Page 14 of Anti Player

With that I turn away from her and head into my apartment. Before I hear my apartment door close, I hear hers close first. I shut my door and lean against it. This is really messed up. How can I still want her after all this time? How can my attraction have grown exponentially? This is a recipe for disaster. I try to push the feelings away, but I can’t. I strip off my clothes and get into bed. I’m hard as a rock as I think of Maddie in that tank top and short shorts. I’m stroking my cock as I think ofher, unable to stop the torrent of emotions flowing through me. I want to have sex with Maddie. NO. My voice booms through my head with warning bells. Brett would never accept that, and I don’t even think she wants me. She’s in a bad headspace from her recent breakup. She and I can only be friends. Only I come hard, picturing her naked breasts and that’s when I know I am screwed.

CHAPTER

THREE

Madison

I’m running late for my interview with Lucy, the owner of a catering company. Brett got me the interview through his friend, Connor, who is married to a woman named Ellie, who apparently knows Lucy.

“Asher, please hurry,” I urge, bouncing my foot as my son slips on his Velcro sneakers.

“Go on, Maddie, I’ll take the little man to camp,” Brett offers.

“Are you sure?” I ask my brother. He literally just rolled out of bed.

“Yes, I’ll be dressed in a jiff,” Brett assures. “Is it okay if I take you to camp?” he asks Asher.

Asher nods. “The kids will see I have a famous uncle.”

Brett likes that answer.

I smile and shake my head because my brother’s ego doesn’t need to be made larger.

I grab the to-go coffee cup I prepared. “You should go apologize to Kaleb,” I say to Brett.

Brett pinches his lips.

“You embarrassed him. You need to own up to that. Kaleb isn’t just a friend. He’s family,” I remind Brett. We may not beblood related and I am so thankful for that, but we grew up together. Experienced the fracturing of our families in different ways together and we were all there for each other.

Brett sighs. “I was trying to help him.”

“You were an ass,” I say pointedly.

Brett gives me an incredulous look. He’s a good guy but he can be a jerk.

“Own it and apologize,” I repeat.

“Fine,” he concedes.

“I better get out of here,” I say and I lean down to kiss Asher’s cheek. “Have a fun day at camp and I’ll be there at pickup.”

“Okay, Mommy.” He smiles.

I ruffle his light brown hair, grab my keys and purse, and run out the door.

“Good luck,” Brett calls out, just as the door closes.

I didn’t even look in the mirror but I figure not much has changed since I got ready. I’m wearing a white blouse and a pair of beige dress pants. I have my hair in a ponytail with some lose hairs falling on my face.

I put the address for the catering company on the Waze app. I do not know my way around the city very well. Everything kind of just blends into each other here.

It’s a twenty-minute drive, which isn’t too bad, because it will give me ten minutes to find the place and I want to arrive early. As I drive, I think of last night. I’ve been feeling down on myself for falling for another loser. You’d think I would have loser radar by now, but that doesn’t seem to be the case. I tend to always see the good in people. It should be a good trait. Brett would tell me it’s a terrible trait. Our mom saw the best in our father, even after his multiple screwups. It’s ironic that in the end he left her. Although, maybe it isn’t that ironic because he was an addict and cheater. A vision of Kaleb comes back to me. He startled me at first when I saw him out in the hall. His hair is longer andwas tucked behind his ears. He looked perfect, probably without trying. He was wearing an off-white T-shirt that hugged his chest and arms in all the right places. Kaleb was a handsome boy, but the man he has grown into is downright sinful. The way those dark gray jeans hugged his thighs. I lick my lips. Kaleb is a wall of muscle, but it’s his facial features that really have me locked in. The strong cut of his jaw. His slightly pointed nose. The man is a masterpiece and when he opens his mouth, it just makes matters worse because he is sweet and caring. He reminds me maybe there are good men in this world. Not that he would be an option for me. First, because I’ve sworn off men, and second, Brett would have a freaking meltdown if I liked Kaleb. Correction, I’ve always liked Kaleb. Brett would freak if he knew just how attracted I am to his friend.

Good thing he came back from a date. He has a woman in his life and that’s for the best. Only there were moments last night, when we looked each other in the eyes, that it felt like he might feel something too. No, I give my head a shake. I’m clearly dreaming.

I think about what Kaleb said about his dad not being supportive of his stutter and my heart broke. He never spoke about his stuttering when we were younger. Mom explained that Kaleb was so smart his mind just worked faster than he could get his words out. That was enough explanation for me. Where my dad was a loser who never showed up, Kaleb’s dad was just never around. When his mom remarried, the guy was a loser and didn’t take responsibility for his kids. Kaleb was the one who stepped up. He was always caring for Jack and Jane. I don’t know what they would’ve done without him. It’s why I always offered to babysit them. Kaleb needed the help, and I would do anything to be around him. Damn, it’s a crush that never dies. How can it when the guy gets better looking with age and his sweetness just grows?

You can’t go there, Maddie. Besides, he calls you Mad Pie. He sees you as his friend’s little sister and nothing more.

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