Page 23 of Pucking High School

Even asleep with her mouth hanging open, I couldn’t help but think she was beautiful.

“Madison,” I said lightly, hoping to coax her out of her sleep gently.

When she didn’t respond, I nudged her shoulder.

Still nothing.

The girl was out like a light, and I considered driving straight to the firehouse and leaving her here.

But that didn’t feel right. So instead, I opened my door, made my way around the car, and opened hers.

Ever-so-gently, I unbuckled her seat belt and slipped my hands under her legs and behind her back. Then, I hauled her into my arms and shut the door with my foot.

The thump of the door shutting, woke her up.

“What the fuck? Where am I?”

“Don’t scream,” I grunted, walking her to her door at pace.

“Dash. Where are we?”

“Your house. I’m walking you in.”

“I have fully functioning legs you know?” There was a hint of amusement in her voice, and I was happy that she was seemingly no longer upset about Kyle.

He didn’t deserve a minute of her unhappiness.

“Has anyone ever told you that you can sleep through a heavy metal concert?”

“Oh, please. Don’t try to make out that you listen to anything other than sad, depressing music in your car. How could I not fall asleep through all that moaning?”

“Good to see you’re fully awake now.”

I bent my knees, ready to deposit her on the floor, but she wrapped her arms around my neck, and pulled herself into me.

“What are you doing?”

“What areyoudoing?” she retorted.

“I was going to put you down so you could walk the rest of the way.”

“And I’ve never been carried like a princess before, so I’m more than happy for you to take me to my room like this.”

It was a joke. She was just joking, and I pressed my lips together to look unbothered by it. I’d never been to Madison’s room before, and the idea of waltzing in there to put her on her bed was taking my thoughts to places it shouldn’t be going.

“I’ll take you to your front door. That’s it.”

“Deal.”

She rested her head against my chest, and I found myself slowing down because, for some reason, I wasn’t looking forward to putting her down. Maybe her fruity shampoo was going to my head, and I was slowly losing my mind. I wasn’t sure, but I also didn’t care all that much because the stairs were looming in front of me.

“I could stay like this all day,” Madison hummed. I looked down at her, and she had this small, placid smile on her face. I didn’t want to take my eyes off her, but if I wanted to get to the stairs uninjured then I needed to.

She moved a little, forcing my fingers to flex against her thigh.

“Has anyone ever told you that you’ve got big hands?”

“Madison.”

---