Page 62 of Love me, Maddie Mendoza

“Because you’re all cute and shit.” I smiled.

“Oh, come on…” Maddie snorted. Which was also cute.

“She likes you fine. She just wasn’t in the mood to be between us.” I cleared my throat. “With the whole Zaddie thing.”

Her mouth opened in an O. “I’d feel bad for cockblocking you, but you know; Jay.”

I rolled my eyes. “Sure, Jason’s impossible feelings.” I took a breath. “In the end it was good that I wasn’t leading her on…”

“Really? I mean, I thought you liked Cathy.”

I lifted one shoulder. “She’s hot.”

I didn’t get enough time with her. Cathy was hot, had a sweet ride, and a wicked sense of humor, but that was all I knew. When I think about it, I should have been a little more upset about stepping back. She was a catch, after all.

Maddie’s tongue clicked and drew my attention back to her. “You can daydream about her another time. Actually, don’t. She’s Jay’s.”

“If he takes his head out of his ass.”

“He will.” It was definite, much more invested in the situation than I was.

I chuckled and tugged her arm, “Come here.” And she came willingly, resting her head on my shoulder. “What can I do to take your mind off things?”

Maddie placed her hand on my chest, her side plastered to my body. It was a stupid move to bring her so close, of course. Suddenly, I could think about a million things we could do to spend the time. All of them required way less clothing.

I drew a calming breath and watched Maddie’s blue painted nails on top of my chest. Her fingertips felt my racing heart as she danced around with them.

“Read to me.”

“Huh?”

She craned her neck to see me. “Read to me.”

I agreed. “Give me a book.”

Maddie moved to the top of me, reaching for the bedside table on my side. I held my breath until she got something from the first drawer.

An old copy ofOutlanderlanded on my chest as Maddie was rolling back to her place beside me. I took the battered paperback and started reading, only stopping when I heard her soft snoring.

The insistent chiming of my phone was hard to ignore, but I tried anyway.After a few minutes, my sleep was ruined. I opened my eyes to the peach-colored room. The soft bed sheets between my legs. Not my bedroom. Not my sheets.

My hand reached to the side, but Maddie wasn’t in bed with me anymore. I rubbed my eyes, trying to wake up. I heard the water running in the conjoined bathroom and assumed Maddie was in the shower. I brought my gaze towards the shelves on the right-hand side of the room. She loved to collect mementos of our lives, knick-knacks that she held close to her heart. The snow globe I got her for Christmas, a ribbon from the Science Fair we won. A picture of our first car. Yes,ours. We saved money and bought that piece of crap together.

I sighed. My phone wouldn’t stop ringing. With a groan, I turned from the shelves to grab it.

“What?” My sour ass replied.

“Great talking to you, too.” Nick deadpanned. “How’s Maddie?”

I ran a hand through my hair, sitting up on the bed. How could I even explain how she was? She fell asleep in my arms after crying her heart out. Maddie was scared shitless.

“She’s…” I paused. “It’s not great, Nick.”

He hummed on the other side. If I could choose anyone besides Maddie to talk to in a time of crisis, it was Nick. He was level-headed and patient. He understood half-words and always voiced the most important questions. Even when no one would dare to voice them.

“What’s wrong with her mother?” straight to the point.

I grimaced. “There’s a tumor.” I lowered my voice, even though the shower was loud enough. “She’s going to have surgery. It could be just that. But it also could be…”

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