Page 20 of Deserving Maddie

"And you didn't think tocall?" Her son's angry tone couldn't be missed. It laced every word like a dagger.

"I forgot my phone at the office." Shame crashed down around her, and it took every ounce of control he had not to pull her into a hug. No one should make her feel bad about a simple mistake, certainly not her teenage son. But it wasn't his place to speak right now, and he needed to remember that as they climbed out of the car.

"Here are the keys and the number for the shop your car was taken to. You can either call me when it's ready to come get mine back, or leave it at my work. I'm fine with either."

"Thank you, Ray."

It killed him to walk away when he wanted to say more.

Do more.

Again, it wasn't his place. The ball was still in her court, and had been since she showed up at his place. The fact that she didn't call him was a glaring reminder that they weren't on the same page with things, and he needed to remember that.

Ray didn't even need to look at his friend when he climbed into Hollywood's vehicle to know what the man was thinking.

"Not a word."

"I wasn't going to say anything." Ray could hear the smile in Hollywood's voice. "But, I mean, if I were going to say something, it would go something like, it's about damn time, man."

Motherfucker.

He knew that's what Hollywood was going to say, and he didn't like it. No, it wasn't about damn time because even if he wanted to start something with Maddie, she didn't. And that sucked.

Chapter 10

IfMaddiethoughtGabewould drop things after she walked in the door, she was sadly mistaken. He had grumbled and bitched until she’d had enough and finally sent him to bed. It was ridiculous to think she needed to send her fifteen-year-old son to bed like a toddler, but there was only so much of his attitude she could take after everything else that happened that day.

And the worst part of it all was, she knew the moment she laid her head on her pillow to go to sleep, she would feel guilty. A mother only had so many hours, days, weeks, and months with their child. That time was precious and meant to be savored. So yes, she would feel guilty that she fought with Gabe. She would kick herself for sending him to his bedroom because she needed the time to herself. She would criticize herself for allowing his anger to take away from that precious time that she knew all too well would end sooner than she liked.

It was a mother's curse.

"So that was Ray …"

Damn it! She forgot that sending Gabe to bed didn't mean she would actually get peace and quiet. Not with her best friend in town.

Maddie dropped her head back and prayed the room would open her up and swallow her whole. She loved Kat. She really did. But the last thing Maddie needed at the moment was her best friend pushing about Ray.

Yes, he was attractive.

Yes, he was nice.

Hell, he even had a good job with a great boss it would appear.

But none of that changed the fact that her life was a mess and Gabriel would freak out if she even considered dating.

Ergo, his bitch fest before she banished him to his room, and the long agonizing night she now had in her future.

"I'm not talking about him right now."

"And why not?"

This was what she got for thinking it was a good idea to have her best friend stay with her for a while. Zero privacy and constant nagging. Something that any other time she would have welcomed with open arms because it meant Kat loved her enough to care.

"Because nothing has changed since the last time we talked about him."

"Oh, really?" Kat sauntered over to where Maddie was trying to open a bottle of wine, but failing miserably.

Why the hell did I buy the one with a cork and not a screw top?

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