Read The Believing Game for Free Online Page B

high-pitched as a little kid’s. “You two.” He pointed back and forth between us. I counted out how many steps it would take to cross to the door. “Start preparing yourselves now, because it is going to be amazing.” Joshua sighed and grunted. He crossed his arms on the table and leaned in to talk to me. “I don’t know if you’re playing some kind of game with him, but you’re only hurting yourself. This boy drives women crazy. Insane. Addison, you should play her some of those voicemails. Seriously, Elizabeth, honey, you didn’t strike me as the type to fall for that born-again virgin propaganda.”
    â€œMy name is Greer.”
    â€œNow don’t get hurt.”
    â€œThis isn’t any of your business.”
    â€œSee, that’s where you’re wrong. The happiness between you two — I have made that my business. There are plenty of beautiful things in this world. Relationships. Amazing love stories. And sometimes the love between you? It doesn’t count for shit. Because no one’s standing by, protecting it. But I’m there for you two. That’s my vocation. Do you know what a vocation is?”
    I could see the wind pick up, a few stray leaves straggle along the sidewalk outside. “A job,” I told him, with the same flat voice I usually saved for bad classes.
    â€œAlmost,” Joshua corrected. “A vocation is a calling.” He gazed over at Addison lovingly. I wanted Addison to stand up, grab my hand, and stride toward the door. “Everyone is called to something in this world. I was called in service to him.” Addison bowed his head. “I’m truly sorry if I offended you, Greer Elizabeth. I just want to make sure that you have every joy possible in this life. Especially with him.”
    I looked from Joshua to Addison. For the first fraction of a second, I expected Addison to give me the slight nod saying we’d stand up together and leave. But who was I? The least devoted person to him at the table. I mean, he was the most crucial person in my life, but I hadn’t heard a message from God about serving him. Addison looked at me with a slight, sheepish smile. As if he was asking, Is this so bad?
    It wasn’t like I was going to tell him yes.
    Â 
    Had our days always revolved around the cluster of me, Addison Bradley, and Addison Bradley’s spiritual guru, I might have objected. But Joshua wasn’t the only person Addison had carried into my life. It embarrassed me, since I’d been at McCracken longer, but Add had more friends. And good ones, who were funny and smart and made me laugh even when we sat at dinner tables away from Addison. In a matter of weeks, he had forged a following. Like the girl with the parade of rings marching across her right eyebrow, who always walked him right out the door of the bio lab. She’d see me and veer off toward Self-Respect Hall.
    â€œDid you know Sophie before?” I finally asked him.
    â€œSophie’s from somewhere on the Main Line, I think. She’s always talking about almost getting shot in Philly. Why?”
    â€œYou just seem really close.”
    â€œThere nothing going on between me and Sophie.”
    â€œI know that,” I said. “I just meant …”
    â€œSeriously, Greer? Are you worried about this?”
    It took me a few starts and stops to explain. Addison has this ease with people. This wasn’t something he’d understand. Finally I just blurted out, “I don’t know how to talk to people.”
    â€œGod, you’re crazy. You just have to be a little warmer. You know, smile a little.”
    This was the problem. “But I’m not like that … naturally. I panic, blank out on what to talk about. And then people think I’m cold. A bitch.”
    â€œYou don’t like to be uncomfortable, but no one does. Would you rather they’re uncomfortable?”
    â€œI never thought of