Page 77 of Love me, Maddie Mendoza

Maddie was back. It was all that mattered.

We stayed like that for god knows how long, breathing each other in like it had been years and not days. Her nose trailed from my neck to my ear, her legs gripped me closer.

“Errr… guys?”

Jason’s voice took us away from the moment. I loosened up my grip and Maddie slid down to her own feet. Tucking a curl behind her ear, she cleared her throat. “Hey, Jay.”

His expression softened. “Hey, kiddo. Are you ok?”

She smiled brightly, that way only Maddie knew how. Nodding profusely, her arms took him for a hug. A much tamer one.

Jason embraced her, but his glare burned me while he was at it. I shrugged and then busied myself with taking Maddie’s bag inside. When the hug was finished, Maddie stepped into the house, leaving Jason to watch me.

“What?” I asked, but I barreled inside the house before giving him a chance to reply. I placed Maddie’s bag on the kitchen floor as she skipped through the backdoor where Nick practiced hoops. She dropped to give him a hug, too. I watched them talk for a second, stopping when Jason flicked me on the head.

“WHAT?” I asked again, this time not as friendly.

“What’s going on?”

“Nothing.” I swallowed. “Maddie’s back.” I pointed to the girl talking to Nick.

He flicked me again, but I caught his hand in time and slapped away. “Take your fucking hands off me.”

“Is she dying?”

“What?” for the third time.

“Is Maddie dying? Because why else would you both be hugging like that for thirty minutes?” I scoffed. It was hardly five minutes. He continued, “One of you must be dying. Maybe it’s you? Are you dying?”

“No one is dying. Mind your fucking business.”

“So, the hug?” He pressed. I glanced at the window just to see that Maddie was finished talking to Nick. I could see by her body language she was getting ready to go back to the house.

“She was away for a while. You hugged her too.”

Jay looked outside, too. Maddie was coming back in a second.“She was climbing you like a tree!”he whisper-shouted.

I never had the chance to reply because Maddie came from the back door with a tired smile. “I think I’m going over to Aisha to say hello.”

“Would you like a ride?” I offered, mostly because I wasn’t in the mood to be alone with Jason and his questions. I wasn’t in the mood to be with my own questions.

Unfortunately, Maddie shook her head. “I’ll take my car. Thanks, Z.”

I gulped and looked away. She was wearing white denim shorts and a Statham University sweatshirt. It wasn’t revealing; it wasn’t like she was dressed overly sexy, but nowadays my taste changed. Everything she wore got my attention. Every curve of her body needed to be examined.

I obviously couldn’t be trusted.

What kind of psycho gets excited by fresh washed face and a messy bun?

Maddie wasn’t paying attention to my pain, she just walked around like nothing bothered her, taking a bottle of water from the fridge. She squeezed my arm as she passed through. “I will be home later, ok?”

I nodded, and she left.

Just like when she arrived, she left again and my sanity went with her.

Jason gave me one look, and I raised my hand. “Don’t start.” He sighed, shaking his head.

I appreciated him, but my feelings weren’t ready to come out in the open. I scratched my cheek as Nick came inside. My eyes darted between Nick and Jason, and the desire to bolt grew inside my chest.

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