Page 111 of Waiting to Lose
MADI WAVED AT the door as Kendra pulled away in her car with Rob a short distance behind. Jake had to order him to take the night off. He was reluctant, but after a quick call to Dave confirmed Peter Markum had not left his apartment in L.A., and one of his associates would be with Jake for the night, he conceded. Madi watched Jake speak to him in private before he left and wondered what he was mumbling in his ear.
Allison Gregory was confirmed to be hiding out at her family’s home near San Francisco, and there had been no news of her alleged blackmailer. The whole situation with her had really thrown them all for a loop. She and Jake had only briefly discussed her on the phone. There was still a lot they didn’t know about her and why she was so afraid of telling Jake the name of her blackmailer. Madi turned back to the kitchen to finish helping her mother put away the last of the dishes. Jake sat in the family room with Madi’s father and brothers.
“You okay, Madi?” her mother asked as she dried a bowl with a towel.
“I’m great. Better now that Jake’s here.”
Madi’s mom smiled, but she could see the worry in her face.
“He loves me, Mom. He really does.”
“I know he does,” she nodded. “I can see the way he looks at you. This thing between you—it’s serious, isn’t it?” she asked.
“It is.” Madi nodded. “He’s different from any other man I’ve ever known. I mean, I know he’s the only famous musician I’ve ever dated, but even if he weren’t famous, even if he were just a normal guy with a normal life, I’d still love him.” She smiled and sighed. “He’s so good to me. He always puts me first, over everything. He doesn’t have to say the words for me to feel his love. All he has to do is smile. He makes me laugh. He makes me stronger.” Madi beamed and her mother sighed.
“He’s quite a catch. You could do far worse.”
“She could also do better,” Michael added as he entered the room and placed a glass on the table, falling into a chair.
Madi pursed her lips and glared at him.
“How do you know the pictures weren’t real?” Michael asked. “How can you be so sure he’s telling you the truth?”
“Michael, I just know, okay? You need to stop. You never cared who I dated before now. Why all the concern?”
Michael shrugged. “I know I haven’t exactly been the best brother in the world, but I see how you look at him. You’re different with him. I don’t want him to hurt you.”
Madi hugged him and he patted her back.
“He’s not going to hurt me, okay? I’m a big girl. I can take care of myself.”
“Yes she can,” Collin announced as he entered and grabbed a cookie from the table. “I think he’s fantastic, Madi Padi. When’s he going to sing for us?” he asked.
“He’s not. Not today,” Madi insisted. “He just finished an incredibly exhausting tour and he needs to rest.”
“Maybe another time, then,” Collin added.
“Where’s grandma?” Michael asked, glancing around.
“She dozed off in the living room and we didn’t have the heart to wake her just for pie.”
“She probably would have asked you if you’d told her to die.”
They all laughed, and Madi made a mental note of the moment. She never wanted to forget how amazing and full of life and hope she felt today. Jake Morgan was in her home and her family accepted him and even seemed to love him, too.
Jake turned the corner and everyone stopped to stare. Madi smirked.
“Did I interrupt something?” he asked, pausing frozen.
“Not at all,” Collin interjected. “Michael was just saying that he’d break off your legs and feed them to Lex in the basement if you hurt our sister. I, being the cool brother, told him you wouldn’t do that. Would you?”
Jake glanced around the room at all the eyes waiting for his response. Madi frowned, widening her eyes and mouthing “I’m sorry” to him.
“I can assure you that I have the best of intentions. I adore your sister. She’s fixed a broken part of me that I didn’t know could be repaired. She sewed me up and made me whole.”
Madi, Emily and Collin collectively sighed. Michael glanced to them and rolled his eyes.
“I need to find a man to say those things to me,” Collin said as he grabbed another cookie and puttered back to the family room.
