Page 65 of Love me, Maddie Mendoza

“Thank you, Z,” he replied with a dip on his chin.

“No problem.” And I was out of there.

Ichanged channels mindlessly on the TV propped on the wall of my old bedroom. One half of a movie after the other, it all blurred together.

I was exhausted.

After my shower, mom made good on my offer and used me as chauffer for the day. Xiomara got everything new; one pair of pajamas for each day of the week, little bottles with shampoo and conditioner (the good kind for the curls), a silk wrap for her hair, a new toothbrush, a wide-toothed comb, mouth wash, new underwear, and other billion things. It seemed impossible that Xio needed that much, but it was good to see mom with a mission.

I didn’t mind driving. As she shopped, I stayed behind and called the dean’s office to explain the situation. Maddie and I got a week off, as long as we contacted the teachers individually and cleared with them.

A week seemed fair and not enough at the same time. I wrote a dozen emails, first from my account and then from Maddie’s. It violated her trust, but I knew she’d be grateful for not having to deal with anyone. I also had a bone to pick with her regarding online security.DeanWinchesterForeverwas not an acceptable e-mail password past the age of fifteen.

A movement caught my attention away from the TV.

The lights of Maddie’s bedroom flickered on as she went inside. She made a beeline for the window, and I sent a small wave. We barely had time to catch up today. With me driving mom around and the fact she wanted to stay glued to her parents, we only exchanged a couple of words.

Her head tilted right as she reached for the latch and unlocked it. If that wasn’t sign enough that she wanted me over, Maddie next pulled up the window and stepped back.

If I ever wondered if I was welcome…

I stood up and crossed my room, and Maddie disappeared into the bathroom. I was somewhat ready for bed. Teeth brushed and faced washed. I set a shorts on top of my covers, ready if I needed them. I glanced at them just once. I never slept in shorts, but it became a habit since Maddie moved to my bedroom. What was the difference between my shorts and my boxers?

Not much, except a much needed extra layer of fabric.

The moment of indecision stretched. I stayed rooted, confused by what she wanted of me. I couldn’t ask, not with everything going on. It was selfish to even think about bringing up the subject of us when less than twenty-four hours ago, everything changed for the Mendozas. I was determined to keep my mouth shut. Yet, I never wanted something like I wanted to ask her about us.

Fortunately, the doubt died when Maddie stepped out of her bathroom. Her brows furrowed when she noticed I wasn’t there. Tipping her head to the side, she came closer to the glass with a strange look on her face.

I sucked in air and closed my mouth in a thin line. She was wearing tiny shorts and a tank top. It was barely there, in all honesty. Even from across the yard, I memorized the details of the best piece of clothing she’d ever wear. Clearly, Maddie didn’t mind showing skin.

And I’d say - to anyone who asked - that my decision to leave the sleeping shorts behind was about Maddie, who didn’t seem to care. But I knew better than that. The second I looked at her, I stopped all thinking and my feet moved independently of my will.

She was a siren calling for me. Plush lips, hair piled on top of her head, fresh washed face. Those damn shorts… In the blink of an eye, I was halfway to her. My foot grounding itself on the two branches, and I lunged forward, grip on the gutter.

It was that easy. She called, I went. Somewhere inside of me, I wondered when I stopped looking at her and seeing little Maddie Mendoza with big glasses and unruly hair. When was the moment she became this force that turned my knees to water and made me crave her touch?

I shook myself, knowing that would never change now. I hopped inside her bedroom and she gave me space. “What were you waiting for?” she asked.

“I had to brush my teeth.” I lied.

She accepted and headed to bed. Her skimpy outfit was even worse up close. The shorts were made of some kind of silk material, shining under the light. They rode up her legs at every movement, making my mouth water when she simply walked.

Maddie slid into her bed, waiting for me to follow. But I was frozen, licking my lips from the sight of her tits bouncing inside the strappy little tank top.

It took all my strength to look away and focus on her face. My heart raced. I gritted my teeth.

I was sure I saw the brown of her nipples through the tank top. Maybe I was imagining it, but I couldn’t look again to confirm.

Unaware of the biggest battle I’ve ever fought, Maddie took the remote control and turned on the TV. “Ghost Whisperer?” she asked.

Supernatural,Ghost Whisperer. All the shows we weren’t allowed to watch when we were little, we watched them anyway. I got it. She was looking for comfort, and those shows reminded us of our childhood.

I nodded, my neck strained from not looking at her tits. I was going insane with every scent of Maddie that traveled toward me. Maybe sleeping together was a bad idea.

“Take your clothes off and come here.” She patted the space beside her.

Yeah, that wasn’t going to happen.

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