Page 84 of Love me, Maddie Mendoza

The blood ran cold in my veins and I took a step back the second I heard the words.

“Not so fast.” I heard Nick’s voice.

But he wasn’t chastising Jason. He wasn’t laughing and sending me a secret smirk. No. He looked serious, at least the part of his face I saw from the hall.

I was sweaty and exhausted. I was just back from yet another run, my knee complained a little, and at the last mile I faltered and favorite my left. I wanted a cold shower and to hide in my bedroom with an ice pack.

I dragged my feet to the kitchen, disguising the pain with unwillingness. Soon it was all forgotten when I saw Jason’s outfit.

“What the hell you’re wearing?”

Jason finally got the wig. A curly, white, ridiculous judge’s wig that annoyed the life out of me just for existing. But not just that; he now had a black judge’s robe draped over his shoulders like a royal. My eyes narrowed, and I went a little closer.

“That’s crochet.” I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose.

Jason smiled big. “Isn’t that great? Maddie made it for me.”

“She isn’t supposed to encourage you.” I breathed out and turned to the fridge. “What’s the house meeting about?”

I fished out a water and took a swing, almost finishing the whole bottle and wishing I could apply the coldness to my knee without drawing suspicions I was overdoing it. I hooked a finger under my t-shirt and took it off, setting aside. “Quick, I need to shower.”

Nick narrowed his eyes. “You’re favoring your left.” He observed.

“I’m not.” I lied and sat down.

“Yes, you are.”

“What do you know about walking, anyway?”

A beat. Nick tipped his head back and laughed. “I know better than you, idiot. I wouldn’t overdue it after a damn knee surgery.” He arched an eyebrow. “It’s only been a year.”

“It’s been a fucking year.” I agreed, rubbing my face with my hand. A year was a long time. “Lots can happen.”

Jason snapped his finger like he wanted to grab attention by his hand. “Yes, yes, to the matter at hand.” With a flourish, he took a sign from under the table. It was rolled up and Jason revealed with care, bringing it up to show off the word:Intervention!The exclamation point and all. In a glittery purple pen I knew it came from one of Maddie’s pencil cases.

“Is this about running?” I asked.

Jason liked interventions. He enjoyed getting his nose in people’s business, but we never let him go with it. Whenever it was a problem with one of us, even if we agreed it wasn’t good, we always settled on a normal talk. I couldn’t believe Jason finally broke Nick. Intuitively, I turned to Nick, accusation in my eyes. He brought his palms up. “I never agreed to a sign!”

“An intervention without a sign?” Jason sounded horrified.

“I’m not ok with the wig, gavel, or robes either.” Nick felt like it was important to add.

I signaled to his side of the table. “And yet, there you sit.”

“The props bring the point home.” Huffed Jason. “Either way.” He pointed the gavel at me. “This is about you.”

“Sure.” I nodded and sipped from my water, gesturing with my hand for them to proceed.

Jason cleared his throat. “Brotherhood. It has been brought to our attention that Brother King is engaging in harmful activities…”

I sighed again. “Is it about the running? Ok, sure I overdid this time, but I’m just trying to blow off some steam, ok?”

Nick knocked on the table. “It’s not about running.”

“I’m the only one that uses the gavel.” Jason protested.

“I didn’t use the gavel. I knocked with my hand.” Nick turned to him.

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