Page 10 of All I Want

Chapter 3

What the helljust happened? As Alex watched Maggie blend into the crowd, he itched to call her back. The last hour had been perfect, like no time had passed, and as much as he wanted to stay angry for what transpired years ago, he understood her reasons. But they were in a different place now, even if she only wanted to be friends.

“What was that about?” Madison asked.

“What? Sorry,” he said, turning away from the crowd and focusing on Madison.

“You’ve never looked at me the way you looked at your old friend,” Madison said. But there was humor in her voice, not outrage.

“What?” He shook his head. “Sorry for that. You deserve better. Yes, she’s an old girlfriend.”

“From the way you were looking at her, I’d say she was the girlfriend.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Remember that night three years ago? Your season ended early and we went out for drinks. You got bombed, and I heard all about the girlfriend.”

He took a long pull of his beer. “Vaguely.” He wished he didn’t remember that night.

“You’re great, you know that?”

“I know,” she said, her smile wide.

“And I’m an ass.”

“Nah. We only went on a few dates recently. Totally casual. Besides, I get it. I have one, too.” A soft smile teased the edge of her lips.

“You had a girlfriend? Do tell,” he said.

She swatted his shoulder. “No. Get your mind out of the gutter.” She shook her head. “Always the quiet ones. No. I had the guy. It was a long time ago.”

“Ah, Mads, he’s an idiot.” How had he not realized how much Mads sounded like Mags?

“Actually, I was the idiot. But it doesn’t matter. I get it. This was just fun and casual.”

“It’s not like that. Maggie wants to be friends.”

“Sure, she does,” Madison said with a laugh. “The daggers she was shooting at me sure looked friendly.”

Excitement at her words rolled through him.

“Look how happy you are thinking she was jealous.”

“Hey. That’s not true.”

“You’re full of shit, you know that? Now, get me a drink and tell me all about running into her again.”

“Are you sure?” He couldn’t believe how easygoing she was being about everything.

“Yes, we are friends first, Alex. I was really only dating you for Cup tickets if you make it to the final this season.”

He chuckled. “The truth comes out. I’ll get you tickets any time you want.”

“Yes, now get me that drink. I had a rough day and I want to hear all about your reunion with Maggie. Unless you want to run after her now?”

While that sounded like an excellent plan, he was already going to see her tomorrow and he owed Madison a drink for being so insanely awesome.

“Whoever your guy was, no matter what happened, he never should’ve let you go.”

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