Page 2 of Sweet Addiction

She is evading the question which means my suspicions might just be right. “Yeah.” I exhale already feeling drained at the thought of going back to LA. “I will send you my flight details.”

She squeals like a best friend rather than a mother. But I guess that describes our relationship perfectly. Since the moment I was old enough to understand things, Mom always treated me like more of a friend than a daughter. I remember when I was fourteen and she was drunk. I spent four hours with her while she rambled on about my father, how much she loved him, and howhelost the best thing that ever happened to him by letting her go. The sad thing is she genuinely believes that. But the truth is, Dad never loved Mom. It was a fling that turned into me. I know that no matter how much time passes, no matter that he is married to Vanessa—the real love of his life—Mom will never get over Peter Devereux. She loves him. Always has. Always will.

“Perfect. I can’t wait to see you baby. You will love Knox. He is the best.”

I roll my eyes at her over enthusiasm. “Okay Mom. I will talk to you later.”

“Bye sweetie,” she sings before hanging up.

Dropping my cell on the bed, I shake my head. What the hell has my mother gotten herself into now? Before I can think about it further a knock sounds at my bedroom door. My head snaps up just as Vanessa appears. She smiles. “Hi honey, do you have a few minutes? I wanted to talk to you about something.”

“Of course. What’s up?” I pat the empty space beside me silently asking her to sit.

Moving further into the room, she drops down next to me and takes my hand. Her eyes meet mine, so kind, so full of love. “We will miss you when you head back to LA,” she says thickly, the emotion in her voice clear.

“I will miss the both of you too. I always feel more settled here in New York,” I admit.

Vanessa nods. “You know you are always welcome here Madison.” She sighs. “Look, I know that you are still deciding what you want to do after school and although I don’t want what I say next to sway your decision, I want to put it on the table. Wildlife World would like to offer you an internship.”

My eyes widen in shock, and I gasp. “W-what? Are you serious?”

She smiles. “I am. I discussed it with your father and again, he doesn’t want you to feel pressured into it or like we are pushing you to do this. We both want you to be happy and do whatever it is you love. However, after our discussions over the years, we both know that photography is a passion of yours, especially nature and wildlife. If you want the internship, it’s yours. If you decide to do something else.” She shrugs. “Well, we will support you in whatever you do.”

My heart constricts. I hit the jackpot when it came to a stepparent. Throwing my arms around her, I say, “Thank you, Vanessa. I would love to intern at your magazine.”

She chuckles. “Take some time to think about it honey. The offer stands for as long as you need.”

I open my mouth to tell her I have already decided when my dad’s voice sounds. “There you both are.” My gaze shifts to him and he frowns before smiling. “So, you told her about the internship?”

“I did,” Vanessa replies before climbing off the bed. “I hope you don’t mind?”

He shakes his head. “Of course not.” He smiles down at her, kissing her temple quickly before his eyes shift back to me. “I know it’s what you want baby but take some time to think about it. I know your mother has plans for you and I know how much you hate to let her down.”

I frown; he’s right, I do but that doesn’t mean I am going to give up an opportunity like this. “I don’t need to think about it. And don’t worry about Mom; I will talk to her when I get back to LA.”

He nods. “Okay then. Dinner’s ready. Let’s go and eat before it gets cold.”

Climbing off the bed, I follow them down to the dining room feeling more excited than I ever have in my life. All my dreams of becoming a photographer can come true.

I just need to have a talk with my mom.

ChapterThree

KNOX

“Knox, sweetie?”

I grit my teeth at Scarlett’s shrill voice as I swallow down a protein shake. I work hard for the body that I have and just because I am currently suspended from the NFL doesn’t mean I am going to let myself go.

Scarlett sashays toward me, a big smile on her face before she comes to a stop and runs her hands up my bare torso. A few months ago, I would maybe have fucked Scarlett, but now I have no interest. Yes, she is a beautiful woman, but I don’t see her as anything but a means to an end.

I stare down at her, my jaw ticking in annoyance. The woman is certifiable. Grabbing her hand, I push it off my body. She frowns before peering up at me. “You do know this isn’t real right?” I point between us, asking her the same question I do every time she gets too close.

Scarlett sighs, propping her hand on her hip as she glares up at me. “You could at least try Knox. We are contracted to this relationship for a year. You never know; if you let your guard down, you may actually find you like me. We could make this work for real.”

I chuckle but it’s not a nice sound. “I already told you that I am not interested in you like that. I like you Scarlett, I do,” I tell her honestly. Because yeah, although she gets on my last nerve and is crazy, I respect her. “But I have no intention of taking this any further than what it is. A contractual obligation that will hopefully help us both out.”

“But we could be so much more. A man like you cannot withhold from sex for a year Knox. And to be truthful, neither can I. How about we use each other? Just sex, no strings,” she purrs, fluttering her fake lashes.

---