Page 78 of Love me, Maddie Mendoza

“I’m going for a run.” My announcement made them laugh.

“Jesus Christ, the man will be a tank before he sorts through his damn feelings.” Chuckled Nick.

I sliced him a look.

“Get some weights on you too.” Offered Jason. “You have to balance that out.” It was his comeback after I accused him of neglecting cardio.

“Shut up.”

“Eat eight eggs in the morning.” Nick suggested. “Be one of those dudes.”

“Who? The shiny ones with fake tan and a bunch of muscles?” Jason mused and made a body builder pose.

“He doesn’t need a fake tan though.” Nick pointed out.

“Oh, good for you King, already ahead of the curve.”

I rolled my eyes and flipped them off.

Sure, I could stay at home and hear them mock me forever. At least they weren’t pressuring me to talk about shit. But I really needed to burn off the sexual frustration now that Maddie was back. I had the bedroom to myself for seven days and even alone, every time I blinked I only saw her in those tiny shorts.

Now she and the shorts were back, and they were going to be the death of me.

So I ran.

I ran as fast as I could, my joints soon complaining about how I was treating them. I walked back, getting my heart rate back to normal, breathing through my nose and listening to the music pumping in my earbuds.

When I got inside the house, Jay and Nick weren’t around. I took a shower and eased myself into my bed. One hand over my eyes, the other splayed on my chest. An hour later, the door opened and closed. I pretended to be asleep as Maddie made her way carefully around the bedroom. The rustling of fabric told me she was changing into her pajamas. Then she left for the bathroom and came back on her tiptoes.

I heard her lay on the mattress on the floor, and I relaxed. That was it. Back to normal.

“Z?” she whispered.

“Hmm?” I replied carefully.

“Can I sleep with you?”

The word yes never fully left my lips. But my body moved to give her space, turning to my side, welcoming her. I opened my eyes when Maddie crawled into bed. Her legs on mine as her head found the crook of my arm.

I breathed in deep. The scent of her always made me relaxed. It was my favorite brand of medicine. Her hand on my chest felt so much better than my own. She sighed, and her whispers said, “Goodnight, Z.”

“Goodnight, Maddie.”

We were tangled, fitting so flawlessly. Sleep came for me quickly, the rhythm of Maddie’s breathing soothing my mind, letting me drift.

And that was our new normal.

“Oh my god!”

Maddie clutched my leg as we watched a player fall and roll - wheelchair and all- and go back to his initial position as quick as the blink of an eye. I chuckled at her reaction. She adjusted her glasses, like they slid off her nose in disbelief. Shaking her head, Maddie bit her lip, her eyes glued on the game unfolding in front of us. “I know it happens, but I can’t stop my reaction each time.”

“I know.” It was an impressive sport. The first time I met Nick was when I arrived early for practice and his team still had the court. The game was similar and yet so different. I watched in awe. It was like finding out my favorite movie had a sequel. I loved basketball, and I loved wheelchair basketball from the very first time I watched Nick playing.

Nick was my type of baller. Conscious thinker, smart. I watched him waltz onto the court, a hairband across his forehead, his lips in a line. He painted the court with the roll of his chair, negotiating through the other players like they weren’t there. He barked orders to his teammates, half words that only a well-rehearsed team could understand so easily.

Today they were playing Statham’s biggest competition. A university not even thirty miles away with the second-best wheelchair basketball team in the country. Statham had the best.

Twenty-one to sixteen, the other team pushed and tried a shot just to miss it. The shot was close enough to make Jason curse on my right and Maddie wince on my left. Opposite from us, their side of the bleachers almost cheered. The chant fell flat off their tongues when it was proved yet another unsuccessful try.

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