Page 1 of Deserving Maddie

Chapter 1

"Idon'twanttogo to school," Gabe argued. "The kids are stupid and the teachers are too nice. They know what you do for a living and just want to kiss your ass."

"Gabriel, language," Maddie corrected for what felt like the millionth time.

Her fifteen-year-old son rolled his eyes at her and went back to eating his bowl of cereal.

She often wondered what happened to her sweet little boy. The one who used to pick her flowers from other people's lawns and tell her she was the most beautiful woman in the world. Now she was lucky to get a grunt out of him when he wasn't too busy complaining.

"I like my new school," Charley bubbled.

That was the difference between her sullen son and her spirited nine-year-old daughter. Charley loved an adventure while Gabe liked routine. Change didn't come easy to him. And moving halfway across the country to start a new life six months ago resulted in them having the same fight every day.

"I'm glad you like it, sweetie." She smiled at her daughter, but it dropped the moment she turned to her son and noticed the scowl on his face.

"Please give it a chance. I know you didn't want to move here, but it's been six months now. You used to have straight A's and loved playing sports. Since the move, you haven't touched a single ball."

"Sports were Dad's thing. Didn't feel right to keep doing them."

Her heart ached for the little boy who spent countless hours practicing with his father. If there was one thing her deceased husband was good at, it was being a father. He might've sucked in every other aspect of their lives, but his children always came first.

"I'm sorry, I know you miss him, but he wouldn't have wanted you to throw all your talent away. Your father pushed you hard because he knew how good you are."

"I just don't love it like I used to." He carelessly raised his shoulder and went back to his breakfast.

For the time being, she would drop it. She had more important battles to face. Like getting him out the door and on time for school.

"We leave in five."

It ended up being more like ten, but Maddie still managed to get both her kids to school just seconds before the bell rang. She thanked whatever guardian angel was watching her back that she wasn't forced to endure another lecture from the principal on tardiness.

The last time she wanted to scream. She wasn't some deadbeat parent. Every morning she tried her hardest to get Gabe moving, and every day he found a reason to fight her. At first, she'd been sympathetic. He missed his father. The two of them had a bond she could never replicate, but enough was enough. Nothing she tried broke through. And maybe it was selfish of her, but she just wanted one day that didn't end, or start, with the two of them butting heads.

She was halfway to work when a call came through her car speaker. She checked the in-dash screen and smiled.

"Hey, Kat," she answered the call.

Katarina Mikaels was her best friend. She was also the reason Maddie now lived in Texas rather than North Carolina. Her best friend convinced her it was best to move somewhere new and start over.

"Don't hey me, lady. You promised to call me back last night, but never did. Now, I know you won't have me believe you fell asleep, so that could only mean one thing. You're avoiding me."

"I wouldnever." Mock indignation laced her tone.

"Yes, you would, because you know what I'm going to say."

Maddie geared up for another lecture, only this time it was warranted. Her best friend was right in everything she was about to say.

"Have you reached out to him yet?"

"You know I haven't."

Kat's dramatic sigh filled her car. This was another argument she was starting to have more often than not. Ever since Kat came to visit nearly a month ago. In a moment of weakness, Maddie allowed her best friend to convince her to go out, to leave her responsibilities behind and do something for herself.

Oh, what a night it had been. There were times that she could still feel Ray moving between her thighs.

"Why not?"

Kat pulled her from her juicy memories.