Page 34 of Love me, Maddie Mendoza

“Z!”

I fell on the bed and glanced at the TV. Maddie was watchingGame of Thrones. It was in the middle of a sex scene, which we watched in silence, until she broke it. “Sothatdidn’t happen in the library?”

“No. Cathy seemed to be someone in control of things. I don’t think she’s a banging in the library kinda girl.”

Maddie hummed, as she went back to crochet when the scene ended. “That’s probably what she likes about you. That you’re also in control.”

“She doesn’t know enough about me to know that.”

“That’s something you exude, Z. Did you like how I used that in a sentence? You exude control and confidence.” She stopped herself and turned to me. “Quiet confidence.”

It took me a minute to get what she was saying, but finally it clicked and made me chuckle. The quiet confidence that Aisha said men with big dicks had.

I arched an eyebrow. “It says quiet, Mad Max. I’m not supposed to talk about it.”

“First rule of fight club, uh?” She tilted her head. “Well, let’s go back to you and Cathy.”

I groaned. “I told you, she’s nice and fun, but it wasn’t a porn moment for us. We really just studied. Cathy had excellent notes.”

“Does she?”

“Proper notes. Seriously, Maddie, we should hang out with her.”

Maddie waved me off. “Buy her notes with your body, Z. I’d like to profit from your sexuality.”

I toed off my shoes and got comfortable in bed. “You used me plenty before. I can’t believe it’s going as low as anthropology notes.”

“Talking about using you, my cousin’squincesis next weekend.”

“Is Tía Silvia cooking?” I perked up.

“Yes.”

I didn’t need to ask further. Silvia’s side of the family had the best Mexican restaurant in town. “I’m in.”

“You’re always in, Z.”

I tsked. “But I’m super in just for the food.”

Different from Maddie’s family, most of my mother’s relatives still lived in Mexico. I needed Maddie to have access to authentic food, and she knew it.

We watched more of the show and Maddie kept working on the crochet. At some point, my gaze left the TV, and I started watching her instead. Her little fingers worked fast, precisely. It was Mrs. Monroe- our old babysitter- who taught her. Maddie always had many hobbies, but lately I have seen none of them. I scanned the bedroom looking for old coins, watercolor, or coloring books. Even as my eyes searched, I knew I’d not find any. I couldn’t remember the last time I saw her doing anything but crochet.

“Maddie?” I called when something tugged inside me, demanding attention.

“Hmm?”

“Why are you only doing crochet ?”

She finally stopped. Right in the middle of a stich, she looked up at me. “What do you mean?”

“Where are the stamps and coins? What about baking and learning stupid old man sports?”

She usually went to cycles of her hobbies, but it has been a long time since I saw her with her stupid stamp collection? I sat up and frowned down at her.

“I think I like crochet better.” She lifted one shoulder with the stupid excuse.

“No…” I shook my head.

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