Page 91 of Broken Player

“So, Ryan,” Monica turned to me with a bright smile on her face, the tears that streaked down her face just an hour ago long since dried and scrubbed away. “How long have you and my son been together?”

I tried to choke back a giggle, but it burst out, and before I knew it, I was full-on laughing. The head thrown back kind that wasn’t cute. But, what a loaded question, one I really didn’t know how to answer. Maddox’s grip on me tightened as he chuckled and pressed a kiss to my temple.

“Sorry,” I apologized, wiping my eyes. “That’s a really complicated question to answer. I know it shouldn’t be, but you’re not the only one who left and took way too long to come back. I think it must be genetics,” I teased, and Maddox’s eyes narrowed slightly, almost like he was wondering if I was taking a shot at him or just teasing.

I smiled lovingly up at him, and he dropped a kiss on the tip of my nose. I melted a little because I loved it when he did that. “I was head over heels in love with this guy before I even really knew what love was,” I started, poking him in the ribs as I turned to face his mom and Griffin, who made himself more comfortable on the couch. It seemed like he’d gotten the message and toned it down.

“I was ten, and he saved me from a couple of bullies. We’d been neighbors our whole lives, but I’d only seen him from a distance until that day,” I recalled.

“She was so small, and it was heartbreaking watching the boys pick on her. Especially over something so stupid,” he added, jumping in to tell a little bit of his side of that day.

“What were they picking on you about?” Griffin asked, leaning forward. He actually looked curious, which surprised me since he also looked like the kind of guy who only got to know you well enough to get in your pants but forgot your name as soon as he got off.

“My name.” I shrugged. “Little boys are mostly all dicks, no offense.”

Maddox and Griffin both laughed, and the sounds were eerily similar. “None taken, Freckles.” Maddox’s thumb rubbed gently along my shoulder, making me shiver like he always did. Every little way he touched me today was slowly building, making it harder to concentrate on anything but his touch. I wanted more, but I’d have to wait until later when we were alone. He flashed me a quick grin that said he knew exactly what he was doing to me.

“What’s wrong with your name?” Griffin asked, genuine curiosity on his face as he picked up the bottle of water I’d brought out for him, twisting open the top and taking a sip.

I rolled my eyes. “Nothing except it’s usually a boy’s name. So they’d tease me about having boy ‘parts’.” I made air quotes. “Or being a boy or whatever. Now it seems kind of ridiculous, but at the time, it was relentless until Maddox stepped in.”

“Aww, I’m proud of you,” Monica said, pressing her palm to her chest with a warm smile on her face.

“Thanks.” Maddox almost looked like he was blushing, and Ireallywanted to tease him, but I’d let him have a freebie. It was a big deal for him to have his mom tell him she was proud of him. It had probably never happened before in his life. He deserved to enjoy it.

“I’d seen it happen a few times, but the bus came, and I didn’t want to get in more trouble. But that day, the bus was nowhere to be found, and they had her pinned. They were going to pull down her pants and try and prove she was really a boy. You should’ve seen the look on her face. She was this terrified, angry little girl who was trying desperately to save herself. But she couldn’t. It was two against one, and she tried to fight them off, but it wasn’t a battle she could win.”

“What’d you do?” Griffin questioned, and he looked like he was genuinely invested in this story. It made me wonder if he was actually the kind of guy his outward appearance and attitude suggested or if there was more to him. Maybe he didn’t even know yet since he was only twenty-two.

Maddox smirked. “All I had to do was tell them to let her go. They took one look at me towering over them and twice as broad and got the hell away from her.”

I pulled his hand into mine. “And he didn’t let me wait for the bus alone for the rest of the year. He walked me home every day. And those two little jerks never messed with me again.”

“Damn, my big bro’s a knight in shining armor,” Griffin snickered.

“More like a wolf in sheep’s clothing,” I corrected as Maddox’s hand moved from my shoulder to my thigh, squeezing as desire pooled inside of me. He was driving me insane with his touches. Was it possible to die from sexual frustration?

“What’s wrong, Freckles?” he whispered darkly into my ear, his warm breath making goosebumps break out over my entire body. Damn him.

“Is it hot in here?” Griffin asked loudly, while my cheeks heated up.

“That’s enough,” Monica chastised her younger son gently, a soft smile on her face. She looked happy to have both of her boys in the same room. I couldn’t imagine the weight of guilt and longing she’d been carrying all these years. “I think we’re going to go, but I thought we’d stick around a few days if you don’t mind. We’ll get a hotel room, of course.”

Maddox smiled and stood when his mom and brother did, smoothing out his shirt. He almost looked… nervous? “Are you sure? You guys can stay here, we have room.”

My heart soared at the fact he’d included me as someone who lived here with him even if I wasn’t.

“No, I… I can’t stay here,” Monica shook her head, shadows crossing her face before she blinked, and her smile was back. “The hotel will be fine. Griffin might want to stay, though.”

“Would you mind?” he asked, his dark eyes locking with Maddox’s.

“Not at all. Let’s go grab your bag,” Maddox offered, walking out the front door with his family. Before he stepped over the threshold, he looked back and gave me a smile of pure joy. He was radiating such happiness tears sprang to my eyes. Seeing him so happy made my heart full.

By the time Monica left for the hotel and Maddox got Griffin settled in his room, the three of us were sitting back around in the living room, and Connor walked in the front door with Sebastian. I didn’t know where the other guys were, but then again, I hadn’t known we were supposed to meet up with Connor today, either.

Everything but dealing with Maddox’s family had fallen away today. I even forgot about Yates and what a mess we were dealing with. It was hard to be mad about his latest attempt to sabotage my boyfriend when it ended up bringing him so much happiness. The only times I’d seen him happier was when we had sex for the first time and when I chose him over Yates.

Connor plopped down across from where Maddox and I were tangled with each other on one side of the sectional. It was huge and in a U-shape, so there was plenty of room for everyone as Sebastian sat next to Connor. Griffin sat in the middle as he and Connor studied each other wordlessly.

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