Page 110 of Love me, Maddie Mendoza

“Stop making out on my court, King.” I heard Coach Ford’s voice.

My lips disconnected from Maddie, but she held herself close. I looked over her head to the coach leaving for the day, as he added. “Good to see you, Ms. Mendoza.”

“Hey there, coach.” Her voice cracked.

We remained in place while the door closed behind him, and only then, I risked looking down at her. Waiting eyes, pink mouth, cheeks flushed. It took everything in me to step away.

But I did.

“I told you I can’t think straight,” I said, pinching the bridge of my nose.

“Why do I fear the things you have to think about?” Her eyes searched me.

I sighed. “Maddie, we are a mess right now.” I tried to start easy. “I know I am.”

Maddie swallowed but offered no words. I had to persist. Avoiding her obviously wasn’t working anymore.

“Your mother’s sick.” I put in carefully, I didn’t want to upset her. “And things with college…”

“Zeek, just tell me what you have to say.”

I didn’t like the vulnerable look on her face.

“We messed up, Maddie.” I shook my head. “Shit was happening, and we went for what was familiar.”

“You mean my mom got sick, and I used you to forget.”

If we needed more reasons of why dating your best friend was a bad idea. There was no hiding things or half spoken words. She took them out of me with just a look.

“I was messed up, too.” I continued. “Not just your mom, about the end of college and not knowing what was going to happen.”

“I’m staying,” she said.

“What?” I frowned.

“I’m doing my post-grad here.” She explained. “Professor Walter offered me a teaching assistant’s position in his class if I got into the post-grad program. And I did.”

I wanted to ask many things, but ended up asking: “Why the hell you like him so much?”

Surprisingly, that made her laugh. “He’s the anthropology professor. I’m in that class to keep you company but I know him.” She shrugged.

Yeah, I knew that. When we chose intro to anthropology for our class together, I even argued that was something she knew already, but she didn’t care. We were supposed to just enjoy the semester together. I drew a breath thinking of all those months ago. I thought spending time with her was more about parties and silly movies. Now, my mind couldn’t help but flashback to her naked.

“You said nothing about post-grad.”

“I would have. But lately your tongue is down my throat or you’re avoiding the life out of me.”

“And that’s why…” I didn’t get to finish, she cut right in.

“You shouldn’t have avoided me. That’s the problem.”

“We were messed up.” I started over, trying to gain some leverage.

“Stop saying we when you mean me!” Her voice startled me. It came from deep within, raw and hurt.

“I don’t think you’re messed up.”

“So tell me what you think, then.” She ordered. “No bullshit, Z. I can smell it a mile away.”

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