Page 36 of Trust Me
“Well, thank you. I do get plenty of exercise chasing a three-year-old around all the time.”
We enjoy a quick, semi-quiet lunch at the bakery. Mom was able to come over for the last fifteen minutes of my lunch break and relax with us after the lunch sweet-tooth rush died off, chatting with us all about our afternoon plans. Ihelp Maddox clean up the lunch, get Brooklyn ready to head back to Jake’s, and gather my stuff to go back to work. I kiss Brooklyn and hug Jake and my mom before I head out the door. Though it’s the most difficult task, I don’t make eye contact with Maddox for fear everyone in the room will see my eyes linger too long.
As I step outside and head back to the office, I pull out my cell phone and send Maddox a quick text.
Me: It was a nice surprise seeing you at lunch today. Let’s do it again soon.
He responds almost immediately.
Maddox: Let’s. Say tonight after Brooklyn goes to bed?
Me: You’re on. See ya tonight.
Maddox: Absolutely.
I walk back into my office building and can’t help the smile that’s spread across my face. Another night with Maddox. It doesn’t get much better than that!
Chapter 22
Maddox
Who knew entertaining a three-year-old would be so exhausting? I’ve played Barbies, had a tea party, watched cartoons, and even played outside for a bit, and I’m pretty sure I could have lain down and napped when Brooklyn did this afternoon. If I’m being honest with myself, I actually had a great time with the kid. I drew the line though at playing house and dress-up. I’m already pretty sure the pictures I caught Jake taking on his phone of me playing Barbies are going to bite me in the ass soon.
Jake and I are trying to get control over the mess in the living room, while Brooklyn sleeps in Jake’s bed, when I remember I want to tell Jake about running into Erin Anderson. “So, I ran into Erin this morning.”
Jake instantly perks up and turns to face me. “Where?” he asks, trying to sound casual and failing miserably.
“Hardware store.”
“Did she say anything to you? Aboutanything? About me?”
“What is this, sixth grade? We BS’d about her moving back to town, though she wouldn’t tell me where she was going to be working either. Just said that she’d be starting soon. She was buying stuff to fix up the house she’s renting. Apparently, the landlord is cutting money off her rent if she puts a little TLC into the place.”
“What place is she renting?”
“The old Johnson house on Third Street.”
“Really? That’s a pretty big house for one person.”
“Maybe she’s not the only one who’s living there.”
Jake looks wounded at the thought of Erin living with someone. “I didn’t see a ring on her finger.”
“There doesn’t have to be a ring on the finger to live with someone, Jake. Erin’s gorgeous. I wouldn’t be surprised if she doesn’t have a guy living with her.” I see Jake’s ears turn red when I call her gorgeous, but I choose to ignore his irritation at my comment. He’s trying very hard to hide it, and I don’t feel like calling him out on it again.
“Well, good for her, I guess,” he says as he turns back toward the pile of dolls he was picking up. After a few moments of silence, he can’t seem to help but ask, “She didn’t ask about me at all?”
I laugh out loud, hard. “Nope, sorry. I did offer to help her with any of her little home projects she’s got going on. She didn’t say anything about having someone or not who can help her, but I wanted to be polite and at least offer.”
“Don’t even think about it,” Jake thunders back at me, his face starting to turn an angry shade of red.
“Think about what?” I ask, my defenses instantly on high alert.
“Going over there and sleeping with Erin!” he booms, eyes the same color as his sister’s boring hard into mine.
“What? Dude, I’m not going to sleep with her. She’s great looking and seems nice, but I’m not into her. She’s not the one I want.” Before I can stop the words from flying from my mouth, they are thrown out there waiting for Jake to pounce on them. He looks at me, huge questions written all over his face.
“Who do you want?”
