Page 57 of Love me, Maddie Mendoza

My feet moved before I made a conscious decision. Maddie was still chuckling, saying she’d never be good at basketball. Matt looked relaxed, playing with the ball from one hand to the other, insisting that he could teach her a few tricks.

Yeah, no thanks.

I got into their space, so close to Maddie that our hips brushed, my right hand curled onto her hips as she turned to me with a smile.

“You heard that, Z?” she asked. “Matt thinks he can get me to play ball.”

“You know how to play ball. Just not well.”

I looked down at my friend with a teasing smile. Her curls framed her face, her bright brown eyes without the glasses today. She looked happy, not like someone that just ended a serious relationship.

I tried my best to not glance in my old teammate’s direction. If I saw any want in his eyes, I was going to be unhappy. I wasn’t allowed to be unhappy.

Don’t get in the middle of Maddie’s relationships, I told myself.

Yet, there I was, gripping her hip. I might as well piss all around her. Now that we were living together, it became clear that her next boyfriend was going to take her from me. Because Maddie couldn’t have a boyfriend and sleep in my bedroom every night. Or sit on my lap. And I got used to those perks. As usual, I wasn’t interested in change.

“I don’t call missing the hoop every damn time playing.” Maddie scoffed at me and turned to Matt. “But still it’s the best I can do. My talents aren’t in the sports arena.” She stopped, tapping on her chin. “Maybe they will finally add crochet into the Olympics.”

“I bet you can win that.” Matt said, and before I even looked in his direction, I knew what he was referring to. The damn triangles Maddie liked to call a top. That was her ticket to the Olympics.

Playtime was over. I should’ve checked with Maddie if she was interested first. I shouldn’t go around scaring off men she might want.

But the tick on my jaw wasn’t calculated. It just happened. Like an allergic reaction, my body tensed, my eyes narrowed, and my hand anchored Maddie to my side. I decided to blame my fear of change. It was the only explanation. She was just over Pete, and I needed her a little longer before she went off with someone else.

Plus, graduation was looming. There was no reason to start something so late in the game.

I tugged Maddie backwards, plastering her back to my chest. The move made Matt stare, his eyes going from her chest to my eyes. I pinned him with a look as I said, “Come on, we can try one last time.”

“You think?” She raised her eyebrow.

I smiled. I always wished she liked sports a little more so we could play together. But it was a dream I gave up many years ago. I was happy the way Maddie was. We found other things to talk about, even without basketball and her countless hobbies.

I stepped back and tugged her hand into mine, going to the middle of my makeshift court. She followed me, and I had to keep myself in check not to snicker that Matt was forgotten so easily.

We stood together, and I noticed she was excited, beaming at me. Maddie sipped from her beer and then jogged to the side to leave it there.

“Can I have it?” I asked Matt for the ball.

I thought he was going to be pissed. I cockblocked him for no apparent reason, but what I found was Matt smirking. “Sure.” His curved mouth agreed, and he threw the ball to me.

Maddie positioned herself with one foot in front of the other as I passed her the ball. In all fairness, Maddie never missed a game. She should know more about the sport. At least she had been shouting from the bleachers since learning how to curse. She chewed on her lip in concentration and for a second, I really thought she was going to get it right.

But she didn’t.

The ball didn’t even pretend to know where the hoop was. Maddie let out a frustrated growl. I chuckled. Without missing a beat, she hopped over and picked the ball once again, turning to me with determination. “Ok, now you do magic and I’ll get it right next time?”

My lip twitched. “Magic?”

Maddie nodded, turning her back to me and watching the hoop like it did her dirty. “Whatever secret athletes know. I want to know now, Z. I let you off the hook for far too long.”

“You’re ridiculous, Mad Max.”

The music changed, making Maddie sigh. I didn’t know the song, but the first chords made Maddie’s body roll. Her back to my chest, as she rolled her whole body into mine like it was second nature. Her ass brushed my cock, my hand found her waist again, and I gripped to bring even closer.

It was insanity. There wasn’t another explanation. I never been so aware of someone as I was aware of Maddie. My hands itched to undo the knots of her top and see crochet on the ground. My breath hitched. My knee went between hers and I growled. “Open your legs for me, Maddie.”

She flashed me a look. Her eyes locked on mine as we said nothing to each other. But Maddie did what she was told.Good girl.

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