Page 10 of Fought and Freed

But on the actual day, Maddy wished she could just skip it.

This was her first Christmas where she had family and people she cared about, and she was stuck there, thanks to Mike.

She was being ridiculous about it, but dammit, she had dreamed of having people she cared about and who cared about her to share Christmas with.

Dr. Hayes’s question from their session yesterday circled through her mind.

“Are you planning on only spending one Christmas with these guys?”

Jace had said the same thing.

“No, but you never know what might happen.”

“True, but you can’t live your life with what-ifs.” Dr. Hayes had pointed out. “Christmas is just one day out of the year. One. Day. Shouldn’t you make all those other days just as special as you want Christmas to be?”

But on that one day, she stayed in her room, lying in bed in the dark.

Grant’s voice broke through her thoughts. “Maddy, are you in there?”

She sat up and turned on the light. “Come in, Grant.”

He opened the door and looked at her with concern. “Are you sick?”

“No, just being sorry for myself.” Maddy hung her head. “I’m upset that I’m here and not at home celebrating Christmas with my guys.”

“Well, it’s only ten in the morning, and laying here all day won’t be good for you.” He strode across her room and opened the curtains, letting the gray December light spill in. “How about we kick everyone out of the art room and do some arts and crafts?”

Maddy couldn’t help but smile.

Grant wasn’t the best at painting or drawing; he only did it for her. But Grant had discovered he was good at working with leather, and he’d already made her a bracelet.

Maddy had been working on a piece to go above the mantle at the guys’ house. She might be able to finish that today. “Sure, let’s go.”

They spent most of the day in the art room by themselves. There was a radio, and as long as everyone agreed on one channel, they were allowed to play music.

Grant had Maddy laughing as he danced around the room, and the day turned out to not be so bad.

After Christmas dinner, she called Ryder. She had barely talked to him since she got here.

Loud music poured through the speaker when he answered. “Silk?”

Wherever he was, it was deafening.

“Give me a second!” he shouted.

The sound became muffled, and she heard him tell someone that he would be back.

Then, things got quiet. “Merry Christmas, Silk.”

“Merry Christmas, Player.” Maddy nibbled on her bottom lip. “What are you up to?”

“Nothing much,” he said evasively. “Just out with some friends.”

Surprise shot through her. “You didn’t go up to the Andersons for Christmas?”

“No, I stayed home,” he said.

His brief answers were worrying her. “Is everything good with the guys?”

---