his lips warm against every piece of skin on offer. Yet before he could tackle any of the buttons on her dress she was pushing his shirt off his shoulders and climbing off him, stationing herself between his legs as her hands immediately moved to his shorts. He wasn’t wearing anything underneath, the thin material of his shorts providing no barrier as she moved her hand against him.

‘Fuck Addie,’ he said. They should’ve slowed down. He should’ve taken time to absorb the moment, to enjoy that everything he had wanted for months, no years, was now coming true, but as she yanked his shorts from under him, her hand meeting his member as she swirled her tongue around his tip everything else was lost. As his eyes closed, his fingers running through her loose brown curls Addison continued to use her tongue against him. When they had first been together she had been a naïve schoolgirl. He had taught her everything and in those instances she had allowed him to lead, but not tonight. Tonight she wasn’t thinking about anything else other than what she wanted, what made her happy, even if that was how he groaned as she took him down to the back of her throat.

‘Ads,’ he panted, feeling his excitement speeding ahead with the way she worked him. He wanted everything she had to give and more but as he looked down and caught her eye he was snapped back to reality. He wanted everything but he wanted it with her. He didn’t want their first time back together to be some haphazard quick thing.

‘Addie,’ he said pushing her off him gently. She pulled back, moving to come and sit in his lap, her arms around his neck.

‘What’s the matter?’ she asked breathily.

‘Is this what you want?’ he asked, his blue eyes meeting hers as he watched for any flicker of uncertainty. It didn’t come.

‘Yes,’ she said.

‘Promise?’ he asked. He didn’t know why he was pushing, as if he wanted her to tell him no.

‘I want this Elvis. I want you,’ she said placing her forehead against his. He nodded, kissing her gently before he felt the excitement she had already created start to take hold once more. He stood up, her legs wrapping around his waist as she shrieked making him chuckle. As he placed her down on the bed she started to unbutton her dress, watching as he discarded his shorts completely and returned to hover over her, his mouth returning to her neck.

For a moment it was a frantic rush, a dash to get them completely barren of anything that separated them but once they were both there, everything seemed to slow. Fingers danced along skin, kisses became more languid and passionate, and they seemed to meld into one.

‘You ready?’ Elvis asked from where he had moved to kneel between her legs. She was resting on her elbows, watching him with a smile before she nodded. Elvis didn’t need to be told twice, instead he eased himself in with a groan, moving back so he could kiss her as he started to move his hips. She felt like heaven around him, the content little sigh she offered as he buried himself in her neck music to his ears. His could feel his climax coming, threatening to spill over any moment as if he was some teenage boy who’d just gotten hold of his first playboy, but he made him pace himself. Instead of focusing on his own excitement he watched her, committing every moment to memory, the way he had the first time they had ever done this.

He watched as her eyes fluttered closed, how her chest heaved against his, how she wrapped her legs around him forcing him to go deeper. He listened to her breaths, each now coming a little quicker and punctuated by moans as he did something to elicit them, immediately repeating his moves whenever they came.

‘Ads…honey I ain’t gon’ last much longer,’ he said with a groan as he felt that coil in his belly move to take over. Her eyes fluttered open at his voice, a smile on her lips.

‘I’m right behind you,’ she murmured, her fingers stroking his face gently giving him the go ahead. Elvis shifted, pulling back until they were no longer entangled and instead he was kneeling, her pulled onto his thighs as he moved in and out of her, his fingers playing with her clit as he did. Her head fell back with a moan, her own hands caressing her chest as she fluttered around him.

‘Fuck Addie,’ he grunted, any tenderness now thrown to the wayside for want and need.

‘Right there,’ she panted, ‘oh fuck.’

‘I’m gonna cum,’ Elvis said feeling himself start to spiral. Then she clenched around him and he was gone, spilling into her as she hit her own stride her walls locking onto him like a vice until he was completely empty. As he pulled out he flopped down beside her, immediately moving her onto her side so he could take in everything. Her eyes only opened as his hands found her waist and they fell quiet for a moment, Addison’s finger tracing the planes of his face as he watched her – his heart so full he thought it may burst.

‘Addie,’ he said after a moment but she shook her head silencing him.

‘Can we just do this for a minute?’ she asked hesitantly, ‘no autopsy, no dissecting, just…this, please?’

Elvis watched her. It didn’t escape his notice that she was employing the same tactics Lisa used whenever she wanted something. How her expectant gaze tugged on his heart strings. He could see she was hesitant, nervous even, that was why she was asking. But it didn’t worry him. That glow from before hadn’t gone and he could feel the love there, lingering between them. So if she needed him to take a minute, to allow her to breathe, he’d let her. He give her what she wanted.

✵✵✵

When Addison woke the following morning she was tucked into Elvis’ side, her hand on his chest, the steady thump of his heart underneath her fingertips. Yet it brought her no comfort, not when she knew she’d have to break it.

She’d allowed herself to lose focus, to give into what she wanted rather than what was best. When it came to her daughter she could make those decisions in an instant but he had this thing about him, this way of making her lose all senses. Senses that only came back into play when everything came back down to earth with a crash. She had spent the night watching him, analysing the planes of his face as though this would be the last time she’d ever see him. The way she had the day he had left for the draft. She supposed it was in a way. This was the last time he’d be with her like this, the last time their relationship would be truly okay before she wrecked it. And yet she couldn’t risk not doing. At least if she was the one to do the wrecking, if she got out before it all became a disaster she could minimise the damage. For all of them.

As he started to stir she realised she couldn’t lay there any longer. If he woke up and she was still in his arms it would give him hope, hope she’d have to spark out. So she slipped out of bed, throwing her discarded underwear on before she grabbed her dress off the floor. Yet as she started to button it he stirred, noticing he was lying in bed alone which forced him to open his eyes properly.

‘What’cha doing?’ he mumbled rubbing his eyes before he propped himself up on his elbow.

‘We slept in,’ Addison said continuing to button her dress though she refused to look at him, ‘the girls are probably wondering where we are.’

‘Daddy’s got ‘em,’ Elvis said though when she still didn’t look up he felt ice form in his veins. She was backing out.

‘Addie,’ he said moving towards her, wrapping the sheet around his waist as she picked her discarded shoes up off the floor.

‘I should check on them,’ she said though before she could get away he grabbed her by the waist, holding her still which finally forced her gaze to fall upon him. Her face was riddled with guilt, a quiver playing on her lips as he said, ‘Ads please don’t do this.’

‘Elvis,’ she said thickly.

‘Don’t, honey please don’t do this,’ he said, he was sure it sounded like begging but he couldn’t bring himself to think about pride at a time like this, ‘last night, last night you said you wanted me-’

‘I know,’ she said, tears brimming in her eyes.

‘So don’t do this,’ he said stroking her cheek, ‘please let’s just get back into bed and be what we want to be.’

‘I can’t,’ she said, her hand clasping around his wrist though she didn’t push him off unable to bring herself to get rid of the only comfort she had.

‘Why not?’ he said, ‘I thought we were finally-’

‘I thought so too,’ she said sadly, ‘but I just can’t.’

‘Addie,’ he said as she pulled his hand away and moved towards the door.

‘I’m sorry okay,’ she said, grabbing her purse off the floor, ‘I wish I could but I just can’t. Not again. I’m sorry.’

And then she was out the door barrelling down the stone walkway outside towards the patio area. She could hear him calling her name, unable to get out of the door to follow her quick enough given that he was still undressed. Tears were brimming in her eyes now, but she forced them back hoping she wouldn’t bring too much attention when she got to the courtyard. Fortunately there weren’t many people around and she found Jerry and Marci sitting at a table by themselves.

‘Hey, we were just wondering when you were coming down,’ Marci said though her smile disappeared as she noted her friend’s forlorn expression, ‘what’s going-’

‘Have you seen the girls?’ Addison asked cutting her off.

‘They’re on the beach with Vernon,’ Jerry said feeling just as worried as Marci was as he asked, ‘everything okay?’

‘Can you watch them? When they get back I mean,’ Addison said hurriedly, knowing it wouldn’t take long for Elvis to appear if he had chosen to chase her.

‘Sure, Addie what’s going on?’ Marci said reaching out to touch Addison’s arm but she moved it out of her reach, looking away as she felt those tears start to spill down her cheeks.

‘Just watch them please?’ Addison said and before either of her friends could protest she walked off heading in the opposite direction she had come. Marci watched her friend go. She knew she should probably chase after her, ask her what was going on, but she also knew her friend well enough to know that wasn’t going to help anything. Not yet.

Instead she flopped back in her chair with a sigh, finding Jerry’s eyes on her as he said, ‘what the hell was that about?’

‘I don’t know,’ Marci sighed, ‘but my guess is it isn’t good.’

‘You’re probably right,’ Jerry sighed the cogs turning in his mind for a moment before he said, ‘was she wearing last night’s clothes?’

✵✵✵

Addison didn’t come back that day. She didn’t even come back that night. The thought of facing Elvis, knowing he would watch her with that same heartbroken face he had looked at her with that morning was too much. Yet it didn’t hurt as much as losing him all together had. How knowing they’d been kept apart had torn at her, breaking her into fractions as she tried to jumble the pieces into something coherent enough to look after a child. It didn’t hurt the way being left on her own had, how much it would hurt if she were to lose him again.

As she lay bed, just on the other side of the hotel yet feeling a million miles away, she thought of everything.

She thought of Jess. She thought about how this might affect her. She knew she wouldn’t understand, not yet anyway, but she hoped that eventually she’d see that Addison was making the right decision. She hoped that she’d understand that this didn’t change anything. That no matter what happened between her and Elvis she’d always be her number one priority, like she had been from the moment she was born.

She thought of Elvis. She thought of how he had loved her both then and now. She thought of his touch, his lips murmuring loving whispers into her ear when he thought she was asleep. She thought of that boy who had fought for them and failed. She thought of that boy who had been torn away from her time and time again coming back a whole new man who had never failed to turn her life on its head.

And then she thought of herself. Well not herself as she was now but that scared seventeen-year-old. The one that had cradled her baby bump as she cried herself to sleep night after night wondering if the pain in her heart would eventually make it stop altogether. She thought of the exhausted twenty-year-old trying to comfort her inconsolable child enough to make her fall asleep when the only background music was the screams of girls on the set of the Frank Sinatra show, agog at the idea of Elvis Presley being back on US soil. She thought of the twenty-seven-year-old. The one who had to ignore the twinge in her chest as she listened to the old dears in Marci’s salon rave about the wedding of the century, Elvis and Priscilla.

She couldn’t protect any of them.

She couldn’t make any of them feel any better, heal the hurt in their hearts.

But she could do it for herself now.

She had to.

✵✵✵

To no one’s surprise when Addison awoke the following morning she found she was exhausted and she didn’t expect her day to get any better as she trudged across the resort back to where she should’ve been staying. As she walked through the beautiful scenery she couldn’t help but feel cheated, the sun shining down on everyone, yet a cloud of gloominess seemed to engulf her. When she reached their part of the resort she was relieved to find there was no one around, given the early hour she doubted that anyone would be up which was good because she didn’t feel up to seeing anyone else. The only person she needed to see was Elvis.

She stood outside his door trying to work up the nerve to knock on it. She didn’t know why it was this hard, it wasn’t going to hurt any less if she did it now or ten hours from now, but just as she moved her hand to knock it opened and a woman appeared, Elvis just a step behind her.

‘Oh, uh hi,’ the woman said smiling awkwardly at Addison who looked at her dumbfounded, yet the woman didn’t seem to give her much thought as she turned around looking back at Elvis as she said, ‘call me tonight?’

‘Yeah sure,’ Elvis said though his eyes didn’t leave Addison who was now looking away from the pair of them, a scowl on her face.

‘Well, bye then,’ the woman said before she glanced between them one last time and then headed off down towards the courtyard. Only when she was a way up the pathway did Addison look at him, irritation flaming behind her eyes.

‘You are unbelievable,’ she said, her jaw clenching as she felt anger surge through her forcing her feet to move as she headed towards her room. Whatever she wanted to say now was gone, replaced by anger and a sense of foolishness. Of course he had bedded someone else in her absence. She’d spent her life trying to get over him and yet he’d done it in a night.

‘Addison!’ he called, ‘Addie wait!’

‘For what?! Why you got someone else in there you want me to meet?’ she asked whipping around to find him a step behind her, regret plastered all over his face though it flashed to irritation at her words.

‘Hey you were the one who said no remember,’ he said quietly before he stomped off back to his room. He left the door open, anticipating she would follow him which she did slamming it closed behind her hard enough to make the wooden beams that kept the place together to sway in its wake.

‘So your immediate reaction is to jump into bed with someone else?’ she scoffed.

‘Believe it or not I wasn’t exactly feeling my best last night,’ he snapped making her run her tongue across her teeth, ‘what you don’t believe me? I mean it wouldn’t surprise me seeing as we don’t seem to know what each other’s feeling anymore. I mean I thought we were on the same page that night but then you just dump me like trash on the side of the road-’

‘It wasn’t like that!’ Addison objected.

‘Yeah, well that’s how it feels,’ he countered adding with a mirthless laugh, ‘I guess that’s just your MO.’

‘What’s that supposed to mean?’ Addison scoffed, immediately making regret flow through him. They were getting into dangerous territory and he knew it.

‘Nothing, just forget it,’ he said.

‘No go on, if you’ve got something to say, say it,’ she snapped, fury in her eyes as she awaited his answer. He knew he shouldn’t. He knew the words that were dancing on his tongue were bound to cut deep and yet he couldn’t stop himself. She had broken his heart and he wanted to hurt her just as bad.

‘Okay you want to know what I think?’ he asked as though her giving him permission would make it any more justified.

‘Hit me,’ she said sarcastically.

‘You’re selfish,’ he shrugged.

‘What?!’

‘You’re selfish. You pretend you’re not. You hide behind it pretending that you’re just thinking of other people but you’re not. You’re thinking of yourself. Doing what you want,’ he said honestly.

‘That’s not true,’ she protested.

‘Isn’t it?’ he laughed, ‘who were you thinking about when you stomped all over my heart yesterday? Not me. Who were you thinking of when you let me fall in love with you again? I mean did you have any intention of loving me back? Because when you said you loved me for some reason I thought you might be telling the truth-’

‘It’s not that simple!’ Addison shouted. Their voices were loud now, the hurt unable to keep either of them civilised as it poured out of them, fifteen years of anger pain and frustration rearing their ugly head.

‘Because of Jess?’ he asked.

‘Of course because of Jess!’ Addison screamed.

‘Really? Because I think she’s fine with it. I think she’s been fine with it all along. I think you’re using her because you’re worried about how it’ll hurt you. How if this thing collapses, which I don’t understand how you could believe that, how you’ll feel. Not Jess,’ Elvis spat.

‘Don’t I have that right?’ Addison said moving towards him, he was staring down at her, his jaw tight and his chest heaving from where they had been shouting but she pressed on anyway, ‘don’t I get to decide what’s best for me? After everything I’ve been through-’

‘And what about what I went through?’ Elvis retorted angrily.

‘Oh yeah I’m sure a pretty new wife and a cute little kid tore ya up real bad,’ Addison sneered.

‘How about not seeing my daughter for fifteen years? Where does that rate in the Addison pity scale,’ Elvis snapped. It was a low blow, he could tell from the way she inhaled sharply, the pain of the accusation hitting her square in the chest.

‘You said you understood,’ she said, quieter than she had been since this whole thing had kicked off.

‘I did.’

‘And what now I don’t want to get back together you’ve changed your mind? Now you can’t get me into bed I’m a bitch is that it?’ she said.

‘I’m just wondering when you’ll take off again. Hell maybe it’s a good thing I know about Jess. At least this time I’ll get a say in what’s best for her instead of you doing what you think is right like always,’ Elvis said bitterly.

‘How dare you!’ Addison screamed, ‘everything I have ever done is for Jess. She is my family Elvis. The only one who never left me.’

‘I left for us! To save us!’ he yelled at her, ‘hell I even got rid of the Colonel for you!’

‘I never asked you to do that,’ she replied.

‘No but I did it anyway! Because I love you Addison,’ he said his voice dropping in volume as his declaration of love spilled out, ‘but you can’t see past yourself to think about it.’

They were quiet for a moment, the tension in the air palpable as they watched one another. He had done enough, tore into her so much he was sure that any hope they had would be lost by now. He should’ve stopped. He should’ve kept the words inside himself and yet they were there once more threatening to come out as she watched him with pain splashed across her face. He wanted it to hurt. He wanted to make her feel the pain he had been living with the moment he had noticed she was going to bolt. And so he went for the thing that would hurt her the most.

‘You know maybe it’s better this way,’ he said with a mirthless laugh, ‘maybe it’s better if we don’t play happy families. Maybe it’s better if we just stay apart, hell, maybe she should stay with me full time.’

‘She wouldn’t leave me,’ Addison said in a whisper, ‘you wouldn’t dare.’

‘Wouldn’t I? I mean you got her for fifteen years why shouldn’t I? You know something? Maybe she’d be better off. She’d sure as shit learn a few things.’

‘Oh yeah like what? How to buy everyone’s love? How to pout like a petulant child when something doesn’t go your way?’

‘Maybe she’d learn that doing what you want, what makes you happy isn’t such a bad thing. Maybe she’d learn that you don’t have to be a god damn martyr all the fuckin’ time and that being miserable doesn’t make you any better than anyone. Maybe she’d learn not to run away at the tiniest hint of a problem,’ Elvis ranted.

‘That’s not what this is,’ Addison snapped.

‘Isn’t it?’ Elvis scoffed, ‘you know maybe the Colonel was right. Maybe you are just like Mona.’

He heard it before he felt it. The ear-splitting thwack as her hand slapped him hard across the face pain flooding to it in an instant though he didn’t know how anything could hurt as much as his heart did at that moment. His cheek was hot to the touch as he rubbed where hers had connected with it and yet it didn’t sting as much as the way she was looking at him did. It was a look of betrayal.

He knew he shouldn’t have said it, how his words would cut deeper than he had intended and given the way she was moving towards the door in haste he realised he was right.

‘Addie,’ he sighed stepping forward to follow her though she raised a hand to stop him.

‘Don’t,’ she said trying to remain stern though it was betrayed by the way she was gnawing on her lip trying to keep herself from crying.

‘I’m sorry,’ he said hoping she’d realise he was being honest.

‘You know what?’ she said sadly, ‘if you want me to stick around maybe you should stop giving me reasons to run away.’

And then she was gone, leaving Elvis standing there wishing he’d kept his mouth shut.

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