Page 19 of Done Waiting

Ben lifts his head, a warm smile on his face as he turns to me. “I’m glad we got ice cream. I missed you. Why don’t we head back to your mom’s house? Then you can bring the Mustang home later.”

A delicious thrill goes through me. He’s looking at me the way in a way he hasn’t since my dad died. The way he used to look at me before grief stole my smiles.

“That sounds great.”

As we back out of the parking space, my gaze moves to where I saw my stalker, or at least, I’m pretty sure he’s my stalker. He’s glowering at me, arms folded over his chest.

Is he mad about Ben? He has no claim over me.

And why do I care that he’s pissed about me being with my boyfriend?

As though the asshole can read my thoughts, his lips pull into a smug smile. Narrowing my eyes at him, my anger increases when his smile grows wider until it covers his handsome face, revealing a dimple in his cheek.

Fuck.An illicit thrill courses through me. Curling my hands into fists, I dig my nails into my skin, commanding myself to stop staring at him. To sever whatever this fucking weird connection is between us.

Slowly, my eyes slide from his smile and dimple to his eyes. He winks at me, and my breath hitches, my panties becoming damp.

What the fuck, Maddie?

Closing my eyes, I count to five, then open them. When I look in his direction, he’s hurrying across the parking lot. For a minute, I wonder if he’s going to follow us.

Preposterous, Maddie. Why would he stalk you when you’re with Ben?

As we drive away, he vanishes from my view. The last glimpse I had of him was his powerful leg muscles straining beneath the denim fabric, the baggy sweatshirt and leather jacket unable to hide the broadness of his chest. I’m fairly certain if he took off his jacket and sweatshirt, he would be ripped, all brawn, sinewy muscle leading to a V taper.

Dammit, Maddie. What the hell was in that ice cream? And why am I sweating, thinking about him smiling at me, dimple popping, while he’s shirtless?

My heart beats like a drum inside my chest as I lean back in my seat, feeling like the worst fucking girlfriend in the world.

I need to make it up to Ben when we get to my mom’s house. Force the stalker guy from my thoughts, never to return.

8

MADISON

Leaning against the front door of my childhood home, a sickening feeling courses inside me. Ben dropped me off but didn’t stick around, saying he had a ton of homework to catch up on. I was numb from shock, unable to argue, as he stared at me expectantly like he wanted to kick me out of his car. I couldn’t even find my voice to tell him I was hoping he’d come inside.

Ben must have sensed my disappointment because he pulled me into him, his lips devouring my mouth. Excitement coursed through me. I was certain he’d come inside, we’d have sex, then I could follow in my dad’s Mustang, heading to our apartment.

Instead, he pulled away, saying he needed to go or he’d never get his homework finished, leaving me a wet, quivering mess. Too horny and stunned by him choosing homework over me, I nodded mutely when he asked me to text him later, which further cemented his desire for me to stay at my mom’s house rather than follow him to our apartment. I slammed out of his car, not even bothering to wave as I blinked back the tears.

What the fuck is going on?Frustration flows heavily inside my veins as I pace back and forth inside my mom’s living room,chewing on the side of my thumbnail.How could he kiss me like that and leave me wanting? He could have come inside for a quickie, at least.

Swallowing hard, I run up the stairs to my bedroom. Grabbing the pair of running tights and the shirt I wore earlier; I rip off my jeans and sweater that I put on for my date with Ben. For the first time in weeks, I devoted time to my appearance, straightening my hair and putting on some light makeup, only to have Ben give me a quick once over, a polite smile, and a peck on the cheek as he said I looked nice.

Nice?The anger wells up inside me like magma inside a volcano.That’s the worst compliment you can give a woman.

I yank on my clothes like they are my enemy, tugging and pulling them over my skin. My rapid breaths expel from me as I shove my feet into sneakers and head outside, sprinting toward the woods, not even bothering to warm up. My muscles comply, the anger rushing through my veins, propelling me faster as I try not to think about Ben… and Chloe.

A sickening feeling of being unwanted rises inside of me, causing tears to fill my eyes. My throat aches as I force them back, refusing to let them flow down my cheeks. I’ve cried enough lately.

Taking a different route through the forest, my feet propel me down the unfamiliar path. My eyes dart around, paying attention to my surroundings, unwilling to give in to the despair welling inside.

Just focus, Maddie. Let the endorphins from the run flow.

As I pass a tree, I see a sign that makes me draw to a stop. I saw one of these on the way into the ice cream shop but only saw the words “Missing” and a blonde’s smiling face.

My eyes trail over the poster, moving from her exuberant smile to her light brown eyes and over her golden blonde hair. A chill runs through my spine and I shiver as I study the poster.It’s one of those missing posters, a smiling blonde with honey-brown eyes staring back at me. The name beneath the picture says “Katie Michaels,”and beneath that is a phone number to call if you see her.

---