Page 35 of I Hear You

He leans in and tucks a strand of hair behind her ear and whispers in it, and she laughs like he’s a fucking professional comedian. That’s it. I cannot take another minute of this.

Chapter seventeen

Madison

Therehewas,standingin the kitchen, his back up against the counter with one of the most gorgeous girls I’ve ever seen pushed up against him. She’s a little shorter than me, with golden blonde hair, perfectly styled in big bouncy curls down her back. Of course she has perfectly perky, not too big and not too small boobs and teeth so white they must be fake. Her makeup looks professionally done, but I’m sure she’s just one of those girls who magically knows how to apply it all like she’s a pro. Even her outfit is cool; a pair of tight black leather pants with a white corset and sky high heels.

My heart sinks all the way to my stomach. I should have known another girl was the reason he ran out of the library like the place was on fire. He has a girlfriend. I shouldn’t be surprised and I have no claim to Henry. But why is there such a pit in my stomach seeing him so close to another girl? Why am I seething with jealousy right now?

I avert my eyes as quickly as I can manage, fearing he’ll see the hurt in them. These feelings I’m having, they’re not owed any merit. It was just one car ride, a walk through town, an afternoon laying in the grass, and one kiss. Only four tiny interactions–but one earth shattering kiss. In my mind they’re huge though, cavernous and wide, with hidden tunnels full of treasures. To Henry, they’re probably tiny blips. He doesn’t owe me anything, and he’s definitely free to date whoever he wants. Even if it makes me irrationally jealous.

I’m relieved when Taylor takes my hand and leads me outside. She takes us to a table filled with alcohol, mixers and cups. She pours vodka into two cups and tops them off with cranberry and orange juice before handing me one with a sympathetic smile.

“So, that would be Jackie,” Taylor tells me as we find some chairs to sit in by the pool.

“Who?” I ask, staring out at the pool, pretending to be clueless about what she’s talking about.

The pool is huge, with a diving board and a rock waterfall. A built in jacuzzi off to one side where I’m pretty sure people are currently having sex. I divert my attention back to my cup.

“Madison, we’ve been living together for months now. You’re not fooling me. I saw the way your face fell when you saw Henry.”

I sigh and look at her now, and she can definitely see the pain in my eyes. What she doesn’t know is that it’s not just about Henry. I’m still trying to process those texts from my mom.

“Awe Madison. I mean, I know Henry is hot as shit, but you had one interaction with him. What gives?”

“Taylor, I know. Trust me, I know this is crazy. Truly, I don’t know why, but, I–there's just something about him. I can’t explain it.”

I don’t tell Taylor about the times we’ve spent together or how I’ve been thinking about Henry nonstop since I met him. I’ve found myself looking for his hazel eyes in crowds on campus. I’ve done a double take when I see a guy with tattoos peeking out of their shirt sleeves. I even tried looking him up on social media, but he must be the only eighteen-year-old on the planet to not have a social media presence.

It’s hard to describe, but from that first car ride, that first meeting, I feel like our souls knew each other. As if somehow, every action and every choice I made that day wasn’t an accident, but was a step in a predetermined plan to put me in his path. Henry was so familiar from the first moment he laughed at my anger, from the first moment our hands touched. The afternoon we spent playing twenty-one questions, laying in the grass, only made those feelings stronger. When he ran off after our lips met in the library, it was as if a piece of my soul ran off with him.

I don’t tell Taylor any of this. Even if I wanted to, there’s no time because Jesse and Henry come walking up.

I know I’m talking to Henry, and he’s talking back. But I feel like I’m under water or the conversation is happening in a sound proof bubble and I’m on the outside, not quite able to make out what we’re saying. I just do my best to smile and hope I’m not making a fool out of myself.

How the hell does this one guy make me feel all this? I have never felt so insanely turned on just by looking at a man. His face is freshly shaved tonight and I notice that one singular dimple when he flashes his slightly crooked smile. I think about sticking my tongue in his dimple before trailing it over to his lips.

My phone buzzes in my hand, startling me, and I look down. She’s just not giving up tonight, is she? She must be damn desperate because now her texts have turned mean.

Mom: Look, I’m your damn Mother. The least you can do is give me a lousy $20

Mom: Don’t be such a selfish little bitch

I stare in disbelief. This isn’t the first time she’s asked me for money and, honestly, in the past she was more patient and more sly about it. Convincing me to come to the house before even asking for anything. If I had it, I usually gave it to her because I’m pathetic and no matter how many times she’s screwed up over the past few years… she’s still my mom.

I flip my phone over in my lap, hell-bent on not responding, and look up only to realize Henry is gone. I give the backyard a quick glance and find him over by the beer pong table, chatting with a group of guys. He sure is good at running off.

Taylor and Jesse are now full on making out in the lounge chair across from me. I’ve only ever made out with 3 guys. My first official boyfriend, Carl, in eighth grade during an unsanctioned game of seven minutes in heaven. Alex, who was a dare at the summer carnival after freshman year. And Liam, the only guy I’ve had sex with–although, I’m not sure what we did could be considered sex. It was nothing like it is in the romance novels I read.

“And who might you be?”

I turn my head to see a very muscular blonde guy holding a bottle of whiskey staring at me.

“This is Madison, Taylor’s roommate. She’s new in town just like you, benchwarmer,” Jesse says.

When did those two come up for air? Jesse’s laughing at himself and his clever insult.

“No way in hell I’m on the bench after Coach finds out I’m the reason he’s getting a nice raise this year.”

---