Page 32 of Defending Madison

“Huh?” Come on Dix, dig for more. “How’d you meet her?”

“I met her through my friend, Caitlyn. She’s married to a Campbell and was a rodeo star during college. She suggested I meet Lily for representation.”

I raise my brow. “How did you work for her from Phoenix?”

“I do online work for her and we kept couriers busy with our documents.”

“That seems like a good gig. You can work from anywhere.”

“Yeah. I’m lucky. She’s a great boss and a good friend.”

The server arrives and I pay the bill while Madison gives me the stink eye. “What?”

“I can pay my way.”

Will there come a moment when I don’t do something to piss her off. “I know you can, but I had my card out.”

She shrugs. “What time do we get into New York?”

“Around seven-thirty.”

The server returns the slip for me to sign, and as we get up from the table, I scan the room. It’s a habit. There hasn’t been any additional letters or packages since the bunny, but I’m still concerned. Stalkers don’t just go away. I open her door and extend my hand to help her get into her seat. I hold back the smile that wants to burst forth on my face. Every little battle brings me one step closer to Madison. I can’t expect that she’ll ever feel for me what I feel for her, but maybe we can find a friendship.

Chapter 11

MADISON

The redeye from the west coast to the east coast of the U.S. is a brutal flight for someone who can’t sleep on a plane. In complete honesty, I hate to fly. By the time we took off, Dixon was holding my hand with reassurances about the safety of flight. He nattered at me about his time in the Navy, his travels around the world, and funny stories about Brian. I’ve been angry at Dixon since he left the morning after the cabin. My tattling brother didn’t help my thoughts about Dixon either, but I can’t help but like him. I’m meeting with the calendar team from SportGym this afternoon. Dixon arranged for us to check into the Manhattan Luxury Campbell Hotel early, and I took advantage of the opportunity to nap and settle myself before this meeting. I run my hands down the navy-blue suit. Cocking myhead, staring in the mirror, the smile creeps up my face. I look good.

The knock on the door to my bedroom door brings me back to the realization that we need to be leaving. “Madison?”

“Come in.”

He opens the door and my body warms at the appreciation in his eyes,

“I’m ready.”

“Great.” He moves to the side to let me pass by as I grab my purse. “Think about what you’d like for dinner when you get done.”

We’ve been driving for ten minutes, and I can tell Dixon hates the silence between us. “Um. Thanks for talking to me on the flight. I just can’t relax on the plane.”

“Sure. Why is that?”

“When I was little, we took a plane to Disneyland, and I got sick on the flight. It was the last time we were all together as a family on a trip.”

“That’s rough. Have you thought about seeing someone for your anxiety?”

“Never in a million years would I think you’d be a proponent of mental health care.”

He laughs. “Mental health is important.”

“It is. I saw someone in early college. She’s probably the reason I had the courage to move on to Stanford.”

“What happened with your coach your freshman year?”

“She and I didn’t get along. She was a screamer. Well, she is still a screamer. She bullies and plays teammates against each other which creates a very toxic team dynamic. Coach York constantly rode me about my weight. Every day she weighed me before practice or a game, and if I was more than a pound off her idea of my ‘best’ weight, she added extra running at the end of practice.” I offer a sad chuckle. “The Weight Training coachtried to explain that I was at a great weight and even showed her my BMI analysis, but that wasn’t enough. I hated soccer by the middle of the season. My roommate’s mother was a therapist, and Penny encouraged me to meet her and talk to her. She helped me to realize that team and that coach weren’t for me or Penny.”

Dixon nods. “It’s great when that special person comes into our lives and gives us what we need to make the future better.”

---