Page 19 of The Love We Make

She. Was. Pissed.

I was going to make this right. I went a little best friend crazy on her, I admit it. I overstepped my boundaries and I deserved her ire.

I decided to call and book her favorite getaway in Tahoe for All-star weekend. Just the two of us like old times. Hiking, swimming, boating. Even if I got selected to the All-star team, I would skip it.

I had a lot of groveling to do and she was more important to me than the game.

???

The plane landed and I sent my bags with the team to the stadium. Whatever was in there, I didn’t need them. What I needed to do was get to Madison.

It was 6 pm on Monday night. She should have been home from work at 5 pm so I was confident I would catch her at home.

I didn’t announce that I was coming. If she was reading all my texts, she would probably see that I was on my way and leave until I gave up. I couldn’t risk that.

I also didn’t bother knocking.

I pulled my key out and prayed she hadn’t changed the locks in the last few days. The key turned and I eased the door open quietly.

“Maddy,” I called out. “I’m back.”

No response.

“Maddy?”

Nothing.

The apartment was quiet. There were no signs she was even home.

No TV.

No radio.

No shower running.

I searched the entire apartment before I gave up and realized she wasn’t home. I sat on the couch, content to wait on her. I turned the TV on and tuned into the sports channel.

The All-star team was days, if not hours, away from being announced so I was keeping an eye on the media outlets. Not that I was going to accept an invite but being asked was a fucking honor.

I wanted to be asked.

After three hours, I had eaten her food, drank her beer, and slept for an hour on her couch. She still wasn’t home.

I would have been panicked if I hadn’t known for a fact she was home earlier. I may have stalked one more time yesterday just to make sure she was safe. I have no regrets about the phone call I made to the building manager who I somehow talked into knocking on her door with a random question. She had called me right back and told me Madison answered the door and “seemed fine.”

At 9 pm, I gave up waiting for her. I needed to get home and get my mail. I also needed to shower and change. I probably had clothes here somewhere but I was going to go home. Knowing Madison, she was probably stalking me back and knew I was here. She wouldn’t come back until I was gone.

I only lived a few blocks away and decided to walk, not in a major hurry.

Once I was home, I let myself into the dark space. I had someone clean once a week so the apartment didn’t smell dank after two weeks of no use.

I tossed the keys on the bar and didn’t bother with the lights. I was headed directly to my shower and knew the way there mindlessly.

I pulled my shirt over my head, throwing it on the floor of the living room. I started with my jeans and got them unbuckled before I froze.

There was a figure standing by my huge windows that overlooked the city. I didn’t notice at first but now that I had seen the silhouette, I knew exactly who it was.

“Keep going,” her voice said softly. “Take them off.”

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