Page 56 of Bossy Hero

What better foundation to build yourself upon than love?

Sadly, there’s not much I can do to overcome that type of barrier. It’s inside her mind. The same prison she’s been kept in for most of her adult life. The door to her cell is still closed, and she has no idea that it isn’t locked. I’m languishing on the outside, waiting for her to simply push it open. Just a tiny push is all it’d take. And she’d be free.

But she can’t. Or won’t.

My brother’s face flashes through my mind unprompted. The way he was trapped on the other side of the glass, calling for me to help him.

And I didn’t.

This time, I’m the one begging for Maddie to free herself. To join me. But she won’t.

And it’s exactly what I deserve.

When she doesn’t add anything else, I rub my hands over my jean-covered thighs and look toward the terminal entrance. “Well, I better get inside so I don’t miss my flight. Thanks for the ride.”

I reach for the door handle, but she stops me with a hand on my other forearm. “Wait, Alan.”

Heart in my throat, I whip my face toward her, my brows raised in silent question.

My lips stay fastened. I refuse to lead her where she doesn’t want to go. Because then she’ll resent me.

If she’s gonna choose me, she has to do it on her own.

Tearing her focus away from me, she reaches into the backseat. “Here. I brought you a goodbye gift.”

“I don’t need anything, Maddie.”

“Too bad.” She tosses something soft onto my lap. “I guilt-baked last night after the party.”

A grin starts on one side of my mouth, then quickly morphs into a sprawling smile when I see and smell what she’s given me. “Are you bribing me, Maddie?” I hold a plastic-wrapped banana bread loaf beside my face, wiggling it from side to side. “First Sawyer and now me.”

“I guess I wanted to see you smile.” She raises one shoulder in a tiny shrug. “And it worked.”

I beam a little brighter at her, giving her exactly what she wants. “It did.”

Her cheeks flush into an enchanting rosy hue. Ten fucking years of waiting for the gift of seeing it in person. And I saw it three beautiful times since yesterday. Maybe four.

Better than I could have ever imagined.

I only allow myself a few seconds to bask in her radiance. Any longer, and I’ll do something stupid. Something she clearly doesn’t want from me.

Not now, anyhow. Not until she’s strong enough. Whatever that means.

Silently, I exit the vehicle and retrieve my bag from the back seat. Before I close my door, I lean my face back in to see her smile one more time.

The last one was for her. This smile is for me.

“Thanks again, Maddie.”

“Goodbye, Alan.”

Without another word, I heft my bag over my shoulder and march onward. Part of me stays behind with her, though. And the twenty minutes alone with her this morning destroyed any chance I had of moving on.

I can’t quit her.

The icy Maine breeze whips past me, giving me a chill on the outside to rival the one spreading through my chest.

I’m two steps shy of the sliding glass door when Maddie calls out for me. “Alan, hang on.”

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