Page 10 of Sweet Madness

He’s mad. That’s clear in his tone and the way he addresses me. It stings, I am not going to lie.

But I have a choice to make. I can either let him see the hurt in my eyes that his blatant disregard has caused, or I can mask it with a fake smile.

So that’s what I do. I smile. The fake smiles I use when someone hurls insults my way or the same one I put on for the world when they point out I’m not my mother’s biological daughter or how I don’t look like my siblings. The fake smile only makes him scowl harder, as if it offends him somehow.

Huh.

I’m out of my element here. This is not the man I knew as a girl. Not at all. The years have changed him. Hardened him, even. I know he was only part of my life for a little while when I was a child, but still, I wonder if perhaps I was just a job to him.

Did my naive mind back then truly believe we were once friends? Was I naive to think a man like him actually cared about the little girl he guarded?

The Shaw Banning, I knew didn’t act like looking out for me was a burden. What changed?

People change, Ellaiza… That’s what Mom always says. Life changes people. Breaks them, even. Only the strongest survive.

Is that what happened to Shaw? He is still the most beautiful man I have ever laid my eyes on. But when I stare at him, I see something sad—like a broken mirror.

I stand motionless, watching as he carefully looks me up and down before his eyes meet mine again. What is he thinking? I wonder. Does he even remember the moments we shared?

Lifting my chin like my mother and father taught me, I give him another fake smile. Damn, it hurts, but I don’t let it show. What’s one more heartache today?

Hardening my soft heart, I say, “Glad you’re done chasing stars, Shaw Bear.” With that, I turn my back and help Uncle Benji with the rest of my bags.

On an impulse, I glance over my shoulder grin. “Welcome home.”

The grumpy man narrows his eyes, unable to hide the recognition, and it only makes my smile grow wider. He hasn’t forgotten me. My eyes clash with brown ones—brown almost like caramel when it burns. I see it then. A flash of something. I’m still not sure what it is, but it’s much better than the vacant gaze he gave when he first stepped out of his truck.

I guess that’s a win for me. Ella 1 – Shaw Bear 0.

The man I once thought was my white knight is standing before me after so many years.

What a sweet plot twist this is.

The sadness I felt moments ago is quickly replaced by a thrilling excitement that makes my heart pump faster. I didn’t get the charming cowboy, but I did get the grumpy ghost of my past. One that’s always been at the back of my mind and heart.

Shaw Banning.

I should count my lucky stars… my wish came true.

Space Note

“The moon is a loyal companion. It never leaves. It’s always there, watching, steadfast, knowing us in our light and dark moments, changing forever just as we do.” — E

Chapter

Two

MOONSHINE

Shaw

“I’m so fucking glad you exist.” – S

Shaw-bear. Welcome home.

A jolt of white heat shoots through my body, and I visibly shudder the moment indigo-blue eyes meet mine. What the fuck?

Familiarity creeps in, trying to spread warmth to every cold, dark corner of my soul as the beauty before me smiles with her entire face. A fake smile.

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