Page 81 of Love me, Maddie Mendoza

Yet.

The unspoken word traveled, and I waved it away. I sat down in the chair again, refusing to think more about the subject. I chatted a little longer with Cathy, ignoring the hard questions and pretending I wasn’t dying to search for Maddie.

When our beers were finished, Cathy and I went on our separate ways. I went into the house, my eyes scanning the crowd for any sign of a head of brown curls.

It wasn’t long ago when I searched for her at a house party. Back when she was Peter’s, and I promised my feelings were platonic. How fast things change?

I walked around, ignoring most people. Aisha was taller than Maddie, her hair curt short and bleached platinum. It was easier to see her in a crowd, but when I found her, Maddie wasn’t by her side.

A guy I knew from class was being charmed by Aisha on the other side of the living room. I looked beyond them, sure Maddie must be close, but I couldn’t find her. The music thumping in my ears, I reached Aisha. “Where’s Maddie?”

Aisha lifted a shoulder and went back to her conversation with what’s his face. I drew back, swearing softly. “What’s going on, Aisha? Where’s Maddie?”

Her eyes found me like she could see beyond. I shook my head, showing her how confused I was, and something broke the spell. She jerked her chin up. “There.” I followed her gaze to the dance floor.

Maddie was right in the middle of everyone. Her hands up in the air, her hips swaying to the beat. Beautiful, if it wasn’t for an asshole with his hands on her. My blood ran quicker, my hands balling into a fist. I never saw the guy before, but I hated him above all other.

He said something in her ear, and she fucking laughed at whatever the prick had to say. My temper was soaring, and then right when I thought I was going to do something insane, Aisha’s voice spoke next to me. “Isn’t it great when she’s happy?”

It bothered me the way she said it, but I couldn’t put my finger on why. Maddie was a happy person. She didn’t need to dance with some asshole to be like that. She was all smiles, unicorns, and shit.

“Maddie is happy.” I gritted out.

“Hmm…” Her tongue clicked. “Broke up a serious relationship and her mother isn’t well. Tough months for her.”

I flashed a look. “I know. What’s up with you today?”

Aisha was never hostile toward me. We were friends, always had been. We were both too close to Maddie to be anything but. At least I thought so. Today, she looked at me like I was dirt in her high heels.

“Nothing, King.” Her hands went up in surrender. “Just… I like to see Maddie happy.”

I frowned. “Yes, we can agree on that. And that makes her happy?” I pointed without looking, afraid to catch them humping each other and my head exploding.

Aisha shrugged. “Maybe.”

I pinched the bridge of my nose, exasperated. “Do you even know that asshole?”

Aisha chuckled. I didn’t think it was funny at all. “Do people really know each other?”

Yes. What kind of weird question was that? I didn’t care to reply, especially when she brought it home. “We don’t need to know each other to fuck.”

And that was my cue.

I marched toward them, parting the dance floor like I was Moses. It wasn’t hard. My height was enough to make them move around, shuffle on their feet. I forgot my manners; I forgot words. I hooked my arm around Maddie’s waist and brought her away from him, making her gasp. Her back was on my chest, but like I knew her body, she knew mine.

“Let’s go home,” I said.

“No, thanks, Z.”

The asshole’s eyes darted from Maddie to me in a quick motion, like he needed to decide if she was worth the effort. Any answer would be the wrong answer. If he stayed between us, I’d be angry. If he let her go like she was nothing, I’d be angry.

It sucked to be whats-his-face.

I gripped her waist tighter instead of replying, and Maddie turned around in my hands. The asshole gave up, and my eyes narrowed following his retreat.

“I’m having fun,” Maddie said, and I looked down at her.

“Dancing with an asshole, I see it.”

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