Page 16 of The Wrong Bachelor

He laughed and lifted his hands in surrender. “Fine, I’m leaving.” He started to move away, but before he did, he leaned in close to me once again. “And don’t pretend you didn’t enjoy sharing your cookies with me.”

I placed my hands on his shoulders and pushed him back. “Must you make everything sound dirty?”

He grinned down at me like my comment had made his day. “Only with you, cookie. Only with you.”

6

Madison

Igot out of Mom’s car and slumped my heavy bag over my shoulder. I felt exhausted. Jake hadn’t answered any of my calls the previous evening, and I’d been up half the night worrying about it. He hadn’t arrived to pick me up from school, and it was lucky Mom had been running late for work, or I wouldn’t have been able to get a ride from her either.

“Have a nice day, Madi,” Mom called out through the lowered car window as she went to pull away. I raised a hand in reply and started heading toward the school.

My heart was a swirling bundle of uncertainty and misery. I wasn’t exactly sure what I’d done to make Jake upset, but I already had a bad feeling that we weren’t going to come back from this.

I made my way straight to his locker, where I found him leaning against the wall, surrounded by his friends. I didn’t want to talk to him in front of them, but I didn’t feel like I was left with any choice.

“Hey,” I said, softly. I lightly touched his arm, causing him to turn.

When Jake’s eyes landed on me, I could see disappointment etched in them and my stomach sunk. Jake was always impulsive and emotional, and right now I could feel every bit of his unhappiness directed at me.

“Can we talk?” I asked.

He glanced over his shoulder at his friends and, for a second, I worried that he would refuse. I breathed a silent sigh of relief when he nodded and led me to an empty classroom.

“What’s going on?” I asked, clutching my arms around my waist as he closed the door behind us. I felt suddenly vulnerable and apprehensive about what he was going to say.

He let out a breath and rubbed his face as if he too had suffered a sleepless night. “I’m sorry I haven’t spoken to you, Mads. I’m just trying to figure out how to deal with all of this.”

“All of what?” I asked, tilting my head as I watched him.

“You know what I’m talking about,” he replied.

“I can guess, but that doesn’t mean I’m not confused.”

“What’s there to be confused about? Are you really surprised that I don’t want my girl dating another guy in front of me.”

My brow creased at his admission. “Jake, it’s just some stupid charity competition. It doesn’t mean anything. It’s not like I volunteered to do it.”

“Yeah, but you are doing it,” he replied, directing his words at the floor.

I walked forward, closing the gap between us. “It’s just for one week. I’ve already spoken with Angus, and he’s going to make sure I’m voted out at the first ceremony.”

“Really?” Jake lifted his head to look at me, a hint of hope in his eyes.

“Yes. And you would know that if you had taken me home last night like you were supposed to. Or if you had answered my calls or picked me up this morning.” I let out a frustrated breath. “I didn’t ask for this, and yet you’re treating me like it’s my fault.”

He lifted a hand to cup my face. “I’m sorry, Mads. I was angry and not thinking straight.”

“Are you still mad?” I asked.

He shook his head and brought me in for a hug. “I don’t like it, but I guess I can handle a week of this stupidity.”

I smiled into his chest. “Thanks, Jake.”

He pulled back and looked me in the eyes. “You just have to promise me that you won’t do anything with him. No hand holding or kisses or anything like that.”

“I wouldn’t do that stuff with him even if they paid me,” I replied. “You’re the only guy for me. You know that.”

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