Page 91 of Anti Player

We take seats on the plane. With Maddie sitting in the middle. I try to push that last thought away, but I can’t.

“I can’t believe we’re doing this,” she says, blowing out a breath as the plane taxis down the runway.

I smile awkwardly at first, needing to get my emotions together. “I know. It’s been a heck of a long time for me too,” Isay, looking straight ahead. Asher is busy with his iPad, which is good, because Maddie and I are clearly having small meltdowns about going home. That’s all this is, I couldn’t possibly have gone and fallen in love with her. Could I?

Brett called me yesterday and asked me why the hell it was necessary to accompany his sister and nephew home. I told him that their situation inspired me and I wanted to connect with my mom. Once he believed it had nothing to do with Maddie, he chilled the heck out. But I feel like an asshole for lying to my best friend. I’ve clearly offered to follow her home and make sure she and Asher are okay because I care for her. This trip isn’t really about me.

The flight isn’t long, and we land in Michigan and disembark from the plane. Asher is super excited about the whole flying experience. He’s really an adorable kid. He’s gotten under my skin too. It feels good to spend time with him. The way he looks at me with his bright smile does something to me right in the center of my chest. It isn’t a feeling I’ve had before. I told myself I never wanted to have kids or settle down. Not with the shit things I’ve seen in my life, but spending time with Asher has changed that for me. I can see how much joy he brings to Maddie and the thing is, he brings me joy too. Walking into Brett’s apartment and being greeted by Asher’s larger-than-life hugs is the highlight of my day.

I blink away my thoughts as we see Henry and Brett waiting in arrivals.

Maddie packed a nice-sized suitcase for her and Asher, saying she didn’t know how long she would be staying. I booked myself into a cheap hotel close to home since I didn’t expect my mom to be hospitable.

“Long time no see, asshole,” Henry jokes as he wraps me in a hug.

“Look at you looking all professory,” I joke back. “Are those glasses even real?”

He laughs. We all do.

Henry lifts Asher in the air and twirls him, and Asher giggles. “How are you doing? You’re a big boy.”

“I had my first sleepover with my friend, Liam,” Asher says.

“You met Rebel?” Brett asks Maddie.

“Yeah, we all went to Coney Island on the weekend and I met everyone,” Maddie says. “You have a great set of friends.”

Brett looks me over, giving me a curious look, but it’s more like he’s sizing me up. “Did you make those arrangements, Bardot?” He only calls me by my last name when he’s pissed.

Henry chuckles and so does Maddie.

“Yeah, bro, I thought she could use a distraction with all this stuff going on. I was being a good friend.”

That seems to relax Brett, while I think of what a good friend I was being for taking her on the Ferris wheel and having sex with her.

We head into the car Brett rented and head back to Cliftwood. My hackles rise the closer we get.

“You planning on seeing your mom?” Henry asks me.

“Eventually, I’m staying at the Suites Hotel,” I reply.

Henry nods. Then he looks back at Maddie. “We got Dad into a rehab. Figured it was better he wasn’t in the house with you guys coming.”

“Can we see him?” Maddie asks.

“Not for about a week.” Brett winces.

“Damn,” Maddie says. It looks like she wants to say more but I’m guessing she is keeping her thoughts to herself because of Asher.

We pull up in front of their old house. My house is just next door and my stomach dips when I see a car in the driveway.

I want to reach out and hold Maddie’s hand, but that isn’t an option right now.

We unload the car. Maddie heads inside the house with Asher and Henry and I stay back to help Brett with the suitcases.

When he unloads mine too, I remind him, “I’m staying at the hotel.”

“Cancel it. We have enough room here,” he says because he’s a good guy.

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