Page 102 of Fought and Freed

“Aww, that’s so cute.” Maddy laughed.

“I’m still looking for one for you, Maddy,” Skylar said. “The store had stepmother ones, but none of them fit you. I’m also looking for one for you, Ryder.”

“It’s alright, dude,” Ryder said. “I can’t wait to meet the little dude.”

Maddy hugged Skylar again. “You’re going to be a great father.”

25

MADDY

As Torr and Maddy walked out of their last class, Torr shivered and hunkered down in her thick winter jacket.

Maddy only wore a sweatshirt and didn’t understand why her friend was making such a fuss. She still hadn’t gotten used to the weather in Georgia. It was cold but nothing like it would be in Ohio right now, and she missed seeing the snow sticking to the trees.

Two weeks had passed since the attack with no further sign of Mike, but he was out there, just waiting for them to relax before he struck again.

“Did you understand that equation the professor did on the board?” Torr asked.

Maddy chuckled. “Hell, no. I’m failing this class. I should have switched to another class when I had the chance.”

Torr hugged her book tighter. “I’d ask Lucca, but he’s been acting weird since the attack.”

Maddy glanced at her friend in surprise. “What do you mean?”

“He’s canceled our last two dates, and he’s always too busy to talk.” Hurt glistened in Torr’s eyes. “He’s pulling away from me.”

She stopped her friend. “Torr, he loves you. Everything will work out. Maybe he’s getting sick. Everyone at school has been catching the flu.”

Torr looked unsure. “I don’t know.”

What was Lucca doing that was so important that he’d ignore Torr? He had multiple things that occupied his attention, but he always made time before for his girlfriend.

Maddy needed to call him to make sure it had nothing to do with Mike.

* * *

When Torr dropped Maddy off in her driveway, Maddy told Torr not to worry again, but she knew her friend wouldn’t stop worrying until she heard from Lucca.

It hurt Maddy to know her friend felt abandoned and that her brother was the cause.

Inside the house, she dropped her bag in the living room before heading toward the kitchen.

A moment later, Ryder shuffled around the corner, his complexion pale with dark circles under his eyes.

“Silk, do we have any OJ?” he groaned.

“Oh, no, Ryder, did you get sick?” She put her hand on his forehead and found his skin fever hot.

“I think so.” He leaned into her touch. “I was heading toward Honey’s, but I couldn’t stop coughing, and I have a headache from Hell.”

She turned him back toward the door. “Go lie down on the couch, and I’ll check for the OJ.”

“Hmmm.” He shuffled back out of the kitchen.

Maddy filled a big glass with OJ for him and grabbed a Dr. Pepper for herself before heading out to the living room.

Ryder sat on the couch, hunched over. He didn’t look good.

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