Page 19 of Love me, Maddie Mendoza

“No. But he’s being…” she cleared her throat, “difficult about me moving in with you.”

I sat back in the chair and stared at her, saying nothing. Maddie sipped on her coke, ignoring my eyes, but eventually sighed. “I know, I know…”

“So he doesn’t want to help, but he’s not happy that I did?”

“I know.”She leaned on the table. “I said that to him. I mean, not in those words. I’m trying to walk around the part about me wishing he offered.”

“Oh my Maddie, so I was your second option?”

She laughed, and our food arrived. Turkey burger for her and steak salad for me. We dove in.

“I know it was for the best.” She munched on her fries. “I love you guys and I’m having so much fun. But my romantic heart…”

“Your romantic heart will be the downfall of us all.”

“In my romantic heart,” she continued, ignoring me. “I wanted him to at least offer, even if I was going to say no. I wanted him to…care?” She sagged her shoulders.

“He probably does if he’s upset with your new living arrangements. Did you tell him you think Jason is hot?”

She laughed. “I’m assuming he has eyes?” She made a face and wiggled her eyebrows like a dork. Taking an extra-large bite of her burger, she revealed. “He’s jealous of you, Z.”

I willed myself not to roll my eyes.Jealous of what?I never gave him a reason to think I was trying anything with Maddie. Yes, we were close, but not inappropriately. Never flirty or any bullshit like that. As much as I disliked the guy, I wouldn’t hurt Maddie like that, causing problems just for the fun of it.

“You have nothing to say to this?” She pushed.

I forked my salad, lifting one shoulder. “I guess I owe it to you since Carmela.”

Maddie almost spit her food at the mention of a name we haven’t heard for years. Carmela was my first girlfriend, if we could call a two-week thing a relationship. We met during the summer and got on really well, but when school started, it took all of two days for her to voice her discontent over the fact I had lunch with Maddie every day. In a very dramatic scene in the middle of the cafeteria, Carmela asked me to choose between herself and Maddie, which made me shrug and say “Maddie” without even looking in her direction.

Later, Maddie told me Carmela had been being a pain since we started to date.

I guessed I was doing the same. What goes around comes around.

“He’s just insecure.” She insisted after a second, “I just have to prove to him I love him…”

“Do you?” I asked, stealing a fry from her plate.

“You don’t like Pete, Z?”

I shrugged and stole another fry. “Why do you think that?”

“You compared him to Carmela, for starters.”

“Do you love Peter, Maddie?”

And I promised myself if she said yes, I’d behave for the rest of my life. I’d be good and try my best to be friends with the guy, especially if he was staying in our lives for a long time.

I was holding my breath when she replied. “I don’t know. I like him a lot, but I don’t think I’ve ever loved anyone but you, my parents, and your parents.” She thought about it for just a second. “And Aisha. Hmm, I think I love Jay and Nicky too.”

I couldn’t help but chuckle. “You love many people.”

She groaned. “I know! But it’s different when it’s a guy.”

“I’m a guy.”

She rolled her eyes. “It’s different when it’s a guy you see naked.”

“Hmm, you live with us now. I’m sure you’ll see Jason in some kind of compromising position.”

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