Page 162 of Ever With Me

The paparazzi.

Not just photographers, either. A few men and women hurried toward her, giving her flashbacks of the days after the breakup, when reporters had hounded her.

“Madison Yardley?” one woman called as she drew closer, waving her hand in the air.

They seemed to come out of nowhere, as though the reporters and paparazzi had all descended on her in a surprise attack. “Miss Yardley? Can we get a statement from you about Brooks Kent’s new song? Is the song about you?”

“Are you in touch with Mr. Kent?” another man called out.

Kayla and Maddie shoved their way toward the door of the Depot, but more reporters blocked them.

“No comment,” Maddie managed, unable to move past them.

The sound of a familiar truck roared, then stopped on the curb beside them.

Josh.

He sat in the driver’s seat of his truck and leaned over, opening the door. “Maddie,” he called. “Get in.”

She exchanged a helpless look with Kayla. It would be easier to make a fast getaway with Josh, but what about Kayla? “Go on,” Kayla said with a light push. “They’re not interested in me.”

Despite her reservations, Maddie climbed inside the truck and closed the door behind her. Josh pulled away from the curb, giving her a worried smile. “You okay?”

“I’m fine, thanks.” Ironic, finding herself here. Only a handful of months ago, she’d felt so comfortable in the passenger seat of this very truck. So sure that Josh was everything she’d ever wanted.

Now, as she looked at him, she couldn’t quite remember what she’d seen in him. “I’m just glad I was passing by. That’s quite a throng of people out there. The reporters been bothering you?”

“Sometimes.” She glanced back. Maybe she should have tried her luck and stayed out there. Here in the truck with Josh didn’t feel any safer.

The Depot was quickly moving out of her line of sight. Why hadn’t he just taken her to the back of the Depot?

“How’re you doing, Maddie? I’ve been thinking about you a lot these days.”

She frowned at him. Josh wasn’t the smoothest—never had been—but back when she’d believed she was in love with him, she thought he was kind and honest. After what had happened with Gina, she knew he wasn’t honest. Kind was questionable, too.

“I’m good.”

Josh gave a slow nod. “If you ever need anything, a friend to talk to, someone to drink with, whatever, I’m here for you.”

She stiffened, her brow furrowing.

Josh pulled up to a stoplight, then leaned over toward her, his hand sliding onto her thigh. Then he gave it a squeeze.

She didn’t wait to think it through. She just unlocked the door and climbed out of the passenger seat.

“Hey, where are you going?” Josh called after her.

“You’re not my friend, Josh. You never were, asshole.” She slammed the door and turned to walk away.

A stream of curse words started from his open window, but Maddie ignored him and fled onto the sidewalk. She kept running, crossing the street and going back toward the Depot. Jumping into the alleyway that ran behind the stores on the street that faced the Depot, she ran until the heel of her boot snapped.

Dammit. Just my luck.

Then again, high-heeled boots weren’t meant for running.

She took both pairs of boots off, then made her way down the alley in her socks. This day was spinning into a shit show, one she wasn’t sure if she was emotionally prepared to handle.

As she drew closer to the stores that were across from the Depot, she slowed. The reporters were still probably out there, waiting for her to return. Who knew how long they’d be there?

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