Page 16 of Done Waiting

I wait for several minutes, then move slightly, gaze locked on her window.

She’s gone, just like I figured she’d be.

Moving around the house, I look up at the bathroom window, seeing the light in the window.She must be taking a shower.

I keep moving, trying not to think about her naked, water beading off her skin.Fuck, Jagger, get your shit together.

Continuing around the house, I peer into the kitchen window. The Ice Queen stands at the stove, her back to me. She hums to herself as she cooks.

Her phone beeps, and she plucks it from the counter beside her. Then she turns toward the stairs, craning her neck before pressing some buttons on her phone, and lifts it to her ear.

I strain my ears, my heart rate accelerating, holding my breath as she answers.

“I can’t talk long. Maddie’s here,” she says in a low tone to whomever answers.

Her face clouds from whatever the person on the other end of the phone says. She listens without interruption for a few beats, her face growing red, her hand clenching the phone so hard her knuckles turn white.

“I’ll handle it,” she snaps into the phone. “Since my daughter’s here, I’ll go to work after breakfast.” She looks toward the stairs again, then whispers, “I’ve gotta go. Maddie’s coming.” She hangs up, shoving her phone in the pocket of the khaki pants she’s wearing, then turns back to the stove.

What the hell is the Ice Queen up to?

As Maddie walks into the room, golden hair bouncing behind her in a high ponytail, she greets her mom.

I listen intently to their conversation, raising my brows when Maddie asks where Ben and Chloe are.

I’m intent on Maddie’s reaction as the Ice Queen answers, anger and hope surging inside me. Maddie goes completely stillat those words, her shoulders slumping. Her eyebrows furrow before her mood shifts, her lips pinching together from her anger.

But she masks her expression, heading to the refrigerator, her posture still and her muscles rigid. Maddie pretends to be fine, but it’s clear she’s anything but.She’s managing her emotions, knowing the Ice Queen can’t handle it.

“I haven’t checked my messages yet.” Maddie waves her hand dismissively, then opens her bottle of water, taking a long swig. I chuckle at the guilty look on her face. She was too distracted by me to check her phone.

When her mom tells Maddie she’s going to work for a few hours after breakfast, the crestfallen expression on Maddie’s face nearly makes me want to barge inside that house right the fuck now. My fingers grip the windowsill so tightly they turn white.

Maddie forces a smile to her face, her tone even. “It’s fine, Mom. Don’t change your plans. I have some things I can do here…”

Bullshit. It’s not fine. How the fuck is the Ice Queen so blind when it comes to her daughter?

The Ice Queen gives her a big smile. “Oh, and Maddie… I know the reading of your father’s will isn’t for a few days, but he’s leaving you his Mustang.” She nods in the direction of the garage. “If you need to go anywhere…”

Maddie looks like she’s about to cry as she takes a drink, her back to her mom. Lowering the water bottle, she says, “I’m gonna grab my cell. I’ll be right back.”

Frowning, I move around the house to the shade of the maple tree. I don’t have a good view since it’s daylight, but I can see her grab something off her nightstand, probably her phone, and then she turns her back to me, sitting on the bed. I can’t see anything else from this vantage point, so I head back to myearlier spot to observe her and the Ice Queen when Maddie returns for breakfast.

When Maddie returns, sliding into the chair, the Ice Queen slides a plate of food in front of her. “Now you can finally get rid of that car you’ve been driving.” She makes a disgusted face.

“Mom.” Maddie’s voice is stern. Reaching a hand up, she rubs her forehead as though she wishes they weren’t having this conversation. “My car is fine. Sure, it isn’t new like Dad’s, but it gets me where I need to go.” Her shoulders shake from her barely constrained emotions that seem seconds from pouring out of her.

The Ice Queen pauses, her fork to her mouth. “I thought you’d be happier that you’re getting your dad’s car. Why are you crying?”

What the fuck? Insensitive, cold-hearted bitch.

Maddie’s shoulders tense, and she glares at her mother’s back. “They are happy tears, mom.” She takes a calming breath, letting it out. “I’m grateful Dad left me his Mustang.”

“Good. I’ve never understood crying when you’re happy. That must come from your father because you certainly didn’t inherit that from me.”

Seriously, Maddie. Hit that fucking bitch.

Although Maddie is tense as fuck, the words that leave her mouth make me proud. “What can I say? I inherited my best qualities from Dad.”

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